Review: The Next Story

It's no secret that technology is rapidly expanding and improving, bringing new ways of doing things and staying connected that promise to make our lives more productive, more connected and more fulfilling.

But what impact is that technology having on our faith? How does taking advantage of those advances change us, from our behaviors to our worldview? What do Christians in particular need to be careful of when adopting new technology?

In The Next Story: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion author and blogger Tim Challies addresses those issues and more from a distinctly faith-based, Christian perspective. He begins with a broad definition of technology as "the creative activity of using tools to shape God's creation for practical purposes" and moves forward to demonstrate how we are now often shaped and changed by the tools themselves rather than using them for God's glory.

Written in a straightforward, readable style with a solid theological base, The Next Story encourages the reader to think about his own use of technology through challenging questions for reflection at the end of most chapters. They ask you to question how your ideas about communication, truth, privacy and faith are altered by the types of media you use, as well as warning of the spiritual consequences of charging ahead to adapt new tech without thinking it through.

Overall, I'd highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to understand how our changing technology is influencing faith on both a personal and societal level.

The good folks at Zondervan provided this book to me free of charge for review. I'm a week late, but check here for a round up of other reviews of the book, or check out Tim's blog.