Gutenberg Christianity Vs. Google Christianity Lesson 2

A. GUTENBERG CHRISTIANITY

1. Martin Luther initiated Protestant Reformation, October 31, 1517 A.D. against the Roman Catholic Church of legalism, and works salvation.

2. Why Luther? Others had the answer, but Luther had the printing press. Gutenberg invented it 79 years earlier, moveable type, reproducible, quick, and accurate. In Luther’s day there were 50 printing presses, 36 in Wittenberg.

3. Forced people to read from left to right, logical sentences, produced rational Christianity.

4. Gutenberg Christianity is ink, paper, media, and printing press.

5. Present day Christianity is Four Spiritual Laws, Romans Road to Salvation, i.e., debate unbelief, and appeal to understanding of the mind.

B. GOOGLE CHRISTIANITY

1. The 1980s saw the rise of computers, cell phones, and the internet that has influenced every aspect of life.

2. The word interface describes our connection, EPIC

Experiential

Participatory

Image-rich

Connective

C. COMPARISON

Gutenberg Google

1. Rational 1. Emotional

2. Intellectually comprehend 2. Interactive & involved

3. Understand God 3. Experience God

4. Knowing God 4. Feel God’s presence

5. Search-know-apply 5. Participation, move feet to music

6. Come analyze 6. Come taste the Lord

7. Listen to sermon 7. Involved in worship, i.e., images, pictures, dialogue

D. WEAKNESSES OF GOOGLE CHRISTIANITY

1. Drift into doctrinal error because of no grounding.

2. Easy to become a fanatic in actions, belief, or practices.

3. Easy to omit aspects of the faith that are blinded to you.

4. Ruled by emotions, not what you know and your past decisions.

E. WEAKNESSES OF GUTENBERG CHRISTIANITY

1. You learn in your head but not experience in the heart.

2. Debate your beliefs and not relate and share.

3. Become cut off from those who disagree with you.

4. Hard to communicate your faith to your children or others.

F. TO TAKE AWAY

1. It is easy to say Gutenberg are Calvinists and Google are Armenians. Not true in every point, but points to their presuppositions.

2. While the research describes the growth of Global South Christianity, and the plateau of Western Christianity, probably the heart of Google Christianity is the force behind its growth; while Gutenberg Christianity finds its foundation in the intellect of Western Christianity.

3. Google grows fastest among uneducated and illiterates because they are not usually tied to a logical sequential format of “book learning.”

4. Gutenberg has most scholars, research foundations that appeals to an intellectual or academia environment.

5. Both Google and Gutenberg have weaknesses and challenges.

6. It takes two wings to fly and two legs to walk, and it takes both Google and Gutenberg to have balanced Christianity.

7. Remember, Christianity involves both the heart (emotions), and the mind (intellect), and you cannot disconnect them. “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God will all your heart, all your soul (the inner you), and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment’” (Matt. 22:37-38).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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