"HERBALISTIC" TECHNOLOGY

It’s appalling how technology is eating through every corner of our daily lives these days. People just see it as “latest things” and flow in, and if you dare not follow the trend they will tag you as “Old school”. Just imagine, for those of us who grew up in local areas, we usually see what Yoruba people call “ebo” (sacrifice) at “Orita-meta” (T-Junctions) in those days. These ebos are usually placed in calabash or local plates made of clay: I was shocked some days ago when I took a glance at one T-junction on my way to work and saw one ebo in a very fashionable unbreakable plate… And I was more shocked when (Instead of the usual pap and palm oil) I saw Chicken soup and boiled yam inside! The demon who was supposed to eat that sacrifice must be a modern one!

Funny as that may be, it reminded me of one “Ifa” shrine around where I live. I was talking with a colleague on how that priest must have been so wise to embrace latest technology: Usually in the olden days, shrines are often made of mud house and thatch, but this one is so modern that it was built with blocks. A well engraved “Ifa shrine” rests on the top of the entrance. And if you dare peep inside you might doubt if it was a joke, because you’ll see modern gadgets that you don’t see in “ifa shrines” in home videos. I just imagined; with the gadgets we saw that day we peeped, if a home theatre system was there with the plasma screen TV we saw, who is making use of them; the gods?

Sadly enough, the tenacity at which technology is eating deep into every corner of our lives have entered the church even more vigorously (perhaps that was what the gods in Ifa shrine saw and wanted to meet up with). I can’t count how many times I’ve seen people pinging with their blackberry in Church even when the pastor was saying something very important. With the latest technology whereby Bible verses are displayed when they are called, people rarely take their Bible to church since they will see the verses on the screen. I, in particular, am guilty of checking Bible on my phone, even when I have the traditional Bible in my hand.

Bishop T. D. Jakes once said, “There is something in the atmosphere; you just don’t get it all by watching on the TV…” You have to be in the atmosphere of the anointing! Nowadays, people seem to be content with watching religious gatherings on satellite or TV. They even touch the TV when the man of God is declaring and say, “I receive it!” Receive what? (Anyway, I’ve actually heard testimonies of those who received it truly. Lol.)

But my point is if the world is going gaga with technology, we should not allow the children of the dark to take more advantage of it than the children of light. Each time I see Christian writers do their thing on facebook my heart leaps with joy. Each time I see some Christians do bulk sms (Like Eternal Order ministries, Conquerors, and Home alive ministries), I feel like saying “Well done.” I’ve also seen Christian cartoons, animation, etc. What are you doing to catch up with the gospel in this world of technology?

A brother once said he’s leaving all online repositories because he feels that is one of the ways the beast will get people’s data in this end time. But I wonder, either way, the beast will still get people’s data (‘cause you’ll still enter your data somewhere, someday); so why not take advantage of the situation now, and win souls with the “beast’s” tool (If indeed it’s the beast’s tool, like he said). With the way everything is going all over the world, if you are not technology versed; forget about getting a job or doing business. (You can call it mark of the beast if you like, but that’s not my main point.)

I remember a song that says “The church is matching on/the church is matching on/the gate of hell shall not prevail/the church is matching on/…” Don’t get left behind. Lets’ take advantage of this current technology trend and match on in a positive way. "And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away." 1 Corinthians 7:31.