The technology of communication has advanced dramatically during the past 5,000 years. From hand signals and hieroglyphics to e-mail and satellite phones, the tools we have to communicate with have become a mark of mankind’s wondrous achievements. Military leaders can become informed instantly of the status of a battle taking place anywhere in the world. An e-mail message can travel thousands of miles in mere seconds. We are able to watch the news as it happens anywhere in the world. But these tools are only as useful as the message they convey.

The rapid development of these technologies gives us cause for concern. Growth in this field has far exceeded our ability to truly understand its power and the impact it will have on future generations. When watching television news, I am often reminded of the "Tower of Babel" in Genesis 11 where, in rebellion against God, the people gathered their knowledge together and applied it to evil purposes. Today’s media challenges our moral sensibilities and dulls our consciences. News of the pillaging of Kosovar villages and the murder of untold thousands no longer touches us the way it once did because our minds have been repeatedly filled with these horrors. The violence of professional wrestling is deemed harmless entertainment for young children. What ever happened to godly purity?

Much of the news we hear has its foundation in immorality. Guns in schools, youth on drugs, rampant sexual promiscuity, widespread abortion, violence and murder are all themes that regularly occupy our attention in the news and in Hollywood’s depiction of real life. Not only are we faced with the evils present in our own locality, but we are also confronted with all the evils of the whole world. No longer are we separated by the diversity of language and culture.

Our global way of life is rapidly being reduced to the "lowest common denominator" of human behaviour. It was at this point, in the early history of this planet, that God said, "Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." (Genesis 11:6 KJV) Those bent toward evil have their imaginations easily filled with opportunity, not just by what is known locally to them, but also by our advanced media whose ears and eyes reach around the world.

But as immoral as some communication may be, the good news is that Christians are using the global media to serve the purposes of the great commission: to be "witnesses unto me. . . unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) E-mail is an example of a form of modern communication that has facilitated the missions effort. Patrick Johnstone of WEC International states, "As a pioneer mission, with most of our workers in places with serious communications problems, we are finding that e-mail has revolutionized our ability to make quick decisions and to pass on urgent prayer requests. Our whole pattern of working has changed with a high proportion of our communications by means of e-mail."

E-mail is only one of many modern technologies that have enhanced missions. Doug Leppard, Director of International Technology Development for Campus Crusade for Christ, says, "Information technology gives us the tools to communicate vision, mission, strategy, and ministry information through the use of maps, electronic communications, databases, and the Internet. Through these tools, we are able to keep this large ship of Campus Crusade for Christ focused on reaching the world for Christ."

Radio and television have long been used to reach our neighbours with the gospel or to broadcast across hostile borders with the message of God’s love. Short-wave radio has been used for many years to help build up the body of Christ.