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Within the last week, COVID-19 has abruptly halted or drastically changed business, education, religion, and government. The societal and economic implications of this are yet unknown, but we do know that they will be profound.

It is a sobering moment in our history. The technology that we have come to trust could not stop this pandemic and, in fact, aided its spread. The modern health care industry that we thought (at least subconsciously) had controlled or eradicated the possibility of mass illness and plague is months away from a vaccine. And, our government and military can only stand by and attempt to manage this microscopic enemy as it ravages the planet.

Though there are many lessons to be drawn from this (and many more will become apparent in short order), I wanted to emphasize a lesson I have taken from the events of the last week: my trust should be in the throne of Heaven and not a test tube at Harvard (Psalm 91). I know this is not a novel insight, but it is an important one that we need to learn now and remember for the rest of our brief stay on this planet. Smart phones, airplanes, global commerce and technological innovation are great, but they cannot change they fact that our bodies, our global commercial empires and our very civilization is fragile (have you seen people fighting over toilet paper?).

It follows that we should also reexamine the relationship between faith and technology/science. We have placed our faith in science and technology, and they have failed to protect us from a microbe. Now, I am not saying we should abandon medicine and attempt to pray COVID-19 into submission. God expects us to use our best efforts to slow this disease. That said, perhaps it is time to put science and technology back in its place as important but not ultimate. Though this is a centuries-long discussion, the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020 has made it especially urgent. Here are four thoughts about the relationship between faith and science/technology:

1. Christianity and Science/Technology are not at war.
2. Christianity and Science/Technology are, in some ways, Non-Overlapping Magisteria.
3. Christianity and Science/Technology should be lab partners.
4. Science and Technology needs an accountability partner.

If you prefer to watch this in video format (without the Coronavirus commentary), you can access it here.