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Yet, it was not just citizens of the Roman Empire who used the Appian Way; the Early Church used this technology to proclaim the Gospel. As followers of Jesus traveled on this road, the Good News moved throughout the ancient world. The Early Church uti- lized this roadway to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Fast forward to the present day. While tourists now walk the remnants of the Appian Way in Rome, they do so while connected to a newer form of infrastruc- ture: the internet. Stitched together by subaquatic communication cables and invisible radio frequen- cies, the internet shares some important similarities with the ancient Appian Way. Today, the internet influences how modern followers of Jesus traverse the world with the Gospel. Just as early Christians had to learn how to traverse the ancient Appian Way, Christians today must learn how to traverse the modern Appian Way. (This became even more pronounced at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic). The people of Jesus must learn how to utilize this technology, with both wisdom and intentionality, so that the Good News of Jesus can spread throughout the modern world. Wisdom: Members of the Early Church had to employ wisdom as they traversed ancient roads. Heresy, misinformation, and confusion could easily spread through these ancient highways and byways. Similar- ly, the contemporary church must be wise as it uses social media, digital devices, and emerging technolo- gies. The tools of technology are powerful assets for Gospel outreach, but only when coupled with godly wisdom. Thankfully, God's Word has much to say about wisdom: "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, mak- ing the best use of the time" (Colossians 4:5). When it comes to navigating the modern Appian Way of digital media, walking in wisdom toward outsiders means seeking God's truth in Holy Scripture, careful- ly deliberating our words and actions, and prayerfully seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance in all our digital interactions. Intentionality: Have you ever hopped in your car, driven a familiar route somewhere, and then realized that you hardly remembered the drive itself? Perhaps your mind was so focused on other things that you barely thought about the turns you were making or the sights you were not seeing. That's a scary thing! Just as we should avoid mindlessly driving cars, we should always avoid mindlessly traversing digital thoroughfares. Technology is so ubiquitous that it can be hard for us to be mindful of it all the time. Nevertheless, using technology without intentionali- ty can be disastrous for ourselves and others. Here are two important questions that can help you be more intentional before using digital technology, social media, or the internet: 1. What am I trying to accomplish with this? 2. How is what I am saying or doing online lead- ing to the increase of Christ's kingdom? While these two questions are only the beginning of developing healthy digital habits, they are a good place to start. It is vital that Christians learn how to traverse the modern Appian Way of the internet. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, this technology has the power to spread the Good News of Jesus into every nook and cranny of the world. It's time for us to learn how to navigate modern technology, develop healthy digital habits, and do so in such a way that we exem- plify John the Baptist's words about Jesus: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). w Statistics prove that technology is addictive, and in today's world, it's impossible to get away from it. Learn how to set better technological boundaries for yourself from the perspective of both a pastor and a board-certified psychiatrist. Find this title and others listed in this magazine at cph.org/llresources. REDEEMING TECHNOLOGY Lutheran Life 17

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