As I watch the episode of This Week in Google from yesterday,  where Jeff Jarvis talks about what was said at eG8,  I am feeling an intensified anxiety about how once again,  the church is far behind on technology issues.

My concerns are rising that the approach taken by governments and telcos and business is going to harm the ability of the church to have a voice.  The “Schminternet” that Jeff Jarvis speaks of,  which is what the ISPs  and Mobile providers are leaning toward and seeking,  is to “cordon off”  the Internet to provide faster speeds for deeper pockets.  No single effort endangers the hopes for the Internet in the church more than that. 

I see a disturbing lack of consciousness about the importance of this Net Neutrality issue amongst church people,  and particularly amongst those who should know better:  those who are in the lead about the use of technology in the church.  If we are not warning of the encroachments of big business on this arena,  we will be amongst the biggest losers.  It doesn’t help that a huge  number of the biggest Net proponents in the church are of a mind to eschew warnings about the dangerous intentions of big  business. 

So many in the church are swept up in rejecting what they see as a “liberal cause”,  and tend to believe in the self-correcting, “free hand of the market” with what is often a worshipful approach.  It’s like the “free  market” is a fourth person of the Trinity,  or the Holy Spirit’s brother.  And so they are seemingly oblivious to the rug being snatched from under them as they evangelize about the great possibilities of the Net.  I agree with them about the  possibilities, for sure,  but they are naïve about the intentions and plans  of big money. They will choose profit over democracy at any time,  and at any opportunity. 

The church needs to see in people such as @jeffjarvis  and @jpbarlow and Lawrence @Lessig that we have articulate advocates for  a cause that ,  while not “theological”,  is fraught  with danger if we nod and doze while telcos and ISPs plot to increase their profits in short sighted manner.