As is to be expected, some are little more than counting programs, keeping track of the number of days since the user violated a pledge (or at least was willing to enter such into their phone). Others are more involved, listing Bible verses or meditations specific to the season. Of course, none of them can pick the right observance for an individual, much less substitute for the actual observance itself.
Here are a few apps that would be useful, but have yet to be published:
- Virtual Calorie, an app that renders food calorie free, but still tasty
- Operator (a la Manhattan Transfer), an app that phones Jesus directly
- Blessed Art Thou, a video app showing the real Sermon on the Mount
- iRapture, an app that provides a photo-realistic view of heaven
Seriously, the currently available apps are simply tools to assist in what is still a slow process of discernment and learning new habits. The day may come when a different frame of mind can be downloaded directly to the brain, but it isn't here yet. And there is good reason to think it might never catch on, even when it becomes possible. Imagine the ability to change one's life to adopt any set of behaviors one chooses. Such technology would certainly include the ability to change back, which many would do, having experienced life as an essentially different person. In turn, such flip-flopping would lead to the desire to understand and select a set of observances that would be permanent, which would undoubtedly require discernment and learning to live with new habits, not far at all from the situation today.
And truth be told, the tools have been around for some time. Living in God's grace is a heavenly experience, the Bible records the Sermon on the Mount (in English!) and prayer is a direct connection to Jesus. It's all a believer will ever need. Still, that Virtual Calorie app would be so cool.
May you discover new ways to use technology to become closer to God.
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