Solomon wrote: "and there is no new thing under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9) To those who know me, the above title may seem especially out of place. Technology advances amaze and overwhelm me. I do not use a computer; in fact, I am completely "computer illiterate!" For example, while I was recently in a Gospel Meeting where Joe Price preaches, a letter arrived at my home. I told Joe about the letter and how much I would like to see it immediately. He said that my wife could fax it to him, and it would come up on his computer as "e-mail." I had never heard of such a thing, and when I called Sharon to tell her about it, she sarcastically responded, "Imagine that."

While technology advances are often good and useful, if misused, they can also become sinful. With computers, this is obvious because of the easy access to pornography and other avenues of temptation. But I wish to pursue another realm, and that is "Caller ID."

I understand that a lot of folks use Caller ID to identify solicitors' calls so they can choose whether to answer the phone. And I suppose that can be a good thing for those who receive a lot of solicitor calls. Caller ID also identifies other calls, such as calls from our brothers and sisters in Christ. I am persuaded that some Christians use Caller ID to avoid talking with their brethren. Is that sinful? I suppose it depends on the reason behind not answering another Christian's call.

Let's explore one such scenario and you can decide for yourself.

A Christian has not been attending services regularly. Others, who are concerned with that person's spiritual well being, call to encourage him. Thanks to Caller ID, the Christian who attends irregularly knows who is calling, and he simply refuses to answer the phone.

• Perhaps he feels guilty for not being at services when he could have.
• Perhaps he doesn't want to hear a sermon concerning his lack of faithfulness.

Obviously only the poor attendee and God know the true reason, but I can't help thinking it is because he doesn't want to be confronted about his sinful behavior. (As I said, and please do not take me wrong, he may have a valid reason for not answering the phone, but I think some brethren use this technology in this manner.)

When a Christian is unwilling to hear from his brethren, it is often because sin is present in his life. "I wrote unto the church; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not." (3 John 9) And when one is unwilling to listen to his brethren, he is also unwilling to listen to God. For it is God who has ordained that sometimes the rebuking and reproving should come from our brethren.

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1-2)

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye (illegitimate), and not sons." (Hebrews 12:5-8)

When a Christian refuses this rebuking and reproving, he rejects that which could lead to salvation. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:11)

In my "book," it is sinful to use Caller ID in the manner described earlier in this article. Suppose Simon had Caller ID, and Peter had called him to arrange to meet with him face to face and talk with him concerning his actions, (cf. Acts 8:18-19), but Simon, seeing who was calling, refused to answer? He would not have heard the things he needed to hear, and would have remained in his sinful condition (cf. Acts 8:20-24).

Or suppose Peter had Caller ID and refused to answer Paul's call (Galatians 2:11-14)? Obviously, these "suppositions" could go on and on. I am simply exposing an attitude that some Christians possess, an attitude reflected in the following scriptures from the wise man Solomon:

"Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die." (Proverbs 15:10)

"A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise." (Proverbs 15:12)

"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)

Do you have Caller ID? Have there been times when a brother or sister in Christ was calling, but you refused to answer? Did you have a valid reason? To me, such behavior is akin to missing services:

• You have opportunity to hear the truth, to be edified, (cf. Ephesians 4:16), or if need be, rebuked (cf. 2 Timothy 4:1-2).
• You have an opportunity to enable other Christians to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." (Hebrews 10:24)
• You have opportunity to "grow in grace and in knowledge." (2 Peter 3: 18)

Why would one Christian lack desire to talk with other brethren? (Obviously, some brethren fall under the condemnation in Romans 16:17-18 or Titus 3:10-11; but I am not addressing these.). By refusing to answer a call, one may lose a great deal.

When it comes to truth and sin, there is "no new thing under the sun." There will be those whose sole desire is to be right with God, to learn as much truth as they can, and to love their brethren at ALL times. And there will be those who do not have this desire, who will use every means available to them to further their worldly attitudes. In contrast, the wise man Solomon gave the other side of this equation:

"A wise son heareth his father's instructions; but a scorner heareth not rebuke." (Proverbs 13:1)

"The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility." (Proverbs 15:31-33)

"Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Proverbs 27:5-6)

Technology has its place and its uses (though I must admit, I prefer to work in the "dark ages," as my friends call it); however, we must beware of allowing it to ensnare us. Caller ID is just one example of technological temptations. Let us have true love for God, for His word, and for each other.

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ..." (Philippians 2:4,5)