Iron Man

Week #2

Romans 13:8-14" “8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to
love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The
commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not
covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one
rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor.
Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Mixer

1.) Divide your group in half. Have each group see how
many pieces of technology they have between all of
them. The group with the most pieces wins.

Going Deeper

1.) Last week our group came up with a “three word

description” of Tony Stark. (Take a moment to
reconstruct that definition). Does the same definition
hold this week? Come up with a new three-word definition
of our protagonist.

2.) Tony Stark is undergoing a huge life change, what

changes him? (Note the experience in the cave: It’s both
the vision of life that matters he sees in Yinsen [a life
with family, that holds out sacrificing for the other as an
virtue] and having the veil lifted on how his actions have
consequences [i.e. he makes weapons and has now had
to experience the “fruits” of his labor.]

3.) Iron Man is a movie about technology. (Obadiah Stane

says, “We’re iron mongers, we make weapons.”) What is
technology? How do we define it? (Come up with a definition
as a group – but acknowledge that we will broaden this definition
next month when we watch Wall-E). How does the way Tony
Stark uses technology change in the movie so far?

4.) Think about the game we played earlier, all of have

technology and use it as a normal part of our lives.
© Dixon Kinser 2009
 Decide as a group, is technology good or bad? How do
make the distinction between what is good and what is
evil? How does Paul’s admonition in Roman’s help us
decide?

There is an assumption in our culture that technology is an unqualified

“good”. Christians have to be wiser than this, when it comes to our
technological age. Technology can be used for good or it can be used
for evil. It’s the usage that gives it moral value. That said, technology
is not always good. Building on Paul’s admonition in Roman’s 13, the
way we tell the difference between whether something is being used
for good or evil is the way it affects relationships. Is our tech
generating wholeness and healing in our relationship to God, our
neighbor, the Creation or ourselves? If so, it’s a good usage a Christian
would say. If not, it’s a “bad” usage.

When Paul says, “10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law.” This is some of what he’s getting at. He’s councils
the church to live by a relational ethic. Good is based on results or
efficiency as much as relationship. So, we don’t lie to each other, not
simply because it makes community inefficient or it’s against “the
rules”. No, we don’t lie (cheat, steal, lust, murder, covet etc.) because
we love each other. This is the fulfillment of the law – a community
that lives out its directives because of love. Do you feel me?

The same thing applies to technology.

5.) Brainstorm three common technologies we use

everyday. As a group discuss how each can be used for
good or for evil using Paul’s “relational ethic” as your
guide.

For more on technology check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-Dimensional_Man

It’s a good redefinition of technology that might give you some helpful
categories.

© Dixon Kinser 2009