Educating HKBP Maranatha Payung Sekaki Teenagers on the Wise Use of Technology in the Digital Era: A Practical-Theological Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59525/gej.1990Keywords:
Adolescents, Church Education, Digital Era, Digital Technology, Practical TheologyAbstract
The rapid development of digital technology has transformed many aspects of human life, including the mindset and behavior of adolescents who are growing up alongside this technological advancement. On one hand, digital technology offers opportunities for youth to access information, communicate, and participate more broadly in church ministry. This study aims to analyze the reality of digital technology use among youth at HKBP Maranatha Payung Sekaki, identify its impact, and formulate concrete forms of church ministry in educating adolescents to use technology wisely through a practical theology approach. This research employs a qualitative method, with data collected through observation and interviews involving church workers, parents, and adolescents undergoing catechism (sidi) instruction at HKBP Maranatha Payung Sekaki. The findings reveal that adolescents in this congregation have utilized social media platforms to share devotionals, disseminate worship schedules, and participate in fellowship activities; however, they continue to face the risk of technology dependence, which may weaken their direct spiritual engagement. The church is found to need closer collaboration with parents, adequate training for educators, and a structured, participatory educational approach to help adolescents balance technology use with faith development. This study concludes that practical theology-based education can serve as an effective foundation for the church in guiding adolescents to use digital technology wisely, without compromising Christian values, thereby supporting the sustainable intellectual and spiritual growth of youth.
References
Aandrews, Edward D. The Young Christians Survival Guide: Common Questions Young Christians are Asked about God, the Bible and the Christian Faith Answered. Nashville: Christian Publishing House. 2023.
Apriyanti, R. S., Djoys Anneke Rantung, dan Lamhot Naibaho. "Integrasi Teknologi dalam Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Kristen (PAK) sebagai Peluang dan Tantangan di Era Digital." Journal of Educational, Vol. 6, No. 1 (2023): 7609–7610.
Aydin, M. K., Yildirim, T., & Kus, M. (2024). Teachers' digital competences: A scale construction and validation study. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1356573. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1356573
Barron J. (2016). “The Role of Technology in Church Youth Mentoring”. Journal of Youth Ministry, Vol. 14 No. 1.
Bell, Emma, Alan Bryman and Bill Harley. Business Research Methods. Walton Street: Oxford University Press. 2019.
Bobii, Petrus. Remaja dan Kehidupan RohaninyaGowa: CV. Ruang Tenor. 2024.
Burge, Gary M and Andrew E. Hill. The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group. 2015.
Dalensang, Remelia dan Melky Molle. "Peran Gereja dalam Pengembangan Pendidikan Kristen bagi Anak Muda pada Era Teknologi Digital." Jurnal Abdiel: Khazanah Pemikiran Teologi, Pendidikan Agama Kristen dan Musik Gereja, Vol. 5, No. 2 (2021): 255–271.
Darti, dkk. "Pembelajaran Transformatif Pendidikan Agama Kristen di Era Teknologi Digital." Regula Fidei: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Kristen, Vol. 8, No. 2 (2023): 133–146.
Fettke, Peter and Wolfgang Reisig. Understanding the Digital World: Modeling with HERAKLIT. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. 2024.
Ganguli, Siddhartha. Smart Leading and Parenting of Teenage Kids in the Digital Era. Dubash House: Allied Publishers Pvt. Limited. 2021.
Groome, Thomas H. Christian Religious Education. Jakarta: BPK Gunung Mulia. 2010.
Gulo, Rezeki Putra dan Tony Salurante. "Urgensi Kolaborasi Orang Tua dan Guru Pendidikan Agama Kristen dalam Mewujudkan Pendidikan Spiritual Efektif bagi Anak." Sinar Kasih:Jurnal Pendidikan Agama dan Filsafat, Vol. 1, No. 3 (2023): 23–34.
Gunarsa, Singgih D. dan Yulia Singgih D. Gunarsa. Psikologi Perkembangan Anak dan Remaja. Jakarta: BPK Gunung Mulia. 2006.
Härtel, Charmine E. J, Wilfred J. Zerbe, and Neal M. Ashkanasy. Emotions and Service in the Digital Age. Leeds: Emerald Publishing Limited. 2020.
Heryanto, H., Priandana, D., dan Tambunan, R. H. "Peran Gereja dalam Penguatan Karakter Remaja di Era Digital." HARVESTER: Jurnal Teologi dan Kepemimpinan Kristen, Vol. 9, No. 2 (2024): 169–180.
Huria Kristen Batak Protestan. Panindangion Haporseaon – Pengakuan Iman HKBP – The Confession of Faith of the HKBP – Konfessi Tahun 1951 dan Tahun 1996. Pematangsiantar: Percetakan HKBP. 2013.
Miller-McLemore, Bonnie. The Wiley Blackwell Reader in Practical Theology. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. 2019.
Nababan, Doni Abadi, dkk. "Peran Pendidikan Agama Kristen dalam Mengatasi Dampak Penggunaan Teknologi bagi Remaja di Era Digital." Harati: Jurnal Pendidikan Kristen, Vol. 3, No. 2 (2023).
Nelson, Thomas. King James Version Bible Commentary for Today: The Most Up-to-date Commentary on the Time-honored Text of the King James Version. New York City: HarperCollins Publisher. 2023.
Ngwainmbi, Emmanuel K. Dismantling Cultural Borders Through Social Media and Digital Communications How Networked Communities Compromise Identity. Cham: Springer International Publishing. 2022.
Pandie, Remegises Danial Yohanis. "Literasi Digital Berbasis Pendidikan Kristiani sebagai Sarana Pembentukan Karakter Era Disrupsi Teknologi." Edukatif: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, Vol. 4, No. 4 (2022): 5995–6002.
Park, Jong Soo. Christian Education Curriculum for the Digital Generation A Case Study of Second-Generation Korean Australian Youth. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers. 2015.
Purba, John Tampil dan Fredik Melkias Boilio. Strategi Manajemen Gereja di Era Kontemporer: Suatu pendekatan Empiris Untuk Meningkatkan Efektivitas Pelayanan. Tajurhalang: PT. Albarendra Global Publisher. 2025.
Purba, Sudiarjo. "Literasi Digital: Sebuah Upaya Pelaku Pendidikan Agama Kristen dalam Membangun Integritas Remaja Gereja." Jurnal Shanan, Vol. 6, No. 2 (2022): 183–200.
Quinton, Sarah and Nina Reynolds. Understanding Research in the Digital Age. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications. 2018.
Ramler, Dahlia K and Gregg G. Van Ryzin. Research Methods in Practice: Strategies for Description and Causation. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications. 2021.
Rantung, Djoys Anneke dan Fredik Melkias Boiliu. "Teknologi dalam Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Kristen yang Antisipatif di Era Revolusi Industri 4.0." Jurnal Shanan, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2020): 93–107.
Schatzberg, Eric. Technology: Critical History of a Concept. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2018.
Smith, James E. Proverbs, a Commentary. Morrisville: Lulu.com. 2019.
Smith, S. A. (2017). “ The role of church leaders in using technology to enhance church-based youth mentoring programs”. Christian Education Journal. Vol. 14 No. 1.
Stiles, W. B and T. Egli. Mentoring in the Context of Christian Ministry: In Handbook of Youth Mentoring 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. 2016.
Wahyuli, Sari. Qualitative Research Method Theory and Practice 3rd Edition. Jakarta: Penerbit Salemba. 2024.
Walvoord, John F and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Colorado Springs: David C Cook. 2018.
Waruwu, Arman. Teologi Reformed Tentang Ketekunan Orang-orang Kudus. Malang: CV. Multimedia Edukasi. 2021.
Wommack, Andrew. Proverbs: Timeless Wisdom for a Life of Blessing. Franklin: Harrison House. 2017.
Yu, Yuxin and Yanqing Jiang. Understanding the Digital Revolution and Its Influences. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. 2024.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Manasse Sinaga
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
