“Google it” is a phrase we hear all the time, and it has become a habit to look for answers about everything online—even questions about God. But God wants us to seek Him first.
by rev Philip Wepener
With smartphones, laptops and tablets to hand, we now use Google to find everything from car repairs to pudding recipes and even medical advice.
We increasingly turn to Google not only for practical tips, but also for answers to our spiritual questions. Yet, can we, or should we, trust the answers Google gives about God? Let’s look for answers in God’s Word rather than relying on Google first!
Don’t make Google your first port of call
When it comes to God and spiritual matters, Google should not be our primary counsellor. Consider these problems:
- Google tends to prioritise pages that match your search terms exactly.
- The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming.
- How do we know which sources are reliable?
- When sources contradict one another, how can we tell which is correct?
- Which articles are fact-based, and which are opinion?
Search engines are powerful and accessible. Yet, having so much information at our fingertips only highlights our need for wisdom and discernment. For a deeper understanding of God, it is insufficient to rely on Google alone.
Remember this when you are searching for answers
1. Pray to God with all your heart
Jeremiah 29:12–13 (NIV) says:
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
The Bible repeatedly invites us to approach God boldly. We must not allow apparently all-knowing Google to take the place of God in our hearts. Pray that God will help us break the habit of placing other sources of knowledge above His wisdom (see Philippians 4:6).
2. The Holy Spirit reveals God’s Word to us
True answers are often not found online, but in Scripture. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to teach us and remind us of his words. John 14:26 (NIV) says:
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Paul reminds us that we have received the Spirit of God so we can understand what God has freely given us (1 Corinthians 2:12). The Spirit even searches the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10). This is something Google cannot promise. The true Helper dwells within us.
3. God wants us to know more about Him
Remember 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV):
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
This verse sums up why God wants our wholehearted trust: He cares and provides wisdom that cannot be found elsewhere. Ask Him. And, trust Him.
4. Not everything online is untrustworthy
Using Google alongside the Bible can be helpful. There are trustworthy online resources. Read the “About us” section on every website to learn more about what the owner of the site believes. Also, don’t hesitate to ask your pastor for recommended, trustworthy sources.
Make it a habit to seek God first
We habitually turn to Google first because it is easy, fast and convenient. Breaking that habit is hard, but possible by the Spirit.
God wants us to seek Him first. So bring your questions to Him. He will answer and meet your needs. Instead of relying on Google’s human wisdom alone, let us first turn to the Word of God, the true source of wisdom.
