The influence of technology in our culture is absolutely astounding. In a recent conversation with friends, we talked about the advances that have been made just in our lifetimes. It’s really unbelievable. And when I contemplate it all, I often think to myself, “There’s nothing left to invent. We have it all.” And that’s just when the latest announcement arrives, and the people begin lining up in Times Square. Between televisions, computers, and cell phones, the average American spends an enormous amount of time staring at an electronic screen. And most of us never really stop to question the habit. If anything, we marvel at how much we are able to accomplish. But are we really accomplishing that much?
If I think realistically about my own life, I would have to admit that electronic media doesn’t really increase my output in productivity. If anything it provides more of a distraction. Think about your time on the internet. Are you really getting important things done? Probably not. And the countless text messages you send everyday? And the time you spend status-checking on facebook and twitter?
I’m certainly not advocating a full-scale dismissal of all electronic media from our lives. These things really do help us, providing communication channels, access to information, and a host of other benefits. But as Christians we are called to “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). We are part of a kingdom that is breaking in, and every moment is precious. Every moment carries eternal weight. Life and death is always at stake.
The brain is a unique organ. And scientists and doctors still really don’t understand all that much about it. But study after study shows that over-stimulation to technology does have consequences. Take Kord Campbell for example. He lives with a computer on 24 hours a day. His iPad accompanies him to breakfast, and he falls asleep with it on his chest at night. Has this affected him? Ask his wife. “It seems like he can no longer be fully in the moment.” The article goes on to quote his 8-year-old daughter playfully telling her father that he loves technology more than family. Is this what we’re coming to? Sure this is an extreme case. But how much does your use of technology affect the relationships you have? Do you want your child one day saying this about you?
The Bible has a word it uses for things we can’t get enough of. Things that we allow to control us. Things that we just can’t live without. It calls these things “idols.” And I’ve always been fascinated by the description given in Scripture of how an idol can completely take over someone’s life: “Those who make [idols] become like them; so do all who trust in them” (Ps. 115:8). Are we recreating ourselves in the image of electronic media? Are we cultivating heart habits of distraction and superficiality as a result of the constant barrage of images and meaningless information.
I thinks it’s time for a soul check…
I think its all in the way you use it for instance without this computer or internet connect I would never be able to read this blog. You make alot of good points but the verse that pops in my head is this
The Bible says, “If you find honey, eat just enough–too much of it, and you will vomit” (Proverbs 25:16)
I think this applies to 99.9 percent of things in life except GOD!
I agree. The third paragraph above notes the helpfulness. I really don’t think anyone needs to make arguments for the positives of technology. That is assumed in culture. My post is trying to give some cautions. We think that it all advances our quality of life so much, but I want to question that. When fb begins to replace person to person interaction, we should take note. Likewise, access to information doesn’t make us smarter. In fact, there’s a lot of data out there that seems to point in the other direction. We seem to have superficial knowledge of a lot of things, but deeper knowledge (of God, people, or subjects) seems to be rarer and rarer as our souls lack the capacity to focus in the midst of distraction. My eyes are really opened to these things when I go to third world places and see how they interact and live life without it all. Are their lives worse? I don’t think so. So yes, we need balance. And my goal is to help provide some much needed balance by showing that technology does have negative consequences too. Thanks for your comment.