If our technology had existed in Jesus’ day, our Bibles might read: “Jesus asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ but they were checking their e-mail and missed the question.” Or “A third time He asked him, ‘Simon . . . do you love Me?’ Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time, but then his cell phone rang and he replied, ‘I’m sorry, Lord, I’ve got to take this.’ ” Or on Pentecost, “Peter continued preaching for a long time, and a handful of people believed and were baptized while thousands more texted and sent out tweets on Twitter” (see Mark 8:27-28; John 21:15; Acts 2:40-41).
Technology can stifle our spiritual growth in subtle ways. The first Christians “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). None of these things come easily in our wired world.
Who has the time or discipline to study the apostles’ teaching and pray when cable television and the Internet jangle with unimportant yet interesting diversions? Let’s face it, our lives would be little changed if we missed that latest score, review, or celebrity gossip. Yet filling our minds with such minutiae comes at some cost, for we may unknowingly project our reading of the virtual world upon the eternal truths of God’s Word. When everything is trivial, then anything is trivial.
Fellowship and community are thought to be the strengths of our new media, but busy texters ignore us and intrusive phone calls interrupt us. We often sit in the presence of bodies whose minds are elsewhere.
Lest you think I’m simply a hater of today’s technology, ask yourself this: When the Good Shepherd leads you beside “peaceful streams,” do you “rest in green meadows” or reach for your iPhone?
More:
• Psalm 46:10
• Isaiah 30:15
• Colossians 4:2
Next:
Are you using technology or is technology using you? How might the constant diversions of our media influence your ability to think deeply in a single direction, and how might that impact your walk with Christ?
mysavinggrace on August 26, 2010 at 4:34 am
I used to be a technology addict that did not care about anything else but tv, texting, and facebook. But I felt empty inside. It wasn;t until I joined a bible study group that I began to feel that there are others who face the same problems and have the same doubts as I do. I felt comforted.
And nothing beats spending time reading God’s Word and talking to Him… He makes my life complete.
Deebrs on August 26, 2010 at 4:43 am
thank you for the reminder to not forget my first love…reading all the promises of GOD.
lindagma on August 26, 2010 at 7:29 am
Even good texting and email can become obstructive. As a new author, I was plugged into Christian author and agent newsletters as well as Christian blogs… to the point that I had little time to do anything else but attempt to keep up with my email… I finally canceled most of them and it’s so freeing! Now I can actually spend time with God.
loananna on August 26, 2010 at 9:37 am
I too like to use technology often, but in my mornings in front of my computer, the first thing I do is log on and do these devotions and write in my journal. It a habit i started and do daily, before i get going into my emails and such… But as they say once you do things seven times it becomes a habit.
Granted i have to get up earlier than the rest of the family, but try it….see how you may be blessed!
lmariecarter on August 26, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Thanks for sharing. this has convicted me also. it’s helping me to find other ways to worship God and spend more time with Him. I’ve been praying to strengthen my relationship with Him more and more. One thing I need to do is devote myself more to my work when I’m at work, instead of being on Facebook and the blogs sites. and when I’m at home, spend more time in His Word and just quiet time with Him and teaching my son. It’s a daily working process for me. This is actually my second day using my lunch time to devote to the Daily Journey and taking notes. So thank you.
Giovani Gracianti on August 26, 2010 at 8:45 pm
neither heigh nor depth, nor ANYTHING ELSE in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 8:39
mike wittmer on August 26, 2010 at 11:54 am
Work in Progress:
Try this. Unplug for one day. Pick a day when you don’t have to be contacted by work, and take a technology Sabbath. You might enjoy it so much that you’ll want to do it more often.
Come to think of it, it’s not a bad idea to unplug every Sabbath day. Every seventh day–which is usually Sunday for most people–completely unplug or at least greatly reduce your time online. You’ll see that the Sabbath was one of God’s best ideas!