Have you ever gone online to a website or an app to do something useful - Reserve a table, research information, or check something for work? But one link comes another and 30 minutes or an hour passes and you could not remember why you picked up your phone in the first place? Whenever this happens to us, it is a reminder that technology can either be used as a tool to experience long-term joy or it is something that uses us and replaces long-term joy with short-term pleasure. Jesus says that to follow Him, we must be willing to invest our lives in following him. If we say we want to follow Jesus and then spend our time doing things that do not draw us closer to Him, aren't we putting short-term pleasures in front of Him? How then should we change to spend our time wisely and efficiently?
Have you ever gone online to a website or an app to do something useful - Reserve a table, research information, or check something for work? But one link comes another and 30 minutes or an hour passes and you could not remember why you picked up your phone in the first place? Whenever this happens to us, it is a reminder that technology can either be used as a tool to experience long-term joy or it is something that uses us and replaces long-term joy with short-term pleasure. Jesus says that to follow Him, we must be willing to invest our lives in following him. If we say we want to follow Jesus and then spend our time doing things that do not draw us closer to Him, aren't we putting short-term pleasures in front of Him? How then should we change to spend our time wisely and efficiently?
While technology does a wonderful job of connecting us to those around us, it unfortunately allows us to stay disconnected from each other as well. In other words, technology helps us connect with those who have similar interests and worldviews as our own. This ability enables us to filter out ideas and views that differ from our own and as an extension, the people that have those ideas and views. As Christ followers, how does this line up with the way God calls us to live? Does this function of technology align or contradict the values of Scripture?
While technology does a wonderful job of connecting us to those around us, it unfortunately allows us to stay disconnected from each other as well. In other words, technology helps us connect with those who have similar interests and worldviews as our own. This ability enables us to filter out ideas and views that differ from our own and as an extension, the people that have those ideas and views. As Christ followers, how does this line up with the way God calls us to live? Does this function of technology align or contradict the values of Scripture?
All of us are designed to be in relationship with each other. This is what makes us human. However, as digital technology and communication advances there is less and less need and opportunity to interact with people in person. We have the ability to hide those parts we don’t want seen by other people like never before. Therefore more people know less about us and we aren't really known to anyone. In such a world how do you and I maintain the relationships that are mandated by Scripture?
As people, we are designed by God to be in relationship with each other. This is what defines us human. However, as digital technology and communication advances there is less and less need and opportunity to interact with people in person. We have the ability to hide those parts we don’t want seen by other people like never before. Therefore more people know less about us and we aren't really known to anyone. In such a world how do you and I maintain the relationships that are mandated by Scripture?