I had considered a lengthy sub-title for this post. Perhaps something like this: “the unseen and potentially dire consequences of surrendering our life’s control to technology.” Then I got to thinking about aesthetics and blog post titles… figured it would be better to just keep it short.
The world is more connected than ever by technology, and our lives are more than ever dominated by that same technology. Many of us read the news online, follow several blogs (or dozens), rabidly monitor our Facebook and Twitter feeds, “pinning” and “liking” scattered items across the Internet.
These things connect us in so many ways and make information so extremely accessible. This accessibility is part of what leads us to engage in our technology more and more. It used to take a great deal more effort to engage with technology. Now I can simply pull my phone from my pocket and watch a video on YouTube, stream a newscast, check and send email, take a photo, text my wife, read/write a blog post, post to Twitter, add a Facebook friend, update my apps, buy a song, check stocks, play music, send a file…you get the idea.
With all of these things right at our fingertips, it’s a wonder we do much of anything else. I’m realizing that this train of thought is normal for me. Did a quick search on my own site here on the word “information.” Seems I’ve contemplated some of this before. I’m not concerned that the medium is bad or evil, but that in unseen ways we are distracted by it and even controlled by it. Our minds wonder about it when we’re away from it…and therefore we are distracted by it in our hearts.
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- “Wonder if people like that photo I just posted.”
- “I hope someone comments on that blog post.”
- “Better check the score of the game again real quick.”
- “Let me get one more update on what _____ said about that.”
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We also wander when we’re engaged actively with it. This comes in the form of clicking a link out of curiosity and then spending the next 30 minutes on a rabbit trail of posts and links and articles that really have little to no actual impact on our lives, other than to keep us from doing something truly important at hand (whatever that may be for you or me). Most of what we touch in the world of technology is tied to the Internet and therefore a gazillion “other” things than the one thing we began with.
I think this is hard to talk about and write about for several reasons. Two of the most significant reasons that I’ve wrestled with as I’ve thought this through are these:
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- I don’t want to admit that I have a problem
- I’m not sure I want to change anything if I do have a problem
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Simple, huh? When we start asking questions about existing patterns in our lives, there is an immediate discomfort and internal squirming. Our heart begins right away to say, “This is for other people, not me,” or, “Boy, I’m sure glad Chad (or whoever) is starting to focus in on this, it’s obviously a big deal for him,” or, “Nope, I don’t have a problem at all, I’m good.” None of us wants to admit that we might have a problem. If we do, of course we’d most likely prefer to not change, because we like our problems.
A few years ago I wrote a song lyric that identifies with this thought:
so won’t you please just step away
i’m not sure i need you around
pretty sure i can do this on my own
down here in my misery
i’ve got perfect company
me and my sin, we feel right at home
On the surface I don’t really want anyone telling me I’m a sinner. I don’t really want you digging into my life and finding out that I’m not everything you had hoped for. Being known, being revealed is not exactly a comforting thought to us. We’d all prefer that people go on thinking we are the truly wonderful people we’re made out to be from a distance.
What does all of this have to do with control? I think we need to be vigilant with regard to our sin. The verse that keeps going through my mind is this:
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
– Hebrews 12:1-2
We run, as the psalmist says, “in the path of [His] commands, because [He] has set our hearts free.” When we use technology it is worth our consideration to ask, “Is this a hindrance of any kind to my running this race (life) with perseverance?” Though we may be afraid to ask it, or maybe even if we already know the answer and don’t like it, we should ask, “Is the time I’m spending with this technology and all the associated spiritual space it takes up in my life keeping me from fixing my eyes on Jesus?”
Are we the ones with the control of the technology in our lives or is technology controlling us? Are we wise enough to ask these questions and humble enough to receive instruction from God in these issues?
Test comment.
I am addicted to the webernet, and I can admit it. 🙂
Thanks for the comment, babe! Glad you’re willing to admit it. But are you going to do anything about it?
Unless you are willing to turn away from the world like the Amish, I think that we need to remember about moderation in everything and keep our values uppermost when we do or pursue anything. Sin is sin whether by commission or omission and hopefully we can separate our pastimes and paths of communication from following a Spirit- led life. To borrow a phrase from my late mother- technology “is not MY God!”
Hi Heidi! Love that phrase from your mother!
I definitely don’t think the answer is turning away from the world… unless that’s what it takes to become free in your heart. I also don’t think that “everything that hinders” is necessarily sin. Not that you were saying that, but it was another lingering thought I had after pushing the “Post” button.
I think a big part of the answer actually lies in asking the question and being honest with ourselves in response. Could we be sinning in this context? Yes, and I think we often do. Can we enjoy the blessings that technology brings and use it at length without sinning? I think so, yes.
What I find to be true about technology and the way we use it is that it is sneaky. It’s so integrated into our lives that we usually don’t think much about it when we use it. That may not be a “bad” thing in and of itself, but that fact lends itself to subtle corruption if we’re not careful. That’s probably true of a great many things, but those things aren’t usually quite as easy of an option. At least, IMHO, technology is sneakier than a lot of stuff out there in my life, because it’s so tightly woven into the fabric of my day-to-day.