“Social Media demands a lot of us on top of our
already demanding lives. There’s a difference between interest and commitment. So
let’s connect as we need to and renew our interest and ourselves.” Simon Mainwaring
Pastor Jay Y. Kim in his book, Analog
Church, shares of an experience at a local restaurant after being convicted
about the overuse of his own smartphone at home, keeping him from being present
with his family:
“I
was having lunch alone. The restaurant was near a local high school which has
an open campus policy, so shortly after I sat down to eat, several students
began to file in together for a quick bite before heading back to class. Once
again, I’d been on my phone—this time actually checking email. But when I saw
the students walk in, I decided to people watch for a while, paying special
attention to how they would interact while sharing a meal. What I saw saddened
me but did not surprise me. In total, fourteen students ate at that restaurant
during the lunch hour, all of them sitting in friend groups, not a single one
of them alone. And in total, thirteen of them had a phone in their hands for
the vast majority of the time, occasionally looking up to chat with one
another, but for the money ost part, losing themselves to their digital content, all
while sitting so tantalizingly close to other actual human beings. They were,
in the words of Sherry Turkle’s aptly titled book, “alone together.” Entranced
by the endless sea of digital possibilities, these kids were missing out on the
very unique gift of analog presence surrounding them. While they were busy
communicating with the digital world (many of them sending texts and Snapchat
messages), they were squandering the opportunity to commune with the real
people in their midst. This is what community often looks like in the digital
age. Lonely individuals falling prey, over and over again, to the great
masquerade of digital technology—the ability to lull us into a state of
isolation via the illusion of digital connection.”
Smartphones are ubiquitous and if we’re honest,
they’re very addictive. Imagine for a
moment though if you went to your refrigerator to find all of the same things that you look at your phone for. Along
with food stored there, you opened the door for a friend’s contact information,
your stereo system, to post a picture, etc. Would you be very tempted to
overeat?
Part of the victory over poor eating is not having
those options readily available. Our smartphones are filled with lots of “junk food”
that’s filling us up, taking the place of true life. It’s very easy to
overindulge on social media. Like continually grabbing junk food, it becomes a
bad habit. Some suggest a complete social media fast. For most that’s too drastic.
Yet, I think a “social media diet” is a healthy choice for most of us.
Personally, I’ve found that social media and
media, in general, is often too toxic for me. I seek to limit how much I ingest. I want
my phone to be MY tool and not be its slave. Here are some benefits of a media/social
media diet.
More
time for what’s really important. By limiting social media, you’ll be
amazed at how much time is freed up. It’s impossible to have a quality
conversation with those that we truly care about if we’re scanning our phones.
In the U.S. (aside from work usage), the average person spends a little over 7
hours a day watching TV or looking at their mobile device.
The
Bible says that we’re to be “making the best use of the time,
because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). We’re not promised tomorrow and
neither are those that we care about. A “diet” gives us time for what has
lasting value. With a bit of a media diet think of the free time for more
social interaction with others, reading books and material that redirects our
focus on our eternal Heavenly Father, not this temporal world.
You’ll
have a clearer mind. Most notice almost immediately by dramatically limiting
media that they feel more clear-minded. Being in front of a computer or phone
screen for an extended period of time can even cause physical issues such as
headaches, dry eyes, and eye irritation.
Most
find it easier then to focus on what is going on where they are in the present and
less on what everyone else is doing. While it’s important to engage with friends
and family, constant posts and scrolling through news feeds can make your mind
feel jumbled and distracted.
It enables you to experience life in the
moment. Stepping away from media allows us to be more in the present
moment and utilize our minds with intention and purpose as God intends for us. Media
is very distracting. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone
with the TV on, or when they’re scanning their phone? It’s nearly impossible.
A
media diet enables you to enjoy life’s moments and relationships with more
intent. It opens our hours to be filled with the time God has given us and helps
us to better see His working in our lives.
It
can help you sleep better. Studies show that the use of a screen prior
to bed can cause a great disruption of sleep. The longer you’re on them prior to
attempting to sleep, the longer it will take to actually fall asleep. You’ll probably
find that a media diet helps you feel more rested. The effects our screens have
on our quality of living are more than most of us realize. And a good night’s
rest is a great starting point for a new day!
It will help you have stronger relationships. Loneliness
has become an epidemic. While we’re interacting with people via our phones
hundreds of times a day, most of us have very few meaningful interactions with
people on a daily basis. You’ll find that this frees up time and you won’t feel
so rushed, leaving more time to relax and spend quality time in conversation.
We
were created for relationship with our Heavenly Father and with each other, limiting
media is an awesome way to get away from faux relationships and back to the
real thing!
It
will help you have a stronger relationship with your Heavenly Father.
Even for those of us who live kingdom-minded lives, it’s so easy to become distracted. When we slip out of focus with
God, we see it in our lives and so does the world. We become more easily
agitated, we feel busy and anxious. All of these things are not only detrimental
to us, but also to our relationships and our testimony for the Lord Jesus.
As
we mature in our faith we begin to see that any focus that is not fully on the Christ
is out of focus. We need to be in the Word, growing and maturing so we can
better serve His Kingdom and better enjoy this abundant life that Jesus died to
give us. If you’re not regularly in God’s Word or find your time rushed, a
media diet will free up time to help you know better the Father who loves you
so much that He gave His Son for you and has a wonderful plan for each day. That
time and communication is essential for your spiritual health and for your life
to have significance.
The
best time to start a new healthy habit is today. Try it! Let me know the
wonderful changes that God gives you from a media diet.
Can
we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out
more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at
262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life,
I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My
Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy.
Please include your mailing address.
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