I have a love/hate relationship with technology.
At times I get frustrated with how much of our lives are tied up in technology … and yet that “convenience” is the very thing that makes me like it.
This past week I experienced the two sides of this …
One of my favorite families in my local church has two boys who play soccer. The oldest of the two played a game on Monday and the youngest on Thursday. I attended both games and delighted in the “calm”—feeling the cool breeze amidst the sun beating down, enjoying a delightful game of soccer. Though neither won their game, I thoroughly enjoyed the time away from technology.
Sometimes it is during these “times away” that remind me how enjoyable life can be without the pressures, beeps, and buzzes of tech (or when it doesn’t work like last weekend when my email system wasn’t working to send out the weekly deeperChristian wrap-up email haha).
But on the flip-side, I love what technology allows us to do. I can study the Bible in ways people 50 years ago couldn’t even fathom. I’ve been relearning Greek and the flashcard program on my iPhone not only is fun to use but helps me form better habits. I could go on and on, but simply, I do enjoy technology.
This week, while writing my next article for the Set Apart Girl Magazine (note: I write an article about Bible Study in each magazine issue), I focused on distractions and technology and mentioned a few stats I recently heard:
- It has been reported that the average teenager exchanges 4000 text messages each month (averaging one text every six minutes they are awake)
- 53% of people report checking email while driving
- Office workers check email up to 40 times per hour
- One study found that Americans check their phones an average of 80 times a day while on vacation, with some checking their screen more than 300 times each day
- 67% of people check their phone for messages, alerts, or calls even when they don’t notice their phone ringing or vibrating
- Awkwardly, 75% of Americans admit to using their phone in the bathroom (30% of which say they never go to the bathroom without their phone)
- And 35% of Americans check their phone before getting out of bed in the morning
It appears that we as a culture are addicted to technology and live in a tech stupor full of beep and buzzes.
May I freshly remind you that we are not to be tied to anything but Christ. And while technology is not inherently evil and a lot of good can come of it (not to mention an amazing way to proclaim the truth of the Gospel and God’s Word), let us take the charge from the book of Hebrews:
“… let us lay aside every
If you are distracted by devices and walking around in a tech stupor, let me encourage you to turn your gaze afresh upon Jesus Christ.
Know I am cheering you on unto that end.
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