ForgottenWoman

The Evils of that Phone in Your Hand

Yep. We’re gonna tackle this subject – one that seems to be gaining in popularity among various demographics of society. Y’all know that I spend a lot of time with people who are Christians, and many of us are understandably concerned about the influences that we bring into our lives. Maybe that’s why I’ve been hearing many discussions, lectures, and messages on this subject.

I will acknowledge that we need to practice balance with everything in our lives. I will also admit that time in the great outdoors is physically and mentally healthy. And let’s go ahead and mention the frustration of spending time with someone who never looks up because their face is buried in their phone. Surely, we can agree on these three general statements.

But, it may shock you to hear another perspective from this 60+ year old Mom/Grandmommy and advocate for spending time with the Lord, people, and the great outdoors.

Let me begin with some simple facts. I used to have a Webster’s Dictionary on my shelf. I now carry a dictionary in my hand within my phone. I used to have a yellow phone book in a drawer in my kitchen. My phone book is now located inside my phone. Paying bills used to require that I have a ledger, checkbook, and bank statements on my desk. I now click a button on my phone to pay every single bill: from my mortgage payment to my power bill. Those horrid paper maps that everyone yelled at me to use while taking trips – well, my navigation in now on my phone! Y’all, I even have an app on my phone that allows me to find library books, download them on my phone or reserve them with the click of a button. Calculator? On my phone. Level? On my phone. Music? On my phone. Sermons? On my phone. Podcasts? On my phone. News? On my phone. Word games to keep my mind sharp? On my phone. Scripture memory app? On my phone. Oh, and let’s not forget that ever-present camera to capture moments that I don’t want to forget!

So yes. I spend a lot of time on my phone – doing what I used to do in other ways. I’ll get to social media in a moment. It has it’s own story.

It has been stated repeatedly and from various platforms that the amount of time that we are on our phones (or the small computer in our hands) indicates that it is an idol in our lives. Or maybe you’ve heard that since we can watch almost anything we desire at any time through our phones or smart TVs means that entertainment is our idol.

May I respectfully ask that we remove this language from our discussions? The idols of the Bible – the ones that God warns us against worshiping were pagan gods. They were statues or made-up beings that people literally worshipped on purpose! They intentionally gave them the place of God in their lives. And yes, there are millions today who on purpose worship false gods. I have personally known people who had little statues of idols throughout their homes or the names of “saints” painted over their doors – they “prayed” to them; they worshiped them!

While I may spend too much time on my phone or being entertained by movies, I can assure you that I do not worship either. I worship God and God alone. Why does this matter? Because we mustn’t add or take away from what God actually says. When we do so, we not only dishonor Him and the very point He is making, but we push people away from our Savior, the One True God. While doing s,o we also misrepresent the beauty of serving Him!

Many even take the idea of idolatry versus serving and loving God to a further extreme, teaching that anything that we enjoy is wrong. Does anyone really want to give the impression to an unsaved world that the true believer is miserable? That there no beauty or joy to be found? That if we enjoy something, we need to remove it from our lives? I can’t find anything close to that in Scripture. The popular term “minimalist” has crept into Christian circles, where self-righteous individuals declare themselves to have reached a new standard of spirituality because they’ve decluttered their lives, removing anything that only has the purpose of beauty or enjoyment. If you prefer minimal furnishings and decor in your home, great! It isn’t a sign of spirituality! I love “beauty” and “things” that have meaning to me – either from loved ones who have passed away or from loved ones who are still here! I find comfort and safety in being surrounded by things that make my home my home... Does this mean that I don’t seek comfort and safety from my Heavenly Father? Absolutely not! It means that God uses these things in my life, and I’m grateful!

Now, on to social media. Dangerous? Absolutely. It is very dangerous to look to social media for validation, to compare what it looks like someone else’s life is to what our reality is. This is especially dangerous for young, developing minds and understandings of the world. Isn’t it wonderful when adults are mature enough to be able to discern and to use social media for the positive things that it can be used for? Parents have the right to determine when and how much their children are exposed to social media, and we as adults have the responsibility to continually grow in our ability to use all things in life for positive influence, and use discernment in determining what is true and what is not. It is also an indication of who we are, and not the fault of social media, when keyboard bullies use social media to attack or hurt others instead of positively impacting others.

Now, let’s be honest. You and I can certainly be influenced in negative ways by social media. I can get my feelings hurt or misinterpret someone’s sharing in a way that makes me feel less than or discouraged. But to be fair, that can happen in a church setting where everyone is putting forth their best face on Sunday mornings as well. You and I determine whether we are authentic, loving, caring, honest or not! And you and I determine whether we take the time to discern what is around us or not.

On a personal note: I have chosen to use social media as a ministry platform – where I share, seek to encourage, and more. Yes, I want to see “likes” on my sharing – not because I find my value in the number of likes or followers, but because it means that God is using my life in a small way! I do ask that you “follow” my page – because I want to be connected to you, to learn from you, to share with you what God is teaching me, and listen to your insight! I will even ask that you invite others to follow my page if you feel that they may benefit from the connection. Is this making social media an idol in my life? No more than those who use magazines or newspapers, or pulpits to share.

The bottom line: All things change. Our society changes. The way we communicate changes. You may prefer a landline in your home to connect with others. Right or wrong? Neither! You may prefer a handwritten note to text. Right or wrong? Neither! (I love both!) You may not want to have a Facebook or other social media account. Right or wrong? Neither! It’s what we do with these things that determines right or wrong.

If I’m going to lead a Bible study or talk to someone about sin, I’d better stick to what God actually says. If I’m going to call anything an idol, I better actually know what an idol is and address things that are actually being worshipped. Yes! Challenge one another to be careful. Challenge one another to do the healthiest thing. Challenge one another to spend time with God each day, in His Word, renewing our minds and serving Him. But we must be very careful about adding to His Word in order to make a point.

Now – I would LOVE It if you would go to my Facebook page and click the follow button! It doesn’t mean that I’m going to spam you. It doesn’t mean that you agree with everything that I share. It simply means that you will get notified when I post, and you can choose what you do with it. I need your follows to make the most of what I’m trying to do. And I appreciate it. I hope you will consider my thoughts on this subject today, without taking offense.