“We can’t go on much longer morally. We can’t go on much longer scientifically. The technology that was supposed to save us is ready to destroy us. (...) Today the only bright spot on the horizon of this world is the promise of the coming again of Christ.” -Billy Graham
Billy Graham recognized that the innovations of technology has vastly resulted in society -and even Christians- compromising their convictions. Christians are called by God to be set apart; therefore, we must seek to use technology in an edifying manner. To average people, their cell phone is their personal assistant(completing any needed task), instant navigator (mobile GPS), communication mechanism (go-to method for verbal conversations), intellectual source(google supposably has all the answers) , or coping device (brain games) on demand. Cell phones offer all of these advantages, but they can also become addictive. Personally, I had to break this addiction of allowing my phone to control me. I realized that I was uselessly using my handheld device, spending valuable scrolling, focusing my mind on social media, and ultimately not using my device in a manner that was edifying.
On account of my journey of learning now to use my device with purpose, I want to encourage you to use your handheld device in a way that ultimately glorifies Christ and reflects His character. We will be looking at cell phone technology through three lenses: Invention, Invasion, and Intention.
One key question for us to consider is this:
Is my phone controlling me, or am I controlling my phone?
This leads us into examining what the invention was intended to be used for. While most individuals are consumed by this invention, that was not what Steve Jobs, the inventor of the Iphone, intended. He certainly acknowledged the great power handheld technology can have over all of us. Steve Jobs unveiled the Iphone in 2007. This was the first handheld device created that could be used without a keyboard or stylus. The purpose for the original touchscreen phone was to communicate and connect, but not to compromise how we spend our time-even Mr. Steve Jobs said that the purpose of the original Iphone was to more conveniently make phone calls. He acknowledged the great power handheld technology can have over all of us and shielded his children from it. History.com reported in 2020 that when the iPhone debuted, “Jobs believed the original iPhone’s crowning achievement, making phone calls.” (Roos)
The invasiveness of unrestrained cell phone addiction can cripple us from productivity, capture us from contentment, and contend for corrosion.
This invasion is not the fault of the device, but rather the users allowing technology to control them. The invasion is proven though numerous astounding studies such as one done in recent years. After surveying 100 college students, the research done by a satellite broadband provider in July of 2020 showed that the average American screen time per day in the United States was “projected to spend 3 months [out of the year] on their phone by the end of 2020, with 30% spending 4-6 hours a day on their phone. The typical American now spends 2-3 months per year on their phone.” (www.psychnewsdaily.com) This is not just a problem that teenagers face either- we have probably all seen situations like this where even parents are struggling to control their phone instead of letting their phone control them. This deep desire to be acknowledged can lead to compulsively checking your phone for validation. Scripture commands us to not strive for validation- but rather using our lives to be an ambassador of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 says, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
(New International Version, Gal. 1:10).
It is unbearably sad to think that the needs of those around all of us are ignored when we are so preoccupied with seeking validation on our phones. Not only are we addicted to these handheld devices, they also increase anxiety, loneliness, depression, low self-esteem, damage to eyes, motor vehicle accidents, lack of sleep, brain tumors, and migraines. You’re not alone coming to your senses in realization that you, too, may be compulsively spending useless time on your cell phone because I, too, found out that my compulsive habit of picking up my phone was a neurological and psychological addiction. After two months of retraining my brain, I no longer compulsively reach for my phone.
Compulsively checking your phone is actually a diagnosed condition called “NOMOPHOBIA, or NO Mobile PHone PhoBIA [which is] a psychological diagnosis for people who have a fear of being away from their phones”, according to Psychology Today.
Anyone who feels nervous, anxious, or afraid when they are away from their phones is dealing with this condition. In fact, “65% of respondents [in a study mentioned previously] said that they feel anxious when they don’t have their phones nearby.” (www.psychnewsdaily.com)
What exactly is causing this addiction? Dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical found inside your brain associated with pleasure, habits, learning and behavior. This chemical also contributes to our ability to plan, and focus. Neurotransmitters that act as a route for chemical connections for chemicals such as dopamine in the brain, this shapes the activity of those areas. Dopamine is the exact same chemical that floods the brain when individuals are addicted to drugs. A Harvard report states, “Although not as intense as cocaine, positive social stimuli will result in a release of dopamine, reinforcing whatever behavior preceded it.”
Neuroscientists recently discovered that the positive social stimuli of receiving a like, comment, or attention from other people on a device, excites the same dopaminergic brain pathways. When released in this way, dopamine can cause addiction- just as it does with cocaine.
In the same way that individuals can get addicted to illegal drugs, they can also get addicted to likes, follows, notifications, or messages on their phones.
Any time someone acknowledges us we subconsciously think, “They see me; they hear me; they know me.”
When left unchecked, we desire to feel known through our social media platforms, we want our voice to be acknowledged and immediately responded to through texts, and we strive to be heard by others, instead of spending time letting our hearts be right before Christ. If we are living for validation and admiration from others we lose focus of glorifying Christ. Screen time is increasing and character is undermined. The Sociology department at the University of Michigan studied the invasiveness of phones and tells us that “college students today are approximately 40 percent less empathetic than they were just ten years ago. As screen time goes up, empathy goes down.” (Hilliard) One reason for this decrease in empathy could be the emphasis the culture has placed on social media friends; this results in deep loneliness since the need for personal socialization cannot be fully expressed through screen. Compulsive habits are preventing Christians from focusing our minds on completing the daily tasks right before our eyes as soon as we wake up in the morning. According to a research study from IDC, “about 80 percent of smartphone users check their mobile phones within 15 minutes of waking up every morning. Truth is, it’s obvious that people have no control over their devices nowadays.” (www.timesnownews.com) Honestly, Christians will continue to face a vast number of distractions in the world, but the underlining sin is when we make idols out of temporary pleasures that have NO eternal worth. What our focus is on as soon as we wake up reflects where our hearts, minds, and focus strive to achieve in the rest of the day.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
(New International Version, Philippians 4:8)
It is a battle for Christians to practice spiritual disciplines, and focus our minds on what because of the vast number of distractions at our fingertips. Intentionally using our cell phones with purpose will take self-discipline, and time for your brain to neurologically retrain itself to operate a cell phone with purpose instead of the irresistible satisfaction of instant validation. I can testify- the self discipline is worth it, the instant validation fades, but Christ is eternal. You might have realized that you have developed a compulsive smartphone addiction. This can be broken by establishing noble habits, and breaking non-edifying habits. I want to encourage you to evaluate your relationship with your phone.
Take a second to examine your habits: What do you reach for when you first wake up? How do you start your day? Do you wake up eager to surrender your thoughts and actions to Christ, or do you- like I did for. When I started to think through my routine a while back I realized this: What I used to do as soon as my eyes opened in the morning was check my phone. Our lives would be radically changed if we used the unnecessary and useless time spent on our phones to humbly ponder how we can glorify Christ. We should use our time and focus our minds on Christ, seeking first the Kingdom, and striving to pursue His will for each of our lives.
We must put down your phone, pick up your cross, and follow Christ.
How should we do this? We must be smart with our SMARTphones. The answer is this: we should use technology with intentionality- as a tool for communicating effectively. Here are some things that I have learned that have helped me control my phone usage: 1. Assess whether you are using your phone in a manner that fulfills its primary purpose of communication. If you realize that the reason you have a phone is to communicate, then you will use it intentionally for communication- this also prevents purposeless scrolling. 2. Intentionally establish a habit of picking up your Bible before you pick up your phone in the morning. This spiritual discipline helps us focus our minds on Christ from the start of the day. 3. Leave your phone behind. Leave your phone in another room during family time. Going out to eat? Leave your phone in the car so that you can focus your full attention on the people around you. 4. Schedule times to check social media, so that it is not compulsive. This helped me the most out of all of these positive habits. 5. Eliminate unnecessary apps. This instantly restrains us from wasting time. Parents, grandparents and older siblings, it is our duty to set Christlike examples.It really comes down to being intentional. Parents can help show their children and train them how to use their phone for communication rather than validation. The question I want to leave you with today is this: will you allow this invasion to control you, or will you intentionally control your smartphone? What we choose to do today sets the example for tomorrow’s mobile device users.
The purpose of the original invention can be restored. The invasiveness of this technology can be stopped. Intentionality of our use of technology can be brought back.
Scripture commands us to not strive for validation- but rather using our lives to be an ambassador of Christ. You can stop the cycle of dopamine addiction before you compulsively scroll for hours. I was once setting for a mediocre relationship with my Savior because of the compulsive habits that crept into my life- these were not edifying. Learn from my journey with my phone; remember to put down your phone and take up your cross, and follow Christ!
1 Corinthians 10:23 says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
(New King James Version, 1 Corinthians 10:23)
Billy Graham said it well when he said that the only hope we can cling to is Christ. Above all, Christians need to be aware of the unintentional habits that are causing us to compromise our convictions. It all comes down to being intentional with the time the Lord has given us on earth. Will you rethink your habits and choose to be more intentional with your device?
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