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| Source: cru.org |
I recently read a fantastic book about how we as Christian families can put technology in its proper place in our lives and homes.
It speaks to being more present in our everyday lives.
It speaks to how we can take a stand to protect our children from internet pornography and elicit texting.
It speaks to how we can encourage real learning and experiences in our home, but does so in such a way that it does not shun or shame technology use, but rather encourages us to place it at the periphery of our lives, to be used when we need it, for a specific purpose, and in a communal way so that it serves to connect us and enriches our lives, rather than disconnecting and distracting us.
This book is a relatively short read and is chock-full of great info-graphics and statistics from Barna, gathered as recently as 2017. I'd like to highlight a few things I've learned from this great resource on today's post and encourage you to grab your own copy for an enlightening summer read.
Quite simply, this book establishes "Ten Tech-Wise Commitments"--one for each chapter in the book--which speak to particular rhythms and routines in your day: how you structure your time and space in the home, and how you work and learn, for example.
One of the most interesting parts of the book discussed internet pornography. As we've discussed before on the blog, pornography is a real concern for us as parents in a relatively new tech-driven world where our children can be easily exposed to pornographic imagery, videos, and adult predators online. However, this particular statistic came as a surprise to me:
"An astonishing 62 percent of teenagers say they have received a nude image on their phone, and 40 percent say they have sent one." The Tech-Wise Family p.169
We as parents must realize that our children may be exposed to pornography without the help of the commercial porn industry--just through the influence of their friends' willingness to explicitly share themselves online! Andy Couch goes on to discuss the issue of pornography in our homes:
"So the best defense against porn, for every member of our family, is a full life--the kind of life that technology cannot provide on its own. This is why the most important things we will do to prevent porn from taking over our own lives and our children's lives have nothing to do with sex. A home where wisdom and courage come first; where our central spaces are full of satisfying, demanding opportunities for creativity; where we have regular breaks from technology and opportunities for deep rest and refreshment...; where we've learned to manage boredom and where even our car trips are occasions for deep and meaningful conversation--this is the kind of home that can equip all of us with an immune system strong enough to resist pornography's foolishness." p. 173
Another enlightening part of the book centers around the concept of rest and sabbath (for more on that, check out this post!). Andy encourages each of us to take an "electronic Sabbath" one hour a day, one day a week, and one week out of every year, both individually and as a family. I love this idea, especially as it can help protect the dinner hour each night and allow you to have devoted family time to connect on a regular basis.
Lastly, Andy speaks to the importance of worshiping together as a family, making and singing music in the home without the aid of technology. What a wonderful confirmation of all the blessings family worship has given to us as a family this year! (Not sure what family worship is exactly? Check out this post here). He states:
"And so worship is the most important thing a family can do....The home is the place where worship of the true God starts: the place where we remember and recite God's Word, and where we learn to respond to God with our heart, soul, strength, and--as Jesus added when he called this the greatest commandment--with our mind as well." pgs 189-190
And so I'd encourage you to come alongside me and take some time out and examine the use of technology in your life and in your home. How can we and our families strike a better balance this year, using technology to enhance our life and relationships, rather than to divide and distract us? It can get murky at times, but I trust the Lord will reveal to you, and to me, His truth and will for our homes as we learn more about this very critical issue we all face!
(Oh, and I'd love to give another shout out to a great resource that speaks to changing your phone setttings for a more present life in this podcast by Allie Casazza. It's a must listen and has been a game-changer for me!)
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