An Analog Life in a Digital WorldSample

In this passage, Paul is talking to believers who were permitted to eat any kind of food, regardless of whether or not it was sacrificed to a pagan god or considered kosher under Jewish law. Even though the Christians in Rome had this freedom, Paul is encouraging them to eat only what fits their personal convictions and also does not distress or confuse others. 

Here’s how The Message translation of the Bible reads in verses 13-14: “Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.”

This is a great passage through which to filter our thinking about screen time. How much and what type of screen time feel right for you? Are you holding others to the same standards? Do your standards for yourself trip up other people? Do you “contaminate” technology by how you treat it? Take a second to think through those questions.

What it boils down to is this: Are you driven by love? Are you willing to put others before yourself, even in the way you use technology?

Take a Next Step: Is there a behavior or habit you have within your screen time that might be impacting someone else in your life negatively? Examine whether or not you should change it or remove it entirely.

Use this prompt to lead you into prayer:

God, help me to honor you and to honor others with my screen time…