In May, Pastor Brad Rogers led a class to discuss and gain insight on the use of today’s media for our Upper Level students during their weekly gathering. He began with the evolution of the telephone, tracing its history from Alexander Graham Bell’s creation in 1876 all the way to today’s smartphone. Our students were quite entertained by a video of two teens attempting to use a rotary phone.
When asked if today’s social media is good or bad, one teen said that it lies “in the hands of the beholder.” New media is convenient, connects us to new experiences and other people, and can help us find our unique voice. But the real-time nature of social media can easily lead to comparison, hurt feelings, bullying and depression.
Pastor Brad agreed that the media we use can sometimes be good and sometimes be bad. The important thing is to recognize when technology is becoming a problem for us. Try asking yourself:
- Do I spend more time using media than connecting with others?
- Do I consistently use media in a way that makes me feel guilty or shameful?
- Do I feel worse about my life after use?
- Can I handle the idea of media being taken away from me?
All social media requires a filter, which is WISDOM… the wisdom to make the best choice possible when there is no clear right or wrong choice. God’s Word, prayer and godly counsel can make the choices easier to navigate and the wisdom of those choices a little easier to discern.
I can do anything I want to if Christ has not said no, but some of these things aren’t good for me. Even if I am allowed to do them, I’ll refuse to if I think they might get such a grip on me that I can’t easily stop when I want to. – 1 Corinthians 6:12 (TLB)
