Principle 4 : Set a Good and Godly Example with Technology Use
Our children are watching and learning from our technology use . If you want a humbling experience , check how much time you spend on your phone on a daily basis . You can do that by opening up settings , clicking on screen time , and then clicking on see all activity . The average person looks at their phone once every ten minutes . What habits and values are you modeling for your children with your usage of technology ? We should be able to say to our children with our technology use , “ Imitate me as I imitate Christ ” ( 1 Cor . 11:1 ). What does it teach children when we check email or social media during church ? What are we communicating to a child when she must compete with technology for our time or attention ? Our daily technology choices and the media we consume are powerful actions that communicate our passions and priorities to our children .
Principle 5 : Use Your Time Wisely in Light of Eternity
Video games have become a mainstream form of entertainment and big business , earning more money than the music and movie industries . Gaming is the most popular hobby in the world , with over 3.2 billion gamers . More than half of Americans are heavily involved in video games . A high percentage of parents play video games with children as a form of entertainment . 1 The average gamer spends more than seven hours playing video games per week .
Whether playing video games , scrolling social media , or watching a show , we should consider if it ’ s the best use of our time . Ephesians 5:16 encourages us to “ Make the most of your time , because the days are evil .” God cares how we spend our time . It ’ s a gift to be stewarded well for Him . We are to make the most of it , not waste it on frivolous activities that leave no lasting value . Jesus taught the disciples the importance of using their time wisely to accomplish God ’ s work , and we should do likewise with our children ( John 9:4 ). Let ’ s aspire for our lives and time to make a lasting difference in the world for Christ .
Biblically , screen usage for entertainment purposes falls into the category of rest and re-creation . God gave us a day of rest per week for the practical purpose of resting the body and mind , but also the specific purpose of reminding us of the eternal rest that we long for in heaven through the death and resurrection of Christ ( Heb . 4:9-11 ). Recreation activities have some value ( 1 Tim . 4:8 ), but we should place boundaries around the frequency of screen use to prioritize using our time wisely for God . Imagine the day you stand before the Creator of the Universe to give an account for the stewardship of your time . Will you be ashamed of the time spent gaming , scrolling social media , or watching TV ? Would God consider that time used wisely for His glory ?
Principle 6 : If It Causes Sin , Remove It
Jesus said , “ If your right eye causes you to sin , gouge it out and throw it away ” ( Matt . 5:29 ). We are not to take this graphic word picture literally and mutilate our body . Rather , Jesus calls us to take radical action to follow Him . Jesus had just warned His listeners about using their eyes for lustful purposes ( Matt . 5:28 ). Jesus is magnifying the horrible nature of sin , any action or thought contrary to the character of God . This verse reminds us that God takes sin seriously , and so should we . If anything causes our children to sin habitually , we should remove it from their lives . This includes phones , tablets , televisions , computers , radios , and anything else . We must recognize that media is the playground while the heart is the battleground . What happens on a screen is an extension of what is happening in the heart , so help your children guard their hearts and minds and be wise and discerning online .
Technology isn ’ t new or challenging for God . He created the world and everything in it ( Acts 17:24 ). God promised to give us wisdom when we ask for it ( James 1:5 ). The Scriptures are sufficient for helping us navigate all of life , including how to handle technology ( 2 Peter 1:3 ). The Bible provides principles that we can apply to the digital age , such as who we spend time with ( on a screen ), how we use our time ( video games and social media ), or what we think about ( even though it ’ s transmitted through a screen ). Let us apply these timeless truths to technology use and trust that God will bless our obedience . ■
Dr . Josh Mulvihill is the Executive Director of Church and Family Ministry at RenewaNation . He served as a pastor for nearly 20 years , serves on the board of Awana , and helps to provide leadership to the Christian Grandparent Network . He holds a Ph . D . from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary . He is the author of Biblical Grandparenting , Preparing Children for Marriage , Biblical Worldview , and 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home . Josh is married to Jen , and they have five children . Josh blogs at GospelShaped Family . com .
Endnotes 1 . Bojan Jovanovic , “ Gamer Demographics : Facts and Stats About the Most Popular Hobby in the World ,” DataProt , May 25 , 2023 , https :// dataprot . net / statistics / gamer-demographics .
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