Screen Time 3
Screens – whether in a theater, your
living room, your desk, your chair, or your hand – are morally neutral. What we
do with those screens is not. It is good or evil. In last week’s post we
discussed nine scriptural tests to establish whether our screen time is good or
bad. Three of those nine tests were positive. In other words, it is certainly
possible to use the screens in your life in a good way. Those three positive
tests included that screen time can be used to edify, to redeem the time, and
for good, with the consensus of my counsellors. That being the case, what are
some specific applications of my screen time for good?
First, you can use screen time to
connect with others who are distant. Life is not stuff or accomplishments or
bucket lists; life is relationships. What matters in our life is the
relationships we have and the condition of those relationships. The most
important of our relationships is with God, and it is interesting in this
context to see He set up access to Him to be entire, complete, and
instantaneous. In other words, we can get in touch with God anytime anywhere. Like
all relationships, our relationship with Him waxes and wanes. When it wanes, it
is never because He has made a mistake or removed Himself from us. The onus is
always on us to restore and rebuild a declining relationship with Him.
Technology has improved our ability to
restore, maintain, and rebuild relationships with others in a similar manner to
our relationship with God. We can now practically contact any person at any
time in any place. While geography still limits relationships, it does not have
to end them for all intents and purposes. I can and do maintain rather close
relationships with people thousands of miles away from me by means of screen
time. In fact, I have close relationships with people I have never even met in
real life. This seems strange to our parents generation, odd to our own, but
perfectly normal to our children.
Additionally, you can connect with
people not just geographically removed from you but emotionally removed from
you. If you have a sundered relationship with a family member a gentle yet
constant interaction via text or video or email can do much to restore that
relationship. Jeremiah said, Mine eye affecteth my heart (Lamentations
3.51). Missionaries can emotionally connect with our church via social
media. Grandparents can emotionally connect with far-flung grandchildren. Older
pastors can build mentoring relationships with younger men in ministry via
online communication.
Is this beneficial? Absolutely.
Indeed, I would argue that improving family relationships and building solid
friendships is edifying.
Second, you can use your screen time
to encourage and minister. This one is closely connected with the previous one.
For example, you can encourage people you do not know or do not know well by
passing along some good news. We swim around all day in Bad News Lake. It is
the environment in which we live and breathe. Solomon said, The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: And
a good report maketh the bones fat. As cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is
good news from a far country (Proverbs 15.30, 25.25). What a blessing it is
to me to scroll my social media newsfeeds of a Sunday and see pictures of
families dressed up for church and reports of salvations and baptisms at
various places around the world. How encouraging it is to hear summations of
sermons right and left. And that is just one example.
How often have you read a missionary
letter that contained prayer requests? While your response could have been,
“Absolutely, I will be honored to pray with you about that” you could not share
this thought with that missionary. But if he posts the same request on social
media you can share that response. To pray for someone in need, and to
communicate that compassionately and sincerely is balm for the soul.
Third, you can use your screen time to
take a stand for truth. Social media is all about putting yourself out there,
displaying your world, giving your opinion about everything. While that is
often problematic, the truth is the social media space has become the town hall
or party line of previous generations. So what do you do when opinions are
flying around right and left, and when much of that expressed opinion is
biblically ignorant if not ungodly? You can take a stand for truth.
Controversy for controversy’s sake or attention’s
sake is unwise, but to rule out being controversial for that reason is to rule
out taking a stand in the modern public square. If you believe the truth but
never say it, the truth dies with you. If you say the truth but never where
anyone can hear it but those who are already convinced, the truth dies with you.
It is foolish to stay quiet online by hiding behind the excuse of wisdom. It is
cowardly to discuss every area of truth except the area currently being
fiercely debated. I am not saying you have to fight everybody. I am not saying
you have to fight all the time. I am not saying you have to be reactionary. I
am not saying you have to be harsh. I am saying you ought to take a stand.
Fourth, you can use screen time to
study and teach the truth. Study in our day almost always involves a screen at some point. I believe
based on both experience and research that hearing from a teacher in an in
person environment is the best mode of learning. Further, I think books are a
better means of in-depth study than video for several important reasons. But
having said that, I sure have learned a lot from YouTube, as funny as it
sounds. I have taken online classes several places. Additionally, many of the study aids I use
the most are actually more searchable and instantaneously available on my
screen than they are in my library. I spend probably 50 hours a month listening
to my phone as it reads me the Bible or some other book. I do that while I am
hiking or eating lunch or driving or otherwise physically but not mentally engaged.
I would argue that is time well and profitably spent.
Not only can you learn effectively
with a screen you can also teach effectively. I have three books in print and a
fourth being published now. All of those I wrote on screens. I have hundreds of
thousands of words available online about various topics on my blog. I make
about 1,300 of my sermon outlines available to my Patreon subscribers. I have
hundreds of audio sermons available for free on my church website. I send
hundreds more at no charge to Brennan’s Pulpit subscribers. I send 15,000
emails out a month with free content. Why? I want to make as much of the truth
God has taught me as widely available as possible.
Then there is this, too. In addition
to making truth available on a screen you can explain it. You can answer
someone’s objections in a patient, detailed manner. You can interact with them,
seeking to bring them to an understanding of and ownership of the truth that
long ago laid hold on you.
Fifth, you can use your screen time to
appreciate and display God’s beauty. As I write this, a blue bird is bouncing
on a slight pine branch within my field of vision. He has been hopping around
all morning, sounding his slightly mad, slightly happy note. Yesterday, while
on a prayer walk, I startled several deer. I watched their white tails bounding
away into the brush. Late last night, I sat on my deck and gloried. It was a
clear, cold night and the stars glittered like a thousand jewels strewn
carelessly across an upside down velvet cloth. I find such things marvelous. The
heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork
(Psalm 19.1). God’s Word tells me to think on lovely things and praise the
Lord as a result (Philippians 4.8). Screens let me share these moments
with others, provoking them, in turn, to praise the Lord. Screens can even
bring me such moments. Did you know that the whales off the South African
coastline catch fish in nets made of bubbles? I learned that on a screen. It is
amazing how intricate and creative and beautiful our God is.
Sixth, you can use your screen time to
remember in future days God’s goodness to you now. The psalmist was often
deeply discouraged. One of the ways he encouraged himself was to remember
previous occasions of God’s goodness and blessing. O my God, my soul is cast
down within me: therefore will I remember thee From the land of Jordan, and of
the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar (Psalm 42.6). I have a spreadsheet on
my computer with a list of rather important answers to prayer on it. I
routinely look at my Facebook memories so I can recall past blessings. Yes, I
am sentimental, but there is wisdom and profit here.
Last but not least, you can use your
screen time to make a living. I believe that all work (assuming it is not ungodly
in some way) is honorable work. I do not believe that my pastoral work is
better than your office job. In all labour there is profit (Proverbs 14.23).
There is a dignity to work that is ennobling to all men. If that is the
case, and it inarguably is, then online work or remote work or work somehow
done on a screen is as honorable as work done on a farm. You can sell products
online. You can produce content worth paying for. You can be smart enough that
someone wants to pay you for your mind, and what that mind does on a screen.
Certainly, the way you make a living on a screen should not violate biblical
principles such as vanity, modesty, or excess, but let us assume there is
nothing unscriptural about the way you make money with a screen. Then go to it.
Work hard at it. Do well. Improve and grow and build. Such things are all to
the good, beloved.
I said last a moment ago, but now here
at the end I have found I do not really mean it. I highly suspect there are
numerous other good things that can and should be done with screen time which I
have failed to think of. If one comes to your mind I would be obliged if you
would share it with me. If you do I will have learned something profitable.
Probably by way of a screen. And it will be good.
See? <grin>
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