By Pike Davis, Jr.

This past sunday Pastor Jerry preached on Ephesians 5:15-21–emphasizing that technology can and should be used for good. We know that technology can be used for evil, but technology can also be a tool used for the good of “one another”. There are many “one another” commands throughout the New Testament, although I will only explain a few and help us apply those to the technology we use today.

Galatians 6:2 says “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The law of Christ is love. This leads us back to Galatians 5:13-14, “For you were called to freedom brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.” The “one another” commands ultimately have an overarching purpose–the fulfillment of the law through love. Paul says not to use our freedom that we have through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection as a license to sin. Instead use that freedom to love and serve one another. James 5:16 says “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,”. Out of this we get two “one another” commands, to pray for one another, and confess sins to one another. This confessing of sins leads us to Ephesians 4:25: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another”. In praying for one another and confessing our  sins to one another, we must put away our own falsehood and speak truth to one another.

So how does this inform how we can use technology for the good of others?

1. Galatians 6:2 You can bear one another’s burdens by encouraging one another when facing the storms or pressures of life. This means that an encouraging text, call, direct message (for social media), tag/post, or maybe even a picture is appropriate. If it is a specific sin which is being a burden, on the Bible app which, can be downloaded on the app store or the google play store, a Bible study could be appropriate in order to bear a burden with someone else.
2. Galatians 5:13-14 Serve one another in love. This could be put in a blog, it could be on a Facebook post, it could be sent through a text message, or even a direct message. We can also build each other up. The Bible app is a great way to build each other up, sharing scripture verses and plans/devos. We can build one another up even through thanking and appreciating someone. This can be done through a quick call or text.
3. James 5:16  Pray and confess sins to one another: You can send prayer requests to someone you want to ask to pray for you. This can be done by text, direct message, calling, publicly through a post on any social media, an email, or any other way of communicating using technology. 
4. Ephesians 4:25  Speak truth to one another: confronting sin, in love and with grace by text, call, or direct messaging. We must be careful when doing this though, because sometimes the love and expression of grace can be lost with the text message. Also in speaking truth, we can share scripture and simply encourage someone with the truth.

So what are you waiting for?!? Do it now!

Carol Davis has graciously allowed us to repost her blog on enoughfortoday.org. You can hear Carol each weekday on 106.9 FM. You can read her blog at https://cantcookalick.blogspot.com.

“Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.” 1 Samuel 12:21 New International Version (NIV)

My pastor preached on idols Sunday. Our Bible fellowship group talked about it before service. We talked about the obvious ones…work, technology, kids….etc. But, none of those really struck me.

“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an idol.” – Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods

I prayed that God would use the message to highlight any idols in my heart. I thought long and hard about each one carefully. Methodically.

And God answered my prayer. I heard loud and clear.

My brokenness had become an idol.

Say What??? Brokenness??? You gotta be kidding me!!!

My brokenness. Not something you usually associate with idolatry. It’s not a pretty, popular idol like all of the others. It’s ugly and tarnished. Dark and dangerous. Nobody’s going to shine this one up and display it in a lighted curio cabinet.

I realized that being whole has become more important than being holy.

That may not make sense to anybody but me….but, even so, that’s ok. I know in my heart that I’ve been chasing after a healing that only God can give…but, I’ve been trying to find that healing all on my own. If I read the right books and talk to the right people and listen to the right podcasts….then….then I will be whole.

Nope. I’ve just been spinning my wheels which have led me farther away from the one thing that can heal.

Being whole is about that hard work I’ve done on me. Being holy is about the work God is doing in me. Me becoming whole in my own effort doesn’t make me holy. But, being holy will lead me to wholeness through Christ.

Semantics? Maybe for you. But a game changer for me.

Being whole…can’t rescue me. But, the God who makes me holy…He absolutely can.

I’m working on tearing that idol down and I could use some help. Grab a hammer and start smashing!

1) Thou shalt have a technology fast – choose a day or time of day to be together without technology; I promise you won’t fall behind what’s trending.

Idea: Set time of day restrictions on devices – kitchen counter, not in bedroom

 

2) Thou shalt have boundaries on where devices may be used:

Ideas: No phones in bedrooms; no devices at the dinner table; no phones at the restaurant; regulate use of devices on vacations

 

3) Thou shalt teach kids to use technology wisely:

Idea: Remind them that digital reputations last a lifetime; it’s impossible to express yourself in 140 characters or less

 

4) Thou shalt hold kids accountable, but with grace.

 

5) Thou shalt not replace conversation with connectivity – emotional connection is lost with text

Ideas: No devices over conversation; avoid using technology in place of convo or community; no texting or talking on phone over important personal issues; no texting when you’re all together at home or in the same room; don’t allow technology to babysit your kids

 

6) Thou shalt watch out for media isolation – it’s easy to become isolated from human interaction while being connected to everyone online

 

7) Thou shalt not discourage technology

Ideas: Kids will need skills for the future, so actively engage them in the use of technology

 

8) Thou shalt provide a safe environment for media consumption

Ideas: Set age restrictions for social media; set limits on TV or computer games (3 days a week; movie ratings, etc.); place filters on technology

 

9) Thou shalt teach and show your children that self-worth is not calculated by number of likes, shares or retweets.

 

10) Thou shalt model the behavior you want from your kids

 

 

*Much of this material was taken from Family Life Today & Focus on the Family.

“Mom, Alex ran up to me at the end of school and said a rumor is going around fifth grade that I don’t like gay people,” said Pierce, Gabe’s son.

Needing more information about this latest chapter of public school life in New York City, Rebekah said, ‘What happened?'”

“During last period, Alisha told me that she had a crush on another girl in our class. I was like, “That’s not good. That’s wrong.'”

“Really? And what did she say?”

“She was like, ‘Why don’t you like gay people?’ So I told her, ‘I never said that, but I think it’s against God’s laws.'”

Uh-oh, Rebekah thought. “You really said that? Out loud?”

Pierce had just violated the second principle of the new moral code: Thou shalt not criticize another person’s life choices or behavior. Gabe continues:

After my plane touched down in Dallas, I got Rebekah’s text message. From the tarmac, I called to get the story. Rebekah gave me a summary, and then she put Pierce on the phone.

“Pierce, what happened?”

Sheepish, Pierce told me his story. “I just know it’s not right. In the moment, the words just came out. I’m sorry, Dad.”

“Oh, son don’t be sorry. You lived out what you believe, and that’s all I can ask for.”

After more encouragement, I hung up. But I knew I needed to take it further. So I sat down and wrote a letter to Pierce not only to affirm him but also to teach him through what could be a really tough day at school the next day. It read:

Pierce,

Son, I’m so very proud of you.

FIRST. Today you showed conviction and boldness to state your opinion on how God uniquely designed boys and girls differently. You can’t expect that all the other kids will feel the same way. In fact, many of them have been told by their parents that boys liking boys and girls liking girls is okay, even to be celebrated. When you say, “Being gay is wrong,” they are very offended because they’ve been taught to believe anyone who thinks being gay is wrong is a bad person. Remember how we’ve talked about this world being upside down? What’s right is often thought to be wrong. What’s wrong is made to seem right. This is a perfect example of that happening. It’s okay though. Part of being a Christian is recognizing that we live by different rules than many other people around us. We trust God’s words in the Bible and the life of Jesus even if they don’t make sense to others.

Now, when you hear people say their opinions–even if you disagree with them–you must always respect them. Jesus says that the first and the greatest commandment is “to love God with all your heart” and the second is “to love thy neighbor as thyself.”  You scored a 100 percent on the first commandment and maybe a 75 percent on the second. Which brings me to the next important point.

SECOND. As a Christian, showing love to all people, even if you disagree with their opinion, is critical for you, Pierce. Loving your neighbor means being a good friend even when they say something with which you disagree. Otherwise they will think you don’t care about them or that you think you are better than them.

TOMORROW, when you go to school, friends may approach you. If someone says to you, “Why don’t you like gay people, Pierce?” You could respond by sharing your heart the way you did with me tonight. 

“I never said I don’t like gay people. I love all people. I believe God made our world so that boys would like girls and girls would like boys. I know you may disagree, and I respect that. But that is my honest opinion.”

Pierce, be prepared that not only students but even teachers may disagree with you. And that’s okay. Jesus tells us that people who don’t know him will be confused about what is good. You need to understand this is an example of a spiritual battle you are facing. It requires courage to follow Jesus in a culture that does not. You can trust that God’s Word is true.

I wish I could be with you and give you a huge hug right now. Instead, I’ll pray courage for you tonight as you drift off to sleep. God is with you. He loves you and all your friends at school so much. Sometimes it feels lonely to stand up for what you believe, but you are not alone.

I love you. 

Dad

From Good Faith, by Gabe Lyons and David Kinnaman

 

In their book, Good Faith: Being a Christian When Society Thinks You’re Irrelevant and Extreme, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons trace the path America has taken toward a new moral code: “the morality of self-fulfillment.” The new moral code comes with six guiding principles:

1. To find yourself, look within yourself.
2. People should not criticize someone else’s life choices.
3. To be fulfilled in life, pursue the things you desire most.
4. Enjoying yourself is the highest goal of life.
5. People can believe whatever they want as long as those beliefs don’t affect society.
6. Any kind of sexual expression between two consenting adults is fine.

Today’s decree, later changed to a directive (because decrees are usually handed down by God and someone must have clued in the overreaching Department of Justice that they might be using a word with religious overtones…which of course isn’t tolerated today) that all public schools must give equal access to bathrooms to transgender people is the government enacting these six guiding principles.

Russell Moore stated in his blog today:

The state here wishes to use its coercive power not simply to stop mistreatment of people but to rescript the most basic human intuitions about humanity as male and female. How, after all, does one win a culture war against one of the most basic facts of science and life: that there are two sexes? One does so by withholding the funds and recognition necessary to operate in public space, unless institutions get in line. Children, then, become pawns of the state for the state to teach what is ultimately a theological lesson, not a scientific one.

According to the state (and Hollywood, ESPN, Zuckerberg from Facebook and a host of other media elites), one’s gender is determined by looking within, not by the biological standards of male and female anatomy. Anyone who disagrees is considered an intolerant bigot. Since people should do what they desire most and enjoying life is the highest goal, individual assessment of one’s own gender takes precedence over safety of others, scientific evidence and basic discretion.

Pastor Kevin DeYoung, in a letter to the Michigan State Board of Education stated:

The current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) includes gender dysphoria, labeled as gender identity disorder until 2013, as a recognized condition when accompanied by distress over one’s biological sex. While some parents may encourage their children to embrace their chosen gender identity, whether it matches their biological sex or not, many other parents will see gender confusion as a natural part of passing through puberty and will encourage their children to embrace their biological sex. It is not the place of the schools to undermine what is taught in the home.

We are experiencing a tsunami of cultural change. Underneath the tsunami lies the earthquake that created it: the morality of self-fulfillment. Moore states well, “We must bear witness to the goodness of what it means to live as creatures, not as self-defining gods and goddesses.”

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever–not to glorify self and enjoy self forever.