James K.A. Smith reminds us in his book You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit that we are all worshippers. Each of us needs to come to terms with who or what we actually worship. We may set our heart’s devotion on pleasure, achievement, family, travel, politics, addictions, or any number of things. Smith says that the habits, practices, choices, and rhythms of daily life will reveal what you worship.
But more than reveal, these daily habits and choices are forming you. The very rhythms of life are formational and will shape who or what you worship. This is why Christians have historically valued the habits of Bible reading, prayer, fasting, solitude, fellowship, and other practices that form and shape our spiritual life.
Here is my concern: I believe it is time to hit the pause button, step back, and evaluate the impact that digital technology and social media are having on our formation. Have you considered that your daily habits of digital technology and social media consumption are shaping what you worship?
Just listen to how the Apostle Paul shares his concern for the church in Galatia as they struggle against the formational power of our sin nature:
“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” (Gal. 4:19)
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Gal. 5:16-26)
What fruit is digital technology bearing in your life? For many people, the internet has become a wild-wild-west of "the acts of the flesh”. Devices and social media are producing bad fruit!
So, how do we strive for the “fruit of the Spirit”? How can we make choices with our digital technology that re-capture and re-calibrate how we are formed everyday?
Three Choices Every Family Needs to Make (from Andy Crouch’s book The Tech-Wise Family)
Choose Character — Define and elevate the biblical values of Christ-likeness in your household. Without deliberately choosing a target for discipleship (namely, the fruit of the Spirit!), we risk having fleshly or worldly values take centerstage. Take time as a family to articulate your biblical goals for Christ-likeness.
Shape Space — Make decisions about how you will shape your home environment to align with the goals of forming Christ-likeness. We must examine the physical space we inhabit everyday and make intentional decisions about how our households shape our worship. You may rearrange the furniture, move TVs and devices out of the center of your home, and bring a greater sense of hospitality and connection. We need to think critically about the implicit formation that our home environment has on our priorities and values.
Structure Time — Build daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly rhythms that enable and inspire your family to cultivate the biblical priorities of Christ-likeness. You may take a weekly sabbath from digital technology. You may turn your phone off every evening so you can spend quality time with your family. Or you may choose to read your paper Bible each day rather than reading your Bible on your electronic device.