Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV) 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
I am a millennial. Many will blame the troubles of the world on “my people.” Largely, they aren’t wrong! Millennials brought about the death of reading books on paper! I recall growing up during the days of dial up internet being “the huge thing.” When we had rotary dial phones mounted on the wall of the kitchen with a curly cord attached to the handset.
NOTHING was wireless at this day and age. These were the days of interacting out in nature, reading books, playing with my GI Joe, riding bikes out in the countryside with your brothers and when you were REALLY bored, pranking the neighbors by putting frogs in their mailboxes.
I LOVED going to my grandparents’ house. My grandmother would always have homemade ice cream or some sort of baked sweet for us. My grandfather would curl up next to us and open his King James Bible and read us a story or two from Scripture. At the time, it was a bit boring periodically. Yet now looking back, I can say that these were some of my best times!
The evolution of technology has brought about the end of this type of interaction being the norm. Over time we saw the first cellular phones that would be mounted in cars, and it evolved to huge bag phones you would carry around. Over the years we never would’ve dreamed that we would have black rectangles with touch screens that have more technological prowess than some military mainframes from the 90s would have.
With that evolution of technology came the evolution of entertainment. Social media has become both a blessing and a curse of sorts. I have watched so many wonderful sermons from fellow faithful pastors, seen so many examples of acts of spontaneous worship in public, and the Gospel being spread throughout so many avenues. I have also found the most unbelievable “addiction” that is watching goofy videos of pets doing ridiculous things. In this day and age,we call this “death scrolling.” Where you will scroll through repeated 15-30 second video clips of some entertaining or stimulating content. I was shocked one afternoon when I sat down in my chair to finish listening to a Matt Chandler sermon, when I had a little clip pop up. I figured, “it’ll only be a few seconds.” Right?
Wrong….it was over 45 minutes later before I realized I had accomplished absolutely nothing. As comical and relatable as this may seem, this exhibits a VERY serious issue in culture that I am completely convinced the enemy is using against us. The Issue of Distraction.
When we put such focus and use of our time on pure entertainment, instead of the things of God or the things we are supposed to be doing that are more constructive…we make an idol involuntarily. In the scripture above, Paul is addressing the Church of Colossae. We must remember, like the Christians of Colossae, to set our minds upon GOD! Our previous life is changed. We are to be in the world but not absorbed by the world. Our previous life is dead and buried! It is shrouded in the light of Christ! So why would we be so absorbed with the things of the world?
Surely entertainment in and of itself is not an issue. Nor is the cell phone, laptop, tablet, etc. etc. They are all tools that can be used to glorify Him! However, when our focus is more on the mindless droning, or the intentional seeking of entertainment over the intentional seeking of doing something constructive for His Kingdom, we have a huge issue.
I ask this question with humility of my own humanity…how would the world be transformed if we put down our devices and picked up a Bible? How would this world be transformed if instead of scrolling for 2 to 3 hours a day (the national average in the US by the way), we were out in our communities sharing the Gospel, feeding the hungry, praying with the hurting, and befriending the lonely?
What a sobering thought…put down the distractions…pick up your cross, and get to work.
SOLI DEO GLORIA!!!!
