This week I read an article by esteemed pastor/author Tim Challies called “Christian Men and Their Video Games,” where he expresses enjoyment of video games. His conclusion? “So I say go ahead and play your games. Enjoy your games. Play them for the fun of exploring, conquering, experiencing, winning. Just play them like a Christian and you’ll be fine." Refreshing!

 

There's nothing intrinsically good or bad about about screens (any of them); they're just tools. However: they're tools that have a lot of power, and ones shown to reduce willpower and self-control. They offer temptation - in many realms.

So these tools require care and so.much.wisdom.

 

I interviewed Emily Jones, the founder of Family Tech University last week, and she said she recommends giving teens cell phones in “levels.” 

   Level 1 - dumb phone (talk and text only)

   Level 2 - smart phone without internet or social media

   Level 3 - smart phone with internet and social media

 

You don't move to the next level till you demonstrate sufficient wisdom and maturity in the current level. I love how Emily categorized this (and this is  how we do phones in our house).

 

It made me think…

It's not just kids. We adults need to operate within phone use ‘levels’  too. Sometimes we need to take ourselves down a level when we're losing self-control, becoming vain or jealous, or succumbing to temptation. I have a friend who takes social media off her 📱 anytime her daily screen time exceeds a pre-set amount; she checks it every week. Brilliant.

 

So, I'll rephrase and adapt Challies: “Go ahead and use your phone. Enjoy the parts of it that bring fun and connection and helpfulness. Use it like a Christian, and you'll be fine.”

 

Let's have the best kinds of fun, in the best ways, the way God intended.

 

Onward!  

 

PS. There was a broken link in last week's newsletter pointing to my Squid Game blog post. Apologies. I fixed it now!