In this Twenty20 conversation, we explore the phenomenon many people experience that comes from addiction to their mobile devices. In fact, with so many in lockdown, it’s never been timelier to talk about an issue like this. We’re going to discuss how to make space in the digital age for deep rest and real relationships.
A new book by an Australian Pastor explains how technology affects us, from the scientific to the neurological, and the sociological and spiritual perspectives in all that we do online. It offers new insights to help Christians rethink their relationships with the online world, and practical ways to live differently.
Daniel Sih is a bi-vocational Church Pastor who leads ‘Together Church’ in Hobart Tasmania. He also leads ‘The Together Network’, an organisation that has trained nearly 1000 people to read the Bible online with unchurched friends on zoom during the pandemic. Daniel’s new book is called Space Maker and is about making space in the digital age for the things that really matter. Daniel is also married with three kids, and at times the family have all struggled to put down their phones.
Daniel loves to help people experience the hope of Jesus online. He’s also a business director and runs a productivity company. He leads a pretty full life with 3 kids and a church community to care for. “I’ve experienced zoom fatigue being online for hours and hours during lockdown,” says Daniel. “And I’ve experienced just how hard it is to not reach for my phone. I’ve felt the gravitational pull of my devices, even as I want to serve God and love people around me. All of that has caused me to start to rethink my relationship with the online world and how it impacts my heart and my habits as a disciple of Jesus.”
Daniel believes there is a danger that technology can actually make us less productive. Especially if our devices are integrated, and we use technology from the moment we get up. It can make us wired and tired, and busier than we’ve ever been before. “And yet we’re achieving less. All of this leads to being less productive and getting less done. When I looked into the research, I looked at my experience and what I realised is that we need a bit of technology to be productive, but if its overused we end up becoming highly unproductive.”
The only path to becoming healthier and happier, is to learn what Daniel calls ‘space making’, which means to create patterns and rhythms in our lives to unplug and disconnect from our tools to reduce the overuse of technology. That’s why he’s so passionate about this topic.
“Because our brains have changed, it’s hard to recognise what normal is. If you feel like you are constantly wired and tired, you find it really hard to put down your phone, and if you feel like you just can’t think deeply and can’t enjoy your own thoughts, if you can’t read a book without wanting to suddenly pull out your phone, those kinds of distraction mechanisms are symptoms of digital overuse.”
Daniel says as Christians, we can do things like have a digital fast and see what the experience is. “If you can’t disconnect even for one day in order to rest and pray and think, and reconnect with loved ones without a device, that might be a symptom that something’s wrong.”
Daniel’s book isn’t just for Christians, but he has included an opportunity in there to be able to reflect spiritually. “It’s not just for a Christian audience, but for anyone who’s feeling busy and overwhelmed by digital technology. It does push into some topics like digital love or digital worship. I express that idea, and I talk about the principles of a digital Sabbath.”
“I think as a follower of Jesus, you will be able to see the theological threads that sit behind the ideas. They’re pretty clear if you actually understand the story of the Bible and how the principles of Christian wisdom might shape our thinking and our habits.”
If you’re feeling challenged by your use of digital devices, be encouraged and listen to the rest of Daniel’s conversations with Neil below.
Tune into 20Twenty and join the conversation with Neil Johnson, weekdays on Vision Christian Radio. Click here for your local times.
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