• Oct 25th, 2012 at 12:11 PM (CST)
• By PD
• Categories:

I have been reading a fascinating book – it may make it into becoming a title used for PD’s Book Club – called iDisorder by

Larry D. Rosen. He is examining whether technological devices, especially those connected with Net use, are causing mental health problems. It certainly seems that symptoms identical to those suffered by persons with mental health problems are resulting from overstimulation/overuse of the internet, especially via portable devices. Smart phones seem to be especially problematic. Online social networking sites such as Facebook also seem to garnish a lot of concern.

 Chiefly, it seems the two most fundamental problems, besides the sheer number of hours which get away from a person, are anxiety associated with a condition called FOMA (Fear Of Missing Out) in which a person thinks their life will be diminished if they are not connected to catch whatever is instantly important.

 The other issue is narcissism associated with networks/”friends” who are a nebulous crowd determining how well liked an individual is. This mostly anonymous group seems to have quite disproportionate influence upon peoples’ self esteem, causing either depressive states or narcissistic behavior.

 The Christian is to live in freedom in Christ, as the Scriptures say, “… for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him (2 Peter 2:19b).” Christ has set us free from the domination of sin and we are to be free from things which would dominate us and make us subservient to them; we are to have one Master, Jesus Christ, who bought us through his Passion and Crucifixion.

Paul urged the Galatian Christians not to let themselves be entangled in religious rules which demanded certain obedience to dietary laws, the need to be circumcised, etc., when he said, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves by burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).” I extend that principle to many things in life such that I believe Christ does not want his people “burdened,” or enslaved by the things of this world – obsessed and engrossed to the point that they control the individual. We need to be wary of to what degree our devices control us! Of course, we know the truth; it is us who are allowing ourselves to have such involvement that we are getting emotionally unhealthy.

I have suspected such things for a while, which is why I have shied away from Facebook and several other venues on the Net to which I have been continuously invited. I simply wish to limit the extent to which I will respond to electronics in favor of responding to flesh and blood people, and of course, my Lord.

So, am I being hypocritical to Blog? I would guess so, at least to a degree, since I read no one else’s blogs, but I want you to read mine! Just do me a favor; don’t let “Net Christianity” supersede your practice of connecting literally with the Body of Christ, i.e. worship with local Christians and fellowship/study of the Word!