1) Technology – especially smartphone – use among adults, teens, and even children is an area where we Christians need to think deeper than we often have. Rather than turning a blind eye to tech, or seeing it as something neutral, let’s learn how to ask deep questions about how our tech use does or doesn’t glorify the Lord. Parents and caregivers, this isn’t always easy! I was greatly helped by an article on the Westminster Kids website that gets right to the heart of the problem:
In the end, wisdom means more than discerning the effects of tech use–it means choosing to do what is best. But starting with questions like these, we can start conversations with young people in our homes and churches, encouraging choices that reflect a commitment to follow Christ.
Parents especially can help with the accountability needed here. (I know a teen who handed his phone over to his parents when he realized the hold it had over him.) But it may also be the case that our call as parents and leaders is to be the first to acknowledge the ways we need to make changes to our own tech use too. May God grant us wisdom and grace to walk in his ways, and as we teach the next generation to follow Christ with us.
2) If you haven’t come across “personal pronouns” yet, you likely soon will. This is the idea, primarily championed by transgender advocates, that your use of language needs to accommodate how they see themselves. Thus, a man who considers himself to be transgender might prefer you to address him as “her,” etc. Sadly, this idea has gained a lot of steam even in the business world and in education. Tim Challies writes an excellent article (quoting from a book he recently reviewed) about how to tackle this struggle in a way that is honoring to the Lord, loving and compassionate, and yet upholds what is true. A helpful point of application comes right at the end of the article:
The simplest thing to do is to politely decline. Refrain from putting pronouns in your biography or your email signature and don’t announce them at meetings. If invited to, say “No thank you” and if asked why, say something bland like “It is not a practice I follow”.
