Dealing With Distraction: Is Your Phone Impacting Your Spiritual Life?

The last time my husband and I were in New York City, we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  For art enthusiasts, the MET is one of the largest and most renowned museums in the world, boasting more than two million pieces of art from every corner of the globe. On any given day, people from all over the world flock to the MET to admire and study the rare exhibits. But as we strolled the halls taking in the grandeur, I couldn’t help but notice a strange thing taking place. It was obvious many of the visitors appeared more preoccupied with their phones than the masterpieces hanging on display. I watched a woman pose for a selfie in front of a Rembrandt without ever pausing to look at the painting. It seemed documenting the event on social media was more important than the actual experience. I have felt the same lure and have wrestled with the question, “How much is too much?” so I couldn’t help but wonder, “If we are so preoccupied with our phones that we miss an artistic masterpiece hanging right in front of us, how will we ever keep our eyes fixed on an invisible God?”

Twenty years ago no one imagined the degree in which our phones would come to impact our lives. Who among us envisioned an era when we reach for our phones as soon as we wake up in the morning and check them one last time before turning in at night?  In his book, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, Cal Newport notes that the average modern user spends two hours per day on social media alone and checks the device a whopping eighty-five times a day.[1]

Our phones aren’t necessarily bad, but they are a liability when they divert our attention away from the things that matter most. The Christian life calls for our undivided attention. On numerous occasions, the authors of Scripture instructs readers to be alert, pay attention, and listen. Here are just a few:

• Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
• Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come (Mark 13:33).
• Keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18b).
• Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD (Psalm 34:11).
• My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding” (Proverbs 5:1).

Constant distraction is not conducive to a thriving spiritual life.  In fact, the Scriptures make it clear that distraction is dangerous. The thoughtful Christian must ask; How is my phone impacting my relationship with Christ? Am I inclined to skip Bible reading in favor of scrolling? Do I spend more time on Instagram than I do in prayer? Am I prone to check my phone during a worship service? Do I struggle with “being in the moment” because I am distracted by my phone?

In the apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he wrote, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything.” (1 Cor 6:12).

In this specific context, Paul was addressing sexual immorality, but in the broader sense, this text applies to anything that has the potential to hold influence over a believer in Jesus Christ. Because of the grace of Jesus Christ, Paul was free to do as he pleased, but he refused to be enslaved to anything or anyone but Christ. He would not permit any habit or sin to hold sway over him. If Paul were alive today, I’d be willing to bet he’d have some strong opinions about habitual scrolling.

I’m not suggesting abandoning our cell phones.  But any substance, device, or activity that lends itself to compulsive behavior needs to be handled with wisdom and caution. If our allegiance to social media and the fear of missing out is stronger than our devotion to Christ, we have an idol on our hands.

The solutions to this dilemma will vary and it’s up to each of us to find our own balance. Tony Reinke’s book, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You, and Cal Newport’s, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, are a couple of good resources that deal with this topic at length and offer wise suggestions that will help us manage the amount of time we spend gazing at our screens. For better or worse, cell phones are here to stay, so the question is, ”Will I manage my phone or will my phone manage me?”

[1] Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy Word, (New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2019, 6).