New ‘toys’ are great, aren’t they?
Having recently acquired an iPad, I know how much I enjoy experiencing the joys of new technology.
Australians have always been amongst the earliest adopters of new technology and this characteristic continues. Recent research* has shown that 3 in 4 households with under 18s have mp3 players (72.1%) and more than half (58.1%) have wireless internet in their home, allowing the internet to easily be accessed from multiple entertainment devices concurrently. More than one third (34.9%) have Pay TV, which no doubt adds to the almost 3 hour TV viewing average of Australians. The iPhone and iTouch are now in almost 1 in 4 Australian households with under 18s (24.4%). Digital radio, the newest technological format of entertainment has already found a place in more than 1 in 10 households (11%).
We are continually bombarded with images, music and movies from a wide variety of sources.
We know the things we watch and listen to can impact us. In many instances in the Bible we see people who limit the things they see to keep themselves holy. For example King David in Psalm 101:3 states ‘I will set before my eyes no vile thing.’ Job, a man who overcame great hardship through trusting in God said ‘I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.’ (Job 31:1) It’s clear Job realised the affect the things we see can have on the things we do.
Paul instructs Christians to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). In Romans 12:2 he says ‘do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.’
We are called to live, not as a result of our culture, or standards created by the people around us, but based on the way that God wants us to. By immersing ourselves in God’s Word we can learn what this looks likes and find a good pattern to base our lives on.
That’s what’s on my mind.
What do you think?
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*McCrindle Research Pty Ltd, The Heart of Australia, p 27
The Rev 