Cell Phone Sin?

Mark Driscoll had an interesting post on his blog today about the invasion of cell phones and other personal electronic devices on vacations, family time and relationships (might I add the sanctuaries where we worship). He recently took a 3 week vacation where he determined to leave behind technology.

Being unplugged from my technology also made me more aware of how much it lords over us as a beeping, ringing, and vibrating merciless sovereign god. I was grieved when I went to the pool every day with my kids to swim and play catch in the water and looked around the pool only to see other parents not connecting with their children at all but rather talking on their cell phones and dinking around on their handheld mobile devices while sitting in lounge chairs. When we went out for meals we saw the same thing. Parents with children were commonly interrupted throughout the meal by their technology and spent more time talking on the phone than to their family. To make matters worse, these people were actually quite loud and were incredibly annoying to the rest of us who do not want to hear whether or not their friend Hank’s nasty inner thigh rash had cleared up.

I know in years past I too have been guilty of these same digital sins against God, my family, and my own well-being. Now that I see it as a sin that destroys silence, solitude, fellowship, prayerful listening, and meaningfully and attentive friendship, I am deeply convicted that there is a new spiritual discipline of fasting from technology to be mastered. In this way, we can enjoy the life and people that God puts in front of us rather than ignoring them while we peck away with our thumbs and chat about nothing, which in the end is rarely as important as the people we are ignoring all around us.

At Midnight Madness the other night I sat among 13,000 other people, most of whom were text messaging. It was like a scene out of a science fiction movie to see rows and rows of people all staring at their 1 1/2″ scenes. I have been to soccer games where it appeared nearly every parent was talking on the phone while watching their children play. I was eating lunch today, only to be interrupted by a man talking on his bluetooth while in line, checking out, and walking around. I have to agree with Driscoll on two accounts: First, I am guilty of this lack of discipline at times and second, we need to establish discipline in this area of our life as well. Accessability is not always a good thing, especially when it makes one unaccessable to the people you are with.

On a lighter side, here are the Cellphone Ten Commandments. But Seriously, please obey. Here is a slideshow version that is similar. My personal favorites:

3. Thou shalt turn thy cell phone off during public performances.

(This should include worship services too. The Macarana, Superhero theme songs, Country love songs, and cartoon classics shouldn’t have to be heard at this time.)

4. Thou shalt not wear more than two wireless devices on thy belt. This hasn’t become a big problem yet. But with plenty of techno-jockeys sporting pagers and phones, Batman-esque utility belts are sure to follow. Let’s nip this one in the bud.