Occasionally these days, you might catch someone saying, “Have you heard what’s happening in China…” and then describe something the Chinese government is doing to keep a closer eye on or control its people. Of course, we strongly disagree with the Chinese government’s persecution of Christianity and how they severely limit the freedom of their citizens. Still, it’s worth paying attention to some of the things they’re doing with technology and children. Maybe we could learn something from them?
An article published by the Royal Geographical Society reports that the “…screen addiction is becoming a huge issue worldwide, with children particularly affected. For a parent today, one of the biggest problems to be faced is how to control and limit a child’s screen time.” Parents struggle with how to limit their children’s screen time since these devices are so interwoven into daily life. The article describes how the Chinese government is alert and aware of the problems associated with children and too much screen time. They have mandated limits for children under eighteen which include:
● Limiting video game playing to three hours per week (only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between the hours of 8pm and 9pm). ● Children are to be blocked from accessing the internet between 10pm and 6am. ● Children under eight would get forty minutes of internet usage per day; children ages eight to sixteen would get one hour per day; and children ages sixteen to eighteen would get two hours of internet access per day.
Other Asian countries, including Japan and South Korea, have limited their children’s internet access as well. A law in Taiwan could fine parents up to $1,500 if their children are found to be physically or mentally ill due to overuse of electronic devices.
While increased governmental control and regulation of families is certainly not something we want or recommend, the fact that foreign governments see overuse of electronic devices to be a threat to their children is significant. If completely secular and, in some cases, anti-christian governments are concerned about children and technology use, then what about us as members of Reformed congregations?
What can we learn from the rules these governments have put in place? Are we taking the time to engage our children in discussions about technology use and then setting and enforcing appropriate limits? Dear parents, at the baptism of our children we promised that we would instruct and bring up our children in “the doctrine which is contained in the Old and New Testament, and in the articles of the Christian faith” to the utmost of our power. This promise also requires that we set an example for our children in limiting our own internet use, seeking to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15, 16).
How do we balance what we confess with our church attendance and keep up with the technological advances of modern media? What is allowed and what is not allowed? This is especially difficult for our young people when there are no black-and-white rules for what is allowed. In his book, “Upon Thy Paths,” Rev. A.T. Huiser writes about the following incident that took place some years ago:
I once spoke with someone who had a large television screen in his living room. Such a device and a Christian lifestyle cannot go hand in hand. I felt obligated to say something about this. At the end of the visit, I pointed to the television, and before I could even utter a word, the man already sat on the edge of his chair and said, “Do you know of what I am fully convinced? When God comes into my life, this will be the first thing that will go out the door.”
How many of us go through life using modern media with similar thoughts? We may attend church faithfully, but at the same time, we are immersed in the technological advancements of the world. Even if we know something is wrong, we might think, “If I am converted, then I will cancel my Netflix subscription,” or “Then I will delete my Instagram account,” or “Then I will stop following my favourite sports team on my smartphone,” or “Then I will truly fight against my pornography desires.” In this, we follow the lusts of our flesh, and Satan laughs.
Indeed, we cannot convert ourselves. However, that is not an excuse to continue in whatever we desire. Instead, immersing ourselves without restraint in modern media is very dangerous. Technology has changed so much in the last decades that it influences us more than we realize.
Dangers of modern media
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok all have a “Reel” section where users can scroll through short videos from influencers from around the world. These platforms also have complicated algorithms to predict the next video we want to watch. In this way, the world continually influences us based on what we see, and sin can quickly become normalized. Movies and TV shows that are available on dozens of subscription sites and can be viewed on our phones or computers also have the same influence. When hours are spent on these sites, we can slowly acclimate to what we watch, and our thoughts and desires change.
An example of how much modern media has changed society can be seen with the LGBQT issue. In 2008, when he was running for President, Barack Obama’s official position was opposed to gay marriage and agreed with the traditional definition of marriage. Now consider sixteen years later how far society has moved on this issue. Sixteen years ago, a Democrat presidential candidate had a traditional marriage position, and now it is hard to publicly find that in even Republican or Conservative candidates. Recently, the Pope has even said he will be delighted to bless same-sex marriages.
What has changed in the last sixteen years that could have changed society’s perception? Movies and TV have been pushing a liberal agenda for much longer than the previous sixteen years. However, TV and movies have moved from limited to unlimited availability in the last decade. Now, someone can spend an entire weekend watching a TV series sequentially on their phone or tablet. However, the more significant change is how everything, especially social media, is available on your smartphone at any hour of the day. The average time U.S. teenagers spend on social media is 4.8 hours per day. Each of these hours we spend on social media or watching movies is spent slowly influencing us. This is what has caused such a drastic shift in morals in our society.
What must we do?
Considering how much society has changed, we must be cautious that we have not changed ourselves. If we immerse ourselves in modern media, eventually, we will change! Watching videos on our smartphones will make it harder to keep our minds focused on reading. By continually seeing worldly talk, worldly dress, and worldly lifestyle, our perceptions of what is right and wrong will slowly change!
So what must we do? Must some aspects of modern media go out the door, or do we continue to allow them to influence us? There are options for us and our children. We can cancel our video streaming subscriptions. We can delete our social media profiles. We can use technology to search (i.e. Google) for how to set parental controls for our loved ones’ phones so that we can control which apps are appropriate for them. But most importantly, we must beg the Lord to create in us a right spirit because just changing our lives is not enough! Let us consider what it says in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Questions often arise from parents whose children are asking for a phone.
“When should my child(ren) first get a smartphone?” It is not recommended that children should be given a smartphone or internet-connected portable device before age 16.
“What options, other than a smartphone, are available for younger kids who need a phone?” Protect Young Eyes has put together an excellent guide to the safer phone options currently available. We highly recommend you read this guide and consider one of these alternatives rather than a smartphone for your pre-teen and teenage children.
*Please note, that although we have found the linked article to have valuable information, we do not necessarily endorse all information, religious views and opinions expressed on third-party websites.
The Norwich NRC Modern Media Committee hosted an informational evening titled “Own the Problem.”
After opening by Rev. Hakvoort, Jonathan Van Maren gave some thought-provoking information and questions for parents to consider. Then, a teacher gave his perspective on interacting with teens and observing the effects technology has on them. He also demonstrated a few popular social media apps to show parents what kind of content their children are likely to be presented with. At the end of the presentation, there was a group discussion on some questions provided by the committee, as well as time for audience questions.
History is not interesting in the light of the omnipresent tyranny of the present on these devices. The King James version of the Bible becomes harder and harder to read and understand. Religious books, even very simple ones, lose their attraction in the roar of social media and becomes way more difficult for people to process.
Note: The section of the presentation from 1:01 to 1:04 contains a sobering demonstration of some popular social media apps and shows how inappropriate content is quickly put before first-time users even when they are not looking for it. The content in this section contained offensive language and lifestyle that is common in these apps. Minor editing was applied to remove foul language and sensual images.
Growing up forty years ago, my brothers, sisters, and I would often visit our local public library — especially during the summer months when we were not attending school. Usually, our parents were not with us during these visits as we lived within biking distance of the library. At that time, many of the current methods of entertainment (streaming music and video, DVDs, etc.) were not available. In the 1980s, the internet was in its infancy and not accessible to those outside of universities or the military.
At home, we did not have a television set, and instead, relied primarily on books to take us on adventures and experience historical events in our imaginations. As we grew older, graduated from high school, and attended college, we had less time for leisure reading. Now, as middle-aged parents, we are taking our children to the library. But, unlike some things in life, public libraries have not improved with age.
Public libraries have changed significantly over the last 40 years. Books promoting immorality have been part of libraries for decades, however now these themes are showing up in books for young people. Many books speak about “free love” and describe sexual acts without consequences; committing adultery seems quite normal. Books with LGTBQ characters are featured conspicuously for curious, young readers. Our local library featured a book about a little girl with “two mommies” on a shelf in plain view, easily accessible by its target audience — children. The children and young adult departments of our local libraries now contain large numbers of books dealing with horror themes as well as magic and fantasy motifs. Biographies and stories relating important historical events are now written from a left-wing “social justice” inspired point of view. They focus on marginalized persons, on “social justice” for the underrepresented and oppressed in society. When such books refer to religion, they give the impression that God’s Word deals solely with “social justice” – which can then become a religion of its own.
Some public libraries have a section dubbed “Christian fiction” or something similar. This might cause one to automatically believe that these books could be considered “good books”. However, the religion in those books is mostly a cheap, superficial religion which consists of “thanking God” and “always trusting God” during times of trouble. These books breathe Arminian thoughts and ideas which we should avoid. It is rare, in these types of books, to read about a sinner who became guilty before God and men. We do not hear how the Lord leads His people and begins His work in their life. Instead, these books generally speak of a religion where the characters begin immediately to “trust in God”. These types of books begin to sow the seeds of doubt about experiential truth as taught in the Scriptures. The question can then come to mind: is it really necessary for us to be converted according to what we hear preached in our churches? Are we the only church denomination which teaches the truth and necessity of conversion according to God’s Word? Are all of the other churches and denominations wrong? Do we become jealous of those people who can trust in God so easily, despite their circumstances and difficulties? Dear friends, do we see the danger of slowly, but surely, getting more detached from the experimental truth and drawn into an Arminian lie?
In addition to lending books, many libraries have, for many years, made DVDs and Blu-Ray discs available for borrowing by patrons. Over the last decade, libraries have added iPads, Chromebooks (with an included wifi hotspot for internet access), and video game consoles (for playing video games at home). One very popular item are the take-home internet hotspot devices which allow a library user to get internet access wherever they take the hotspot device. These items are either available for free, or for a low rental fee.
Computers with internet access are often freely available in libraries, for children as well as adults. And, even though the “Children’s Internet Protection Act”, in the United States, requires computers used by library visitors to have filtered internet access , children are still able to access a multitude of topics and1 information which we would not allow into our homes. Canadian parents should be aware that their local libraries are not governed by a similar “Protection Act” It might be wise to only allow computer access at2 home where the computer (and mobile devices) can be electronically and visually monitored.
As can be imagined and considering how libraries have evolved in the past forty years, giving children, especially teenagers, unsupervised access to all of these materials (and possibly more, depending on the library) would be a huge mistake. Think twice before allowing your younger children to visit the library unaccompanied by a parent or a responsible brother or sister. If parents allow their children to get books from the public library, they should monitor what materials are being checked out, based on the ten commandments. The question should be asked, “How do the contents of this book hold up against the standard of God’s Word and the commandments?” Make some effort to help your children find good, solid literature they will enjoy. True to their sinful nature, and left to themselves, children are often drawn to books and other media that invite them into worlds of fantasy and magic. Moving to books dealing with dark fantasy and the occult is a possible next step. It is of great importance that parents talk with their children about why we must not read certain books and why the contents of many books are sinful in the eyes of the Lord. If the Israelites were warned to, “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:31), certainly we should take care in avoiding books and other materials dealing with these evils.
If you have them nearby, visit several local libraries – you may find that one could have less of the problematic materials described above. Some libraries are not so quick in getting rid of older books, which will generally have less objectionable themes and topics.
Seeing that many items in the public library cannot stand the test of portraying a morality according to God’s Word and the ten commandments, the question might be asked, “Are there alternatives to using the public library?” Yes – one option might be for parents to consider acquiring their own “family” library. Over time, begin buying good books from library book sales, thrift stores, and garage sales that might be selling books cheaply. This is something to begin with as soon as children are born as it takes time and some money to acquire good reading material. It’s quite satisfying as a parent, however, to see your children enjoying good books, bought with them in mind before they were even able to hold onto a book.
We had to bike along busy roads when we visited our local library as children. Our parents expressed some worry when we asked to visit the library – mostly concerned about our physical safety. Today, our children’s physical well-being is still important; however, we and our children also need to be protected from the moral and spiritual dangers lurking at the library. We need the Lord’s help and strength to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8).
1 Internet filtering is required in all libraries receiving funding from the United States federal government. Public libraries not receiving federal funds are not required to have internet filters installed.
2 Schulz, K. (2020). Internet filters in Canadian libraries. Pathfinder: A Canadian Journal for Information Science Students and Early Career Professionals, 1(2), 36-50. https://doi.org/10.29173/pathfinder23
This article written by Rev. John Witvoet was published in the January/February 2020 edition of “Insight Into” and is posted here with the author’s permission.
Friends, we live in an uncertain, fast-changing world, but what hasn’t changed is what is found in God’s Word as admonition and instruction. This is also true relating to our use of modern media and our devices. The Word of God is never outdated, not even in this postmodern era. “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
I think it can be safely said that much of the time when we are using our “devices,” we are treading on, or dangerously close to, enemy territory. The modern media has become the modern means the devil uses to subtly trap and ambush, or blatantly bombard both the wary and careless user alike. Although the means the devil uses are new, his devices are not, as we can see from God’s eternal Word. Nearly 2,000 years ago the Apostle Paul admonished the church in the progressive city of Ephesus to “put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11-12). We read in Acts 19 that many of them from that congregation that used the media of the day (books) came together and burned those that were evil. Since then the devil has become all the more crafty and men all the more corrupt. In these modern times we can no longer simply destroy and be rid of all the means that the devil uses to infiltrate our eyes, ears, minds, and ultimately our hearts and souls.
We live in a world inundated by modern digital media! Infinite pieces of data abound, all accessible to us by over three million apps and nearly two billion websites. This does not even include digital personal files or proprietary business systems. We have become so dependent on modern media and modern digital technology to operate our businesses, to keep us efficient in our work, and for record keeping. It is an integral part of all of our modern lives. We use it in our studying, buying, selling, communicating, and in nearly every aspect of our lives. It has become impossible to function in the modern world without the use of this “new media.”
Satan’s tactics
Paul also writes of the devil’s tactics to the Corinthians, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11); in other words, his wide range of subtle and blatant attacks. And are these things not written in God’s Word for our “admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are to come” (1 Corinthians 10:11)?
First, what a brazen onslaught he wages against us! Every day, nearly at every moment, a barrage of attacks comes at us by way of the media that has become so much a part of all of our lives. It need not be proven that a vast majority of the content that comes to us every day by these means is blatantly wicked and contrary to God’s Word. It is feared that much soul-destroying content is being searched out or “stumbled across” by many of us on pornographic and lewd sites, but far more prevalent, and maybe equally as dangerous, is the endless searching and filling our minds with thousands of meaningless pieces of information. Even when it is not movies, videos, music videos, gaming and the like, surfing digital media has become a modern form of entertainment. With an endless supply, our precious time is not only wasted, but we have become addicted to consuming information.
Secondly, and more subtly, with the greater influx of modern media, printed and audible forms of media are being replaced. Reading and listening are becoming more and more difficult for the modern generation. We are constantly bombarded by texts, tweets, notifications, ads, Facebook posts, emails, and more. Our brains get hooked on all this stimulating content. We crave more and more new information, and it can be difficult to pay attention to any one thing for very long. On the other side, it also makes it difficult to hold anyone’s attention for very long. A recent study found that the average human attention span has fallen from 12 seconds in 2000 (or around the time smartphones hit the scene) to eight seconds today. In comparison, scientists believe that the goldfish has an attention span of nine seconds.
What does this mean for us? The devil cannot destroy God’s Word, but it becomes evident that this subtle undermining by the devil is a tactic whereby he seeks to keep us from reading and concentrating on even a short portion of God’s Word. Is it not to be feared that this is affecting our ability to sit in church and listen with concentration and participation for an hour-and-a-half worship service? Satan not only seeks to undermine the stronghold of God’s Word itself, but also the means of grace by destroying our concentration in God’s house, if by nothing else than keeping us up late on our devices the night before. Not to mention using it unceasingly on the Lord’s Day.
Nothing new under the sun
No, there is nothing new under the sun; the devil’s modern device is to use our devices! Let me illustrate this further. Psalm 37:7 speaks of “the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” The original uses a word that means “a plan, or witty invention, usually evil, sometimes good, or a wicked or mischievous device or plot.”
How about what the Lord says of mankind in Ecclesiastes 7:29, “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” Again, let’s consider the meaning of the original word, only found in two places in Scripture, which is “any contrivance, art, device, or invention; a warlike machine or engine, or mental plot to break down a stronghold.”
Therefore, it makes sense that the other place we find this word used is to describe King Uzziah’s invention in 2 Chronicles 26:15, “And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal.” These were machines that could hurl many arrows or stones at once, or continuously in a thick barrage against a stronghold or enemy.
The application that can be made to our modern time is clear. Do these not coincide with the modern day invention of both computer hardware and software? What a barrage of deadly arrows and crushing stones can come at us with every click of a mouse or every swipe or tap of a screen! Not only has the devil gained such an advantage by this new technology to captivate and destroy our never-dying souls, but we have become victims of our own inventions! We are destroying ourselves, and the devil gladly helps us along both boldly and subtly. For he, too, has become much wiser after 6,000 years! Is this not seen today? How the devil seeks to destroy the stronghold of the Lord’s institution of marriage! Thousands of divorces are related directly to the misuse of the Internet, viewing lewd content, pursuing online relationships, social media connections, and so on. The misuse of modern media is destroying personal lives, marriages, families, and ultimately souls.
“The whole armour of God”
Friends, God’s Word has not changed, neither has His admonition and instruction. We are commanded to “put on the whole armour of God.” In the first place, this must be spiritual armour, because we have no might against this powerful enemy and his spiritual wickedness. But also practically we must take up the shield to protect ourselves and our loved ones in this unceasing conflict. We cannot pray for keeping if we do not implement the available filters and means to protect ourselves while using all of our devices. Furthermore, let necessity alone dictate the use!
Finally, let us realize that the great danger lies in the sinful and susceptible nature that we all possess. The devil has a great advantage in this war since he has very willing accomplices in us! What we need above all is a hatred for sin and a love for the Lord and His law. Oh, that we may be granted the fear of the Lord in our heart and receive grace for our soul! Pray the Lord to supply this by His Word and Spirit! Even then, the Lord must keep it in exercise, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). A true, Spirit-wrought conversion is by far the best filter; a true prayer is the best defense; and the true and mighty Saviour is the only Stronghold that will stand, not only in our modern times from the attacks of a defeated but angry devil, but ultimately from the eternal wrath of a righteous, all-knowing, and sin-punishing God. No, there is nothing new under the sun, also in the way the Lord teaches and gives His people all these things.
