Two pastors have offered practical advice for combating smartphone addiction — an issue they said is permeating the Church at an unprecedented rate.
Joe Rigney, an author, seminary professor, and pastor at Cities Church, says smartphone addiction is one of the “major pastoral issues” of today.
In a video on the gospel coalition website he said — “I think anytime when we’re preaching at our church and we make an application to technology and smartphones … you can feel it palpably from our people that there’s a hunger for, and we just don’t know exactly what to do.’ Because we feel like they’re so ‘essential’ to living. They’re so useful in so many ways, yet it feels like there’s something that’s off”.
The first step in combating smartphone addiction, Rigney said, is admitting there’s a problem to begin with. And he says one of those problems is these little devices have been designed by some of the smartest people on the planet to make sure that you’re on them all the time, and you’re not Superman.
Instead of reaching for a smartphone at the beginning of the day, Rigney recommended reaching for the Bible or spending time in prayer.
Dave Mathis, the executive editor for desiringGod.org and a pastor at Cities Church, agreed that it’s important to “pray first thing, and to pray last thing, rather than check the world.” He stressed that smartphone addiction takes away from the important things in life.
They both advise making a conscious effort to disconnect from the daily barrage of media.