Do you ever feel a twinge of guilt when your children get a little more screen time than planned? Perhaps you ease that guilt with the thought, “Well, at least they were on an educational app!” It’s a common scenario for many parents today. But while modern screens offer incredible tools, excessive screen time has become a real concern, directly linked to increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and ADHD in children.
While the Bible doesn’t mention smartphones or tablets directly, it offers timeless principles that provide a powerful framework for navigating our digital lives and guiding our children’s screen habits. It’s more than just limiting minutes; it’s about fostering self-control, practicing good stewardship, and ensuring our choices, including how we use technology, truly glorify God and build us up.
Building Self-Control and Setting Boundaries
The Bible strongly emphasizes self-control as a vital character trait for navigating any aspect of life. Proverbs 25:28 warns, “He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls.” This principle highlights the need for boundaries, especially for our children, ensuring that screen time doesn’t dominate their lives or overshadow other essential activities like prayer, Bible study, family time, or real-world interactions. Moderation is key, as imbalance can negatively impact their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. A practical step: establish designated screen-free zones and times at home, such as during meals or before bedtime.
Stewardship and Glorifying God
We are called to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us, including our time, attention, and the tools available to us. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, “So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.” This means intentionally using screens for beneficial purposes to learn, to connect positively with others, or to express God-given creativity while actively avoiding content that is harmful or detrimental to our faith and development. Prioritizing spiritual growth and serving others over excessive screen consumption is a practical application of this principle. To help maintain this balance, encourage regular physical activity, prayer, and engaging in outdoor activities like evangelism to counterbalance screen time.
Maintaining Balance and Avoiding Entrapment
The Bible wisely cautions against allowing anything to “enslave” us. 1 Corinthians 6:12 states, “Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.”
We need to be vigilant about the potential for screens to become sources of anxiety, fear, or conflict in our homes and hearts. It’s crucial to be mindful of how screen content influences our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, making conscious choices for uplifting and beneficial media. A simple yet effective tip is to apply the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look away from your screen and focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to give your eyes and mind a break.
Applying Biblical Principles to Screen Time
Beyond these specific applications, the Bible offers overarching principles that guide us in the digital world. We are encouraged to seek wisdom (James 1:5), choose our associations wisely (1 Corinthians 15:33), and diligently guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23). Technology can also be a powerful tool for glorifying God, allowing us to share positive messages, spread the Gospel, encourage others, and engage in various forms of creative expression. Consider using screens for pursuits like Christian digital art, music creation, or spiritual writing.
In conclusion, while the Bible doesn’t explicitly mention “screen time,” its timeless wisdom provides profound, applicable principles that can help us and our children navigate the complexities of our digital age. When we focus on self-control, stewardship, balance, and intentional choices, we can honor God and promote holistic well-being in our families.
