The Media We Consume
By Jonah S.
Addicted To The Social Media by franckreporter from Getty Images Signature Created in Canva
...Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (NIV Bible, 1 Kings 19.11-19.12)
You are in a room full of people. In this room there is loud music, flashing lights, and lots of lively conversation. There are so many opportunities to be distracted, whether it is at the dance floor, or at the buffet. You are so entrenched in this reality that when your best friend leans over and tries to get your attention, you do not hear them. You are out of touch.
In a world that increasingly demands more and more of our attention, it can be easy to get distracted. Many people have access to some piece of technology that, at the touch of their fingertips, allows for them to go down the rabbit hole of the internet. As students at an online school, we are exposed to technology more than the average person. In fact, one survey conducted showed that the average NorthStar student spends seven to nine hours in front of a screen in a day. To put that into perspective, if a person is awake fourteen to fifteen hours a day, more than half of their waking hours is spent using some form of technology. This is why it is more important than ever to monitor the media we consume.
It is important that people do not consume media that contains ungodly content. The ideas and media that surround a person’s life shape them more than they realize. At the same time, we also should not hide ourselves from some of the harsh and sinful realities of the world. In John 17:15-16, Jesus prays the following for his disciples, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (ESV Bible, John 17.15-17.16). As Christians, our calling is to reach out to a broken world. This means that there will be worldly things that people encounter in their lives. The real test is whether or not they can deal with those encounters in a Christ-like manner. This requires wisdom and discernment.
While being critical of the content of our media is important, it is just as equally paramount to examine the quantity of media that we consume. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah encounters God. However, Elijah encounters God in a very unlikely place. He was not found in the powerful wind, the mighty earthquake, or even the fire. Rather, He was found in a whisper. To many, this may subvert their expectations of who God is. Why would an all powerful, mighty God be found in something so small and seemingly insignificant? It is the same reason why Jesus came down to earth as a little baby - God desires to have a close and vulnerable relationship with us. When one whispers, it is an invitation to draw near to a close and deeply personal conversation. Nevertheless, a whisper can be very hard to hear. The more noise a person is surrounded with, the less likely they are able to hear it. This is what makes the overconsumption of media so dangerous. It allows for one to become out of touch with their family, their friends, but most importantly, with God.
Romans 12:2 also states the following, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (ESV Bible, Rom. 12.2). It is important that in whatever one does, they do not become conformed to the ways of the world. This is why the regulation of media consumption is so important. There are people who become so attached to their phones and their screens, that they completely become detached from life. It impacts their mood, it impacts their behavior and it impacts their priorities in life. Technology and media are designed to be as captivating and addicting as they possibly can. They are meant to suck people in. The important thing is that when one gets sucked in, they recognize that they need to form boundaries. If they are humble enough to reach out to those around us for accountability and confidentiality they can take steps to get rid of dangerous media habits and ultimately form a healthier and happy life.
Columns: 🔎Informational 🗣️Advice ✝️Spiritual Life
Jonah S. has been at Northstar Academy for the past three years. He lives in the Middle-East with his parents and younger brother. Some of the things he enjoys include reading, writing, watching movies, playing video games, and building Legos. He also enjoys music, viola being his primary instrument.