Cross View Blog

I  admit it: peoples' public phone behavior is a pet peeve of mine. I want to ask them, "What is so engaging and important on your phone that can't wait until later?" Now I'm understanding their preoccupation as addictive behavior.

 People are entitled to their addictions. "Whatever floats your boat," we used to say. The sad part of their addiction, however, is screen attachment is an invasive disorder that distracts from things that are much more important. Things like self-examination, verbal interaction with real people, awareness of one's surroundings, social (not virtual) engagement, literature, history, the sounds and sights of nature, etc.

In short, when life is consumed in the digital world, the rest of reality becomes filler or wallpaper. Our virtual world takes over our perspective, our appetites, and our values. We fail to see the woods because we are distracted by trees and bramble bushes. We lose the big picture, our purpose and vocation. We think life is happening "out there" some other place, not here and now.

Technology has perfected the ultimate "shiny object" tethered to our souls, conveniently toted in our back pockets.  Life is now online, no longer in the kitchen or in the real world.

Jesus reflected, "What shall it profit a person to gain the whole world and lose one's own soul?" There are many ways of losing one's soul, many addictions and illusions, but all addictions start with being distracted from the Great Commandment: "You shall love the LORD God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Anything else is a distraction, online or off.

The incredible Good News is that God entered our world of alluring distractions and still maintained His ultimate mission, tempted often, but never wavering from the cross and empty tomb. He kept his focus and fulfilled the Great Commandment perfectly so that we who are prone to distraction can be offered a way out. In Him we find our identity, purpose, and power, regardless of the digital marvel we carry in our back pockets.

Distracted? Confused? Disillusioned? Refocus away from yourself to the Great Commandment and to Him who kept it for us.

Paul Emmel
November 17, 2020
Minneapolis

Paul Emmel is a retired pastor in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, having served as a parish pastor, a correctional chaplain for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and a hospital chaplain and a community counselor. As a retired pastor, Paul continues to serve the Lord and His people, including establishing the Minnesota South District’s “Pastors to Prisoners” ministry.