“My Story, My Truth”

“Digital Liturgies” — Week 5 Reflection

The Real Danger of TV & The Internet

“Don’t sit so close to the TV! You’ll hurt your eyes!” Uttered nearly a million times from my mom from 1973 until about 1994 when I finally left home.

I’m not sure how many feet away from the screen my mom considered “safe” for our vision, but certainly, in the 1980s, I used to sit farther away from my family TV than the few inches I hold my iPhone away from my face in this present age. And I guarantee you I’m looking at my iPhone way more than I ever looked at my TV growing up.

But let’s forget about the physical dangers of TV or electronic devices and focus on the more looming threat.

What we perceived in those images over two decades ago on our TV screens may have influenced our lives, but not in every hour and every area of lives. TV was a type of evil for many reasons. It wasted time. It robbed families of quality conversation. And let’s not even talk about those cheesy daytime soap operas that not only wasted time and robbed us of having a decent conversation with our loved ones but brought into our homes a host of images that are absolutely not okay for families.

But here’s one thing I appreciated and still appreciate about TV. As frivolous as it was, at least we were all in the same room when we were watching it. All in the same room, laughing or gasping at the same scene.

We were together. And I miss that.

The Divisive Nature of the Net

The internet has divided us physically and socially, and by doing so, it feeds our desire to express ourselves as individuals.

So I resonate with what James is saying in Chapter 4. We are now living in an age where it has become easier than ever to create a digital image of ourselves expressing our own version of truth.

The temptation to do so has always been there—like since the beginning—when Eve first desired to be wise. Wasn’t that first bite of fruit the first defiance of our need for God and His story for our lives? Instead, we wanted to author our own stories, our truth. And the internet has made it easier to do so.

A Beautiful Alternative

James concludes the chapter with a beautiful alternative:

“I don’t have to craft an identity or come up with a meaning to my life, because God has called me a son, and in being his son I have and will have everything that Christ has.”

This is the story that gives light and life to the eyes. The story intended to draw us together and give our lives meaning and a reason to express that meaning—individually and collectively as members of His family.

What a beautiful story it is—written by the best Author of all.