Technaholics? part 1

I picked up a book on my shelf that I bought about 10 years ago at a national youth convention. The book is all about taking a break from technology addiction for the sake of focusing on Jesus. It proudly proclaims that this will be the "30 hardest days of your life."

I have mixed emotions about this concept. On one hand, it seems quite ludicrous that we'd demonize technology and the gadgets it brings as things that get in the way of our relationship w/ God. It is in some ways a very Cartesian dualistic understanding of the world where there is a very strong divide between the sacred and the secular. I wholeheartedly reject that concept for reasons that will have to be the topic of another blog on another day.

To show the silliness of the concept that technology is evil, imagine the following scenario. We should all quit driving cars because we spend so much time in them and they get in the way of our relationships that are right around us (within walking distance)... OR We need to throw our cell phones in the trash b/c we talk on them constantly and that time could be better spent in prayer.... Really??? What about all the Kingdom work that is accomplished through the ability to be transported via automobile? What about all the encouraging and helpful phone calls made on cell phones that strategically move people toward Jesus? Should we embrace Asceticism and all become monks or nuns? Or, should we go the way of the Amish? Where do we draw the line here? I have some thoughts on that....(to be continued tomorrow)