Rhett Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who, having spent the last 15 years on the pastoral staff in churches, is passionate about integrating his knowledge and experience in the areas of ministry and therapy to the world of social media and technologies. Rhett is on staff at HopeWorks Counseling Center in Plano, TX, and also serves on the youth ministry staff part-time at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. When Rhett isn’t online, he loves to spend his free time writing, running and being with his family.
- In social media we run the risk of becoming disconnected, enmeshed and differentiated.
- Genesis 2:23
- Technology and social media are great, but face-to-face encounters give us the full realization of who we are.
- “Now we see but a poor reflection as is in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
- We’d rather settle for FaceTime or allusions of knowing one another from a distance than really being face to face.
- The tools are great but they shouldn’t become more important than real-time connections.
Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life
- Device Paradigm
- Technological process available at the press of a button.
- We don’t see the process being performed.
- Compresses Relationships.
- We can “friend” people without going through the process of developing a friendship.
Formation of Relationships
- Mediating Technologies [cell phones, computer based applications]
- Lack an Inner Core/Identity
- Our self exists as a collection external images.
- The mediated self constructs a sense of “who I am” through interaction with others in various mediums.
- Mark 1:9-11
- Before Jesus went about the work of ministry, He was secure in His relationship and identity with His Father.
- It’s easy to move away from our true identity and dive into what’s hip and cool and trendy.
Boundaries
- Boundaries give us a sense of where we begin and where we end.
Time Limits
- You shouldn’t be plugged in all day.
- You should have your phone or your computer on all day.
- You should have structured time limits where you are unplugged and disconnected.
- Don’t look at your messages first thing in the morning.
Physical Boundaries
Tech Sabbath
- We need some type of rhythm where at some point in the day we are disconnected.
- Once a week we need a day where we don’t get online at all.
- Do you REALLY need to check your email?
- We need to set aside a day where we aren’t dependant on our technologies and where we are dependant on God.
Ask Others
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Sometimes the people around us can give us the best feedback about our use of technology and our engagement with it.
Strive for Face to Face
- Tools are great but if you have opportunity to get face-to-face with people, strive for that.
Experiment/Be Creative
- Think of creative ways to disconnect from technology and create boundaries.
