Greg Chandler
My career as a schoolteacher spanned the introduction, rise, and gradual decline of screen usage in the classroom. When technology began making its way into the classroom, many schools reacted by believing that they and their students would be left behind without a screen available for everyone. After over a decade of such thinking, some schools are now severely limiting or eliminating personal devices due to their negative impact on education. A growing body of research on attention, retention, and classroom outcomes now shows that whatever minimal good may be accomplished, many problems are introduced with the “personal device for every student” fad.
During this same time, a similar shift has taken place among Christians, as many have opted for Bible apps rather than the printed page. Technology has provided great advantages in Bible study. For example, I often use a website for my daily Bible reading since it makes a host of translations available without having to purchase a printed Bible for a one-year reading plan. Great resources are available for study aids, and speech-to-text technology means that sermons are available to read and ponder.
What, though, about our times of collective Bible study? When teaching middle school and high school Bible classes, I have made it a habit to purchase journaling Bibles (of the book being studied) for students, with the instruction to put phones away. The reason? As in the classroom, the lack of a personal device also means a lack of distraction, thus an increase in sustained attention. For most, the desire to read a text message or the continual appearance of pop-ups is sure to break concentration. This is true for teens as well as adults. Additionally, when attention naturally begins to drift, the temptation to scroll is magnified; if one is not very careful, the time allotted for study becomes a time for technological entertainment.
Many Christians, both younger and older, also use devices during sermons. Some of the best Bible students I know use electronic devices to take notes and store them for later use. Still, danger lurks. While preaching several years ago in a gospel meeting, a man took issue with the accuracy of a pop culture reference I had made. In the midst of the sermon, he used his phone to fact-check so that he could be proven right, while missing the biblical point being made by the illustration. In seeking to prove a minor unimportant point, he missed the major one. For devices that are online, the same classroom problems of distraction are readily present.
With all the above noted, should personal devices be used in our Bible classes and assemblies? While this question must ultimately be answered individually rather than with a blanket rule, one exception should be considered: our Bible classes for children and teens. For those who are still maturing, guidance is needed; eliminating as many distractions as possible must be the goal of every teacher and parent. Indeed, parents are the first line of defense in ensuring children are as distraction-free as possible. While there may be times when some biblical research is aided by technology, most of the time is better served with devices stowed away, preferably outside the classroom. Using a printed Bible also aids in understanding how the Bible is ordered and where each book is located in relation to the other sixty-five.
Adults must also consider whether devices are a help or a hindrance. Three questions will help determine the answer:
- – Are there apps, notifications, or habits associated with this device that tempt me to break my concentration?
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- – Is my use of this device serving as a distraction for those around me?
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- – Is my use of the device setting the appropriate example for younger people who sit near me?
An honest evaluation of these questions may clarify that the device is not hurting one’s study habits. With texts and pop-ups silenced for the duration of the assembly, distractions are significantly reduced. Conversely, it might also give one pause, ultimately leading to the conclusion that a printed version of the Bible is the best option.
Neither electronics nor printed books were known in the first century; thus, there is no passage that provides a straightforward “book, chapter, and verse” answer to the question of electronics versus print. This is where biblical principles are needed. Time spent in the study of God and His word calls for sobriety. Along with the psalmist, we believe, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Both in my attention and in my example, God is to be shown great reverence and honor. This is what we want to teach our children, and this is how we want to live.
However we choose to access His word, it should be for the purpose of drawing closer to Him. Along with the psalmist, may we also say, “Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). Technology may have introduced new questions and challenges, but the same God still fascinates us, thus cultivating a strong desire to explore His infinite mind and holy ways.
