Craig Groeschel’s, Liking Jesus: Intimacy and Contentment in a Selfie-Centered World is a thoughtful and timely read. It is available at a bargain price as of the time of this post ($2.99 for the Kindle edition on Amazon). Groeschel is a prolific author and the lead pastor of one of America’s largest multi-site churches. Both he and his church make extensive use of cutting-edge technology and are the creators of the free, excellent, and wildly popular YouVersion Bible app (now installed over 400 million times). Clearly, Craig is no anti-technology Luddite. Therefore, his wise and cautionary advice about how to put technology and social media back into proper balance should be considered credible insider insight.
Not an Anti-technology, Boycott-social-media Book
Groeschel writes, “I embrace everything good that our tech age offers . . . I love what we can do . . . we can use technology to reach people with the good news of the gospel in mind-blowing ways.” However, Craig also confesses, “ . . . something is wrong . . . I’m finally willing to admit the truth. I’m tethered to my phone, addicted to my favorite apps, and hooked on social media. Technology has become central to my life. I don’t really control it. It controls me. And I don’t like that.” Therefore, the balance of the book is built around Craig’s personal journey of discovery and recovery along with keen insight about regaining control and reestablishing balance. Groeschel devotes an entire chapter to each of the following issues:
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- Contentment: The more we compare, the less satisfied we are. Studies show that viewing social media often leaves us feeling depressed.
- Intimacy: The more we interact online, the more we crave face-to-face intimacy, but the more elusive it becomes.
- Authenticity: The more filtered our lives become, the harder it is for us to be genuine and transparent.
- Compassion: The more pain we’re exposed to, the more difficult it is for us to care. We become desensitized to the suffering of people around us and around the world.
- Integrity: We’re tempted nonstop to see things that pollute the purity God desires.
- Encouragement: Constant online criticism encourages us to focus on the weaknesses, flaws, and failures of others instead of encouraging them.
- Worship: God wants to be first in our lives, but people are finding it increasingly difficult to follow Jesus in a selfie-centered world. It’s time to tear all idols down.
- Rest: We have the world at our fingertips, and it’s overwhelmingly exciting. But we need to rediscover rest and solitude.
Do You Suffer from Nomophobia?
Perhaps you have never heard of this particular phobia. Psychology Today describes it as “the fear of being without a mobile device, or beyond mobile phone contact.” Studies show that two-thirds of adults feel “extreme anxiety” if they lose connection with their mobile device. However, among young adults in the eighteen to twenty-four age group the number soars to over three-quarters.
If More Than One Person Has Told You That You Have a Problem You Probably Do
If “ . . . people you care about often complain because you’re staring at your phone and not listening to them. You can’t go an hour without checking your device. If you don’t have it with you at all times, you feel lost, vulnerable, and anxious,” it is obvious that changes need to take place. Groeschel observes that there are three major challenges when it comes to successful personal change:
- The longer a problem persists, the more discouraged you become.
- The longer a problem persists, the more excuses you make.
- The longer a problem persists, the more you learn to compensate.
Therefore he concludes, “ . . . here’s the bottom line: you cannot change what you are willing to tolerate. . .. You have to refuse to miss out on what—and who—is right in front of you.”
Ten Commandments for Social Media
In appendix 1, Groeschel offers ten biblically based principles for using social media in a God-honoring way:
- Put God first in all you say and post.
- Love others as you want to be loved.
- Use social media to facilitate, not replace, real relationships.
- Use social media instead of being controlled by it as an idol.
- Turn your virtual other cheek to posts that offend you.
- Do not post out of emotion.
- Always reflect Jesus, loving God whether online or off.
- Do not use social media to fuel temptations.
- Form your own opinions; do not follow the crowd.
- Do not base your identity on what people think.
Groeschel concludes, “So post, tweet, click, snap, text, chat, comment, and enjoy it all. But do it all out of the overflow of your love for God and love for people. Use technology, but don’t let it overtake your life. Enjoy the benefits of technology, but don’t let it define you. Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
A Highly recommended Read
Liking Jesus is my sixth Craig Groeschel book. I like his transparency and candor regardless of how touchy or personal the subject. He has become one of my favorite authors. All of the above-noted themes are developed in much greater detail in the book’s 253 pages. This is a timely and worthwhile read. I highly recommend it.