Looking At Electronic Addictions

The Live Science website reports that a 2006 article in the journal Perspectives in Psychiatric Care said the Internet can “promote addictive behaviors.” We know there are all kinds of addictions — drugs, alcohol, sex, tobacco, etc. As an example, television can be used as a great tool in acquiring information for school reports, or some other educational use — and for wholesome entertainment. However, for some people, the watching of television has become an addiction, especially for those individuals who “must” see their daily “soaps.”

Computers are another example of a wonderful tool for doing research, writing, and other productive uses, but they too can become a source of temptation, i.e. online gambling (see article), pornography, etc. The playing of computer games can become just as addictive as other things.

These addictions can steal our time and hinder purposeful, productive thinking. The game may be completely innocent or it may be inherently sinful — in more recent times, the Internet provides secretive ways to gamble — right from your home! Hours so wasted may not only steal needed time for performing necessary obligations in work/home relationships, but may also render the individual unable to function responsibly (see here).

Any form of addictive behavior takes issue with the characteristic Peter identified as “temperance” (2 Peter 1:6 KJV) or “self-control” (2 Peter 1:6 ESV). No individual who is addicted to anything is in control of self. Paul emphatically stated that he would “not be enslaved by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV).

Beloved, if we allow ourselves to become addicted to that which these electronic gadgets provide, they will become just as much a god as any golden calf (Exodus 32:7-8).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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