Christian and internet addiction

1. Dangers of Virtual World
Church at Gachibowli
Feb 4th 2018

2. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the powers, against the
world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual
forces of wickedness in the heavenly places
Dethrone God from lives of people
Make God’s people ineffective

3. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your
adversary, the devil, prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
If this is true, there is no doubt that in our
times devil uses technology as a tool for his
purposes.

4. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy
In all times, purpose of evil one was always same,
to take control of heart and minds of people.
We are going to talk about technology because it is
one of his primary means of evil in our time.

5. Then the LORD smote the people, because of
what they did with the calf which Aaron had
made
Problem was not with the calf, problem was
what they did with golden calf
Dethrone God, made god out of a non living
thing

6. made.

7. Definition of world has expanded because of
technology
Workplace/College/School
Friends
Phone
Computer
Books?
Health Bands
Any modern electromechanical device

8. Unique time in history
Access to most useful information from any part of
the world
Access to the most base, vulgar and useless
information from any part of the world
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the
flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the
Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

9. Upcoming Technological Changes
Immersive Technology
Intelligent machines
Invisibility
Your data/privacy
Bio hacking
Cyborgs
Recommendations

10. Enablers
Software Innovations
IOT –Internet of Things
AI – Artificial Intelligence
5G–Next generation of Telecom.
AR, VR and MR – Altering reality
Predictive Analytics
Machine Learning

11. Technology is not evil
Newspaper is evil
Radio is evil
TV is evil
We should not call neutral things as evil
We have to live with technology (Banking apps, Uber etc)
Golden calf is not evil
Replacing God with a golden calf is evil
Do I have a golden calf in my life ?
What is my golden calf ?

12. Technology is not evil, but..
Companies care only about maximizing business
Companies care least about biblical values
Google, Twitter and Facebook workers who helped make
technology addictive are disconnecting themselves from the
Internet [3]
“One morning in April this year, designers, programmers and
tech entrepreneurs from across the world gathered at a
conference centre on the shore of the San Francisco Bay. They
had each paid up to $1,700 to learn how to manipulate people
into habitual use of their products, on a course curated by
conference organiser ”[3]

13. Quotes from creators
All of us are jacked into this system, All of our minds can be hijacked.
Our choices are not as free as we think they are
The most seductive design, exploits the same psychological
susceptibility that makes gambling so compulsive: variable rewards.
When we tap those apps with red icons, we don’t know whether
we’ll discover an interesting email, an avalanche of “likes”, or
nothing at all. It is the possibility of disappointment that makes it so
compulsive. -- Tristan Harris, former design ethicist at Google
Smartphones are useful tools, but they’re addictive … I regret the
downsides. I have two kids and I regret every minute that I’m not
paying attention to them because my smartphone has sucked me in -
-Loren Brichter, creator of pull-top-refresh mechanism

14. What is my golden calf ?
Virtual world is addictive, like alcohol or drugs. Brain releases the
same chemical which is observed when people take drugs
Unlike most of addictions the bad effects are not seen outside. But it
slowly eats up a person from inside. Make changes in your life before
it is too late.
As with any addiction young are more vulnerable, but old are no
exception.
Any alcoholic will tell you that they started alcohol abuse when they
were young because of some pressure.
For satisfaction, if we are turning to virtual things, the chances of
getting addicted to them is higher.

15. What is my golden calf ?
Constant engagement to Internet/phone kills creativity
The mere presence of smartphones damages cognitive capacity –
even when the device is turned off, studies show
“Everyone is distracted, All of the time.” --Justin Rosenstein, the
former Google and Facebook engineer who helped build the ‘like’
button [5]
With so much distractions, How can we obey the commandment “Be
still and know I am God”?
In a meeting or while with a loved one if we are scrolling on phone,
watch out
Upcoming technologies which we saw earlier are going to affect us
in many ways
Because they are technologically advanced and different, we need to
be ready

16. Swipes/Touches-2,617 times each day, on
average. Top 10 %, 5,427 touches a day [5]
“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook
will be to prove at the Last Day that
prayerlessness was not from lack of time”

17. Dangers of Addiction to Virtual World
Leaves you more Empty, No Joy
Desensitization of conscience
Evil elements are added in games, AR,VR, movies to keep user
engaged and coming back for more.
Isolation, superficial friendships, no deep meaningful
relationships with people
Children, teenagers are the most vulnerable category of people.
Both as consumers of evil things and targets of abuse
Sharing personal details on Internet with strangers Email ID,
cellphone no, Address etc. There is nothing private on Internet

18. Dangers of Addiction to Virtual World
Violence and suicides on rise among teens. They do not
kill themselves because they are hungry
Takes up quality time in family and friends, which is
supposed to be spent in talking, listening, understanding
etc
Instant abstract knowledge which kills the ability to think
and deduce. Holds true to theology too
Dangers of radiation on children, pregnant mothers and
people in general

19. What can we do ?
Do not start on a road which leads to compulsive use of internet, video
games, social media, virtual worlds, communicating with strangers etc
Put a time limit on use of virtual things
Next time your friend at school/work introduces to latest, coolest and most
exciting thing , which may be related to any of the things we talked today,
be cautious and if it is sinful, flee. Talk to someone mature about it
Like all addictions, virtual world addiction is also genrally th result of
exposure to it when people are young, so do not get into vulnerable
situations like being alone, bad friendships, rated games, virtual worlds,
anonymous chatting or trying something which your friends suggested
online
Keep your devices absolutely out of your bedrooms (TV, phones, laptops)

20. 1. Listen to God by reading, understanding the
Bible. It is exciting!
2. Talk to God in prayer. Pray without ceasing.
3. Be in fellowship with believers, wherever
you are
4. Work in the local church and take up
responsibilities
5. Do your daily responsibilities faithfully

21. For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also
I the LORD search the heart and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds
Be careful how we spend our time and be alert
to the dangers of virtual world.

22. References
1. Picturehttps://epichurus.com/2016/08/07/rio2016-sera-que-paul-errou-
o-polimento/
2. Simon Sinek on Millennial and Internet Addiction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU3R0ot18bg
3. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/05/smartphone-
addiction-silicon-valley-dystopia
4. NASB Bible
5. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/691462