Ep. 117 || “Mommy, Can I Watch a Show?”: Screen Time & the Gospel

Screen time can be a hot topic. We wonder, “Is there a formula for the right amount of TV time?” “Is 30 minutes or 45 minutes holier?” “Do you think my kids will be quiet if I put on a show and hide in the kitchen?” But what we need to ask is, “What’s going on in my heart?” In this episode, Emily and Laura share gospel hope for two issues in many moms’ hearts: guilt and fear. Whether you’ve used screen time to avoid the craziness of the day or created a system of rules to guarantee a particular outcome, the gospel meets you there with wisdom and hope.

Articles, Resources and Related Content:

Risen Motherhood on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter
“Wisely Using Technology” Tony Reinke on Journeywomen
“ERLC Panel discussion: Screen time and family time” Trillia Newbell, Jason Thacker, Ben Stuart, Jamie Ivey, Tim Blackmon
The Tech-Wise Family, Andy Crouch
This is Our Time, Trevin Wax
“The Tension of Technology: Hope and Fear in the Digital Age” Jason Thacker
12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You, Tony Reinke
“Are We Worrying Too Much About Kids on Their Phones?” Trevin Wax
“Give Your Children All of Your Attention. Some of the Time.” Harriet Connor

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R|M Apply Questions:

Questions about screen time can bring up a lot of different feelings like anger, pride, fear, worry, or guilt. In today’s episode, we shared practical questions to help you understand your heart motivations and to consider if your screen time use helps or hurts your family mission. Ask God for wisdom and clarity as you evaluate your family’s screen time usage, and trust he will continue to teach, change, and grow you for your good and his glory.

Think of screen time in your home. How do you currently use it? What is your motivation for using it and how do you generally feel when you use it? Dig into any patterns of conviction, fear, superiority, or guilt.
Do you feel a need to justify how much or how little screen time you use? Are those reasons biblical?
What are your family values and how do your screen time practices help you achieve those or hinder those?
How can screen time be a gift from God to help your family in more time-consuming seasons? (Ie. pregnancies, serving, traveling, etc.) How can screen time be a distraction from what God has called your family to do? (Ie. avoidance, selfishness, laziness, etc.) Do you have any signposts to signal to your family that you need to relax or to pull back on screen time?
Ultimately, God is sovereign over our children’s hearts and lives. Whether you feel fear or guilt on this spectrum, how does God’s sovereignty bring you peace?

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