Are you one of those people that hears something Apple is coming out and instantly begin evaluating your personal budget to see if you can justify it? When you describe your tech life, is saying you are an Apple fanboy or fangirl part of that description? Does this iPad Mini, iPhone 5, or the iPad 3 something that is a HAVE TO HAVE?
You may have made Apple your idol.
While the iPad Mini is a less than good product, I am here to tell you that you do not need them that badly for other reasons than tech specs or cost, its your heart orientation.
Pretty convicting for a tech blog to state that you do not need something techie, but we are also advocates for our faith. So many times we put things up as idols that we covet, lust after, and in many sense worship. When is the last time that you have had your phone more than 20 feet from your body? Can you turn off all Apple electronics in your home for a day and not get anxious? Do you actually have a line-item in your finances for tech upgrades? These are the things that promote sinfulness, even in something as lifeless as technology.
Apple does a great job of “you need to have this” even when it is not something you have to have. They promote the “cool factor” into it so that you spend a 10-20% market-up and make you feel like you are missing out if you decide to get the “lesser version” that is a year old. Families are hurting financially to pay student loans but still getting the iPhone, marriages are failing because of lack of effort but we still spend hours a day on our phones (most likely wasting time too!), and teens are not connecting with their parents at all but texting and sexting are more prevalent than ever.
Why have we allowed for technology to because our new god?
It rules our lives. We get upset without it. It dominates our thoughts.
I pray that you take a few minutes to evaluate.
Have you made this tech your idol?
Are you allowing it to rule your life?
Do you answer to it or does it answer to you?
Would you be willing to take a digital sabbath or two?
[…] Is Apple Your Idol? by Jeremy Smith […]