My mom made a comment on my previous graven images post that I have been thinking about and want to share because it's such a great concise definition of idolatry.
"I've been thinking a lot about this idolatry one, too. Dad came back from a convention on Combating Pornography and one of the speakers likened pornography to an idol--something we stare at, think about, practically worship, allow to dominate our minds and hearts. Interesting, huh? But, then I thought, "Do I sometimes do that with the computer????" Hmmmmm.... Guess I can't check the idolatry one off my list quite yet..."
And no mom, wanting to check your kids' blogs to see if they have posted pictures of your grandchildren is not idolatry. :)
But anything we allow to dominate what we think about becomes our idol. Anything we want that starts dominating our thoughts over spiritual things becomes our idol. Colossians 3:5 and Ephesians 5:5 both talk about how being coveteous is idolatry. Which is another one of the commandments. Thou shalt not covet.
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I SO SO SO have that problem with the computer. I waste so much time on it and other things get neglected, pushing me so far off schedule. Another thing is the T.V. for my kiddos. I have had major guilt trips with it since we got cable and my kids started watching more. I need to reset some of the rules we had or adjust them a little and find some more productive outlets for them. Help! Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteLeslie:
ReplyDeleteI sometimes feel like I have the same problem with TV and my two-year-old. And because I teach a couple days a week at a college, sometimes I legitimately need time on the computer to do the office work that accompanies teaching. On those days, I feel especially guilty that Scott watches too much TV because it's such an easy babysitter!
What has worked for us is to record a few episodes of Scott's favorite shows, and then he can only watch one at a time. Once it's over, I unplug the TV and find him another activity to do. It's so much easier to control that way, both for me and for him. That works for a two-year-old that doesn't yet understand how to make the TV work again. Sorry I don't have better ideas for older kids! I know Brooke's mom (my mother-in-law) sets a timer for her boys.
Something that helped me when I was writing my deals blog and it was getting way out of hand was putting limits on MY time on the computer. So there, i told myself I could only get on the first hour to two hours of the day. I couldn't check other deal blogs after that, and I couldn't update my blog besides that first time in the morning.
ReplyDeleteNow as a mom of two I have to accomplish something before I can get on the computer. I need to have gotten the dishes done and I can have 15 minutes of computer time, or fold two loads of laundry, or done a quick 10 minute house pick up. Usually what happens is I force myself to get that one thing done, and I end up doing a whole bunch more because I'm on a roll, then I really feel i earned that time. But I always limit myself. What Mandi said was great, put a timer on there for yourself.
Also putting limits on the kids TV time is great. You could have a family conference and altogether talk about the decision to limit TV time. And if they have other suggestions on how to make sure they don't watch too much. (ie a timer, they can watch two shows a day, whatever.) And other ideas on what to do without the tv on. They could learn how to make bread, or play with playdough.
I also had a friend that when he would say I'm bored and the mom wouldn't let them watch tv, she would then say perfect, you can do this chore, and this chore and this chore for me. That got them to think up some constructive activities to do on their own.
Maybe i'll a whole post on this, this is good practical applications of how to limit modern idols in our lives today. Great question.