Just as nearly invisible cords turned Gulliver into a prisoner of the Lilliputians, modern technology has trapped us today as we become more and more dependent on digital devices. At the same time, mental health-related issues are skyrocketing. In Redeeming Technology: A Christian Approach to Healthy Digital Habits, the pastor-psychiatrist team of Rev. A. Trevor Sutton and psychiatrist Dr. Brian Smith explore how we can reclaim healthy boundaries with technology. While not branding technology either “good” or “bad,” Sutton and Smith address unhealthy dependencies on technology and give Christian insight to return to a right relationship with it.
“Technology affects us all,” write Sutton and Smith. “We are all citizens of a brave new world. No one is impervious to the influences of technology and nonstop media stimulation. Even if you are a Luddite, technology is still influencing your mental, physical, and spiritual health. Not only is modern technology profoundly shaping the world, but it is also rapidly altering bodies and souls—transforming brains, relationships, religion, communication, families, and communities. Like the proverbial frog in the pot, we are marinating in a digital media environment, largely unaware of the temperature rising around us until we are boiled. Like it or not, we are all in the pot together.”
Ideal for personal or group study, each chapter contains discussion questions and a “Do This, Not That” section to address technology use in the reader’s life.
For more information on Redeeming Technology: A Christian Approach to Healthy Digital Habits, or to schedule an interview with the authors contact Lindsey Scheetz, Public Relations, by email at Lindsey.Scheetz@cph.org.
Praise for Redeeming Technology
“There are many good books that offer Christians wise words of caution about the role of technology in our lives, but Redeeming Technology goes beyond that by offering practical suggestions on how our approach to and use of technology can be a beautiful expression of our love for God and the many neighbors in our lives. This book is a great source of personal learning and also an excellent resource for small-group study and discussion.”
—Bernard Bull, president of Concordia University Nebraska
“A psychiatrist and a pastor tell us about the mental and spiritual effects of technology. They do so in a lively and eye-opening book full of research, anecdotes, and lore. While showing that technology changes us in some harmful ways, Rev. Sutton and Dr. Smith are not digital Luddites. Rather, they show us how—through the Gospel—we can break our addictions to the misuse of technology and use it for good.”
—Gene Edward Veith Jr., author of The Spirituality of the Cross
“Redeeming Technology is all about Jesus. Sutton and Smith unpack a Christ-centered view about technology and explore diverse connections to the Scriptures, without ignoring health science. The text ranges from literature to biblical case studies, allowing the reader to interact with unique insights and construct a healthier use of digital technology. In this sense, Redeeming Technology invites us to regard technology as part of the human plot of creation, fall, and redemption.”
—Rev. Mário Rafael Fukue, chaplain at ULBRA-Brasil and professor at Seminário Concórdia, Brasil
“The negative impact of our society’s addiction to digital media is ubiquitous in our homes, schools, and even our churches. In response to this, Rev. Sutton and Dr. Smith have written a book that is exceedingly well-researched, engaging, and even inspirational. A practical guide to dealing with digital media using a God-centered approach, it should be required reading for Christian parents of children of all ages.”
—Dr. Anthony Youn, best-selling author of The Age Fix, physician and social media influencer
About the Authors
Rev. A. Trevor Sutton is senior pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan. He holds an MDiv from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and an MA in digital rhetoric from Michigan State University. He has written and spoken about technology and Christianity for various publications and is the author of several books, including Being Lutheran and Authentic Christianity.
Dr. Brian Smith, MD, is an author, professor, and psychiatrist in Michigan with more than twenty years of experience working with children and their families. He has directly witnessed the impact of digital technology, especially social media, on the mental health of his patients. His Christian faith provides the vision and power to best help those in crisis, while feeling personally renewed through this service. Married to Sara and father to Brandon, Hannah, and Casey, he was a genius who could do no wrong until his own children became teenagers.
