Technology Lite
Have you ever thought about minimizing technology as a Christian? That's what this post is about. My technology lite experiment and living like it's 1999 with God.
DAILY STRIDESNOTES
Trace Pirtle
3 min read
I’ve been in a “technology-lite” phase for a few weeks. It’s been a time to step outside 2026 and live like it was 1999. Not too far back, but far enough to notice the difference.
Why Technology Lite?
Like many of us, I was starting to feel too attached to my smartphone, laptop, Fitbit tracker, and all the apps and associations that come with them. They were becoming idols hiding in plain sight, and we know how God feels about idols. The Apostle John reminds us:
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21, NKJB).
A Common Rationalization
I rationalized that using technology made me more productive in doing the work God calls me to do. After all, anything that helps us do things more quickly and easily will naturally lead to greater efficiency and productivity, right?
Not necessarily.
Here are a few things technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), created space for:
— Traveling down the AI rabbit hole in search of the singularity.
— Developing my inner artist beyond stick figures and “Far Side” cartoon creations.
— Rekindling an old love affair with quantum mechanics and “What the Bleep Do We Know?”
— Resurrecting psycho-babble as a way of making sense of the insanity happening in the world.
If my reason for using technology was to help save time and be more productive for God, then the outcome should have been more Godly “fruit”, and fewer worldly diversions.
“But Technology is Just a Tool!”
Now you might be thinking, “But technology is just a tool. It’s not the technology that distracted you.”
Perhaps.
A stone tablet and an Apple iPad share some “tool-like” similarities. However, the stone tablet of old and the paper notebook of today can’t serve to shape our thinking. The iPad, the smartphone, and the laptop connected to the internet can and do.
What I Discovered
Here are just a few things I discovered when I went technology-lite:
— I didn’t suffer a psychotic break when I disconnected from the internet. I used my physical Bible, Strong’s Concordance, Nave’s Topical Bible, and Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible instead of online apps for research. I felt closer to God and heard His voice more clearly.
— As far as I know, I didn’t miss a single important call, text, or email when I turned my smartphone into a functional dumb phone. I certainly didn’t miss the ads that showed up soon after talking about a related subject.
—Individual steps translated into miles for my daily walk with Jesus, just as if I were wearing my Fitbit tracker. I found no remarkable change in my weight, energy level, or sleep patterns even when Google couldn’t keep track of my every move. I felt more aware of God’s presence and less aware of what was happening to my biometric data in the cloud.
—I also discovered somewhere down the rabbit hole that AI is the perfect technology for the enemy. I will not consciously choose to use it again. I know, good luck with that, but God is looking for our intentions and awareness.
—Finally, I discovered that remaining aligned with God and bringing out one’s creativity are not mutually exclusive. God is the ultimate Creator, and He encourages us to be creators as well.
My technology-lite phase has produced many new insights. It has also taught me that we aren’t as addicted to technology as some want us to believe. If technology is becoming an idol in your own life, I encourage you to detach from it for a week or two. Perhaps, like me, you’ll discover there’s no going back.
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Psalm 118:8 (NKJV)
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