Shaped by our digital liturgies

Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age

Samuel James
Crossway, 2023.

While scrolling Instagram, I came across the book Digital Liturgies by Samuel James. Since becoming a stay-at-home mom, I check my phone even more often than before. This activity allows me to connect with others and catch up on news. Although instant connectivity has many benefits, it also has some serious repercussions. In a world overflowing with information and constant distractions, attention is a precious resource. How can those of us seeking to faithfully follow Christ handle the bombardment of digital choices?

Samuel James’ book focuses on “Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age.” Given the increasing role of digital spaces in shaping our faith and daily rhythms, this book provides a timely and thought-provoking exploration of how online habits function as formative “liturgies” in our spiritual lives. The book is divided into three sections: truths, engaging in technology and habits to form.

James’ analysis of trending media is both convicting and insightful, offering a much-needed perspective on how Christians can wisely engage digital spaces. After reading the book, I started a daily one-hour technology fast. This time allows me to focus on important tasks instead of constant distractions.

The book’s key themes center around technological discipleship, the influential forces of media consumption and the shaping of our loves. It’s well-researched and easy to read with a mixture of stories and statistics. Additionally, he peppers in needed Scripture to support his point.

Throughout the book, the author doesn’t just focus on activities involving digital content, but the medium itself. He writes: “It is not just that we take neutral tools and use them in sinful ways. It’s that the tools themselves can bend our vision of reality.”

Consider the smartphone. What used to be a tool for audio conversations is more like a mini-computer designed for visual consumption. These tools shape how we interact with others. During a moment of downtime, we’re more likely to check our phones than engage with the real world.

This book will resonate with readers navigating the challenges of faith in a hyper-connected world. Digital activities such as constant scrolling and binge-watching can create neural pathways in our brains that are hard to break. Just like religious liturgies, digital liturgies shape us, scroll by scroll. Are we fully aware of the side effects?

James doesn’t suggest that completely unplugging is necessary for all of us. However, he does recommend that we carefully examine our influences because our input affects our output. If we’re constantly consuming junk food, it will impact other areas of life. There are redemptive avenues of technology if we choose to be intentional.

James’s writing is thoughtful, compassionate and challenging, urging readers to rethink their relationship with the digital world and reimagine what it means to practice Christianity in an age of constant connectivity. Digital Liturgies is a must-read for anyone interested in the ongoing conversation about how faith and technology intersect, offering a theological and practical framework for exploring the digital age with integrity and purpose.