We live in a technology-saturated culture—a world with undeniable strengths, but also very real weaknesses. And as believers in the church of Jesus Christ, we need to be aware of what’s shaping us—including the influence of the internet.
As we said last time, the church really needs to touch grass.
In Part 1, we saw that when the church lives too much online, envy begins to dominate, depression increases significantly, the gender divide widens, and interpersonal communication breaks down.
Let’s now look at four more consequences of being too online. I don’t share these observations with a critical spirit. My hope is simply that we’d take an honest look in the mirror and recognize some of the odd behaviors that have crept into our lives.
1. Vital Social Skills Don’t Develop.
There are social instincts that used to feel natural—like saying, “Hey [so and so], how’re you doing?” when walking into a room. But that’s no longer a given. I’ve walked into rooms where two people sit in silence—lights off, phones out, no interaction. For those raised on screens, it often feels retreat to our screens than to speak.
Why? Because we’ve been subtly retrained to fear the most dreaded emotion in modern culture: awkwardness. A brief pause in conversation now feels like a crisis. But it shouldn’t. Awkward moments are actually valuable opportunities.
Hebrews 10 tells us to “provoke one another unto love and good works.” That kind of growth happens through relationships—and those relationships often begin in the simplest conversations. Discipleship is built in the ordinary moments: asking questions, listening well, and talking about our walk with Christ.
You never know when a small conversation might have a big impact. So don’t shy away from the awkward. Lean into it. It’s a God-given opportunity to grow—and help others grow too.
2. Our Flesh Crowds out the Spirit.
We often keep ourselves constantly entertained—whether it’s podcasts in the car, music in our ears while we work out, or a show running in the background during mundane tasks. We are always consuming something. And what we consume leaves a mark on our hearts and minds.
That’s why Paul urges us in Romans 12:1–2 not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
But what happens when we never leave space for the Holy Spirit to speak? We start walking in the flesh. Galatians 5 lists what that looks like: things like envy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, impurity, division, and more. Technology, though not inherently evil, can become one of the biggest distractions from walking in step with the Spirit.
If your actions and reactions today resemble the works of the flesh more than the fruit of the Spirit, it may be a sign you’re consuming too much of what conforms you—and not enough of what transforms you.
3. Modesty Goes Out the Window.
The internet is overwhelmingly visual—and what we take in through our eyes eventually shapes our thoughts. The more we see something, the more normal it becomes in our minds. It subtly shifts how we view others, ourselves, and the world around us.
For men, who are often more visually wired, the pressure can feel like this: to get a girl’s attention, you need to show off—your physique, your confidence, your edge. For women, the temptation is just as strong: to be noticed and valued, you must put yourself on display. It’s not always said out loud, but the message is clear and constant.
Rosaria Butterfield is an incredible voice in our generation—a former tenured professor of English and women’s studies at Syracuse University, where she specialized in queer theory before coming to faith in Christ. She said this about the modern culture of modesty:
“Modesty serves a vital role in our sanctification. It helps guard us—and others—from temptation. The lie that modesty for Christian women is an outdated cultural expectation has shipwrecked many Christian women and leaves the generation of our daughters in peril. In both dress and social media use, modesty has been replaced by exhibitionism.” (Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age, p. 268)
Needless to say, when we’re too online, we start to believe that this is normal. That anyone who brings it up is just being legalistic. That guys are monsters. We play the comparison game, ranking ourselves and others on an invisible scale.
But that’s not how God calls us to live—or see each other. Modesty isn’t outdated; it’s deeply spiritual. It’s part of how we reflect Christ and love others well in a world obsessed with self.
4. Bad Ideas are Easily Believed.
We’re all more susceptible to bad ideas than we’d like to admit. That’s why the New Testament warns us about being “carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). And in the digital age, false doctrine doesn’t just exist—it’s aggressively served to you.
Like it or not, the algorithms are trained to give you more of what you engage with. One careless click can start a pattern of content that shapes your thinking.
Instagram is flooded with stories from “deconstructors” who claim you can follow Jesus right out the doors of the church, or that Scripture affirms homosexuality. Reels normalize immorality, framing it as humor or progress. TikTok is filled with bizarre takes on angels, the end times, and theology in general. YouTube hosts countless self-appointed preachers who are loud, divisive, and completely unbiblical.
The more time you spend immersed in this content, the more likely it is to influence you—often subtly and over time. If you’re too online, you may not just be distracted. You might be slowly, quietly, misled.
None of these warnings are meant to shame. They’re meant to stir awareness. The internet isn’t going away—but that doesn’t mean we should surrender our discernment. As followers of Christ, we’re called to live with open eyes, renewed minds, and Spirit-filled hearts.
So if you feel the tension—if you’ve noticed the drift—consider this a gracious call to recalibrate. To re-anchor in truth. To touch grass. And to follow Jesus not with a feed, but with your whole life.
