Distraction
A Growing Spiritual Threat We Cannot Ignore
Have you ever felt like you couldn't escape the constant distractions bombarding you every day? I know I have. It's like everywhere we turn, something is vying for our attention, pulling us away from what truly matters.
I recently read an article by Ted Gioia about the state of our culture in 2024, and it got me thinking (it‘s entitled The State of the Culture, 2024). He discussed how distractions are taking the place of entertainment and how addiction is the intended outcome.
Here are some of his thoughts in writing:
We’re witnessing the birth of a post-entertainment culture. And it won’t help the arts. In fact, it won’t help society at all. Even that big whale is in trouble. Entertainment companies are struggling in ways nobody anticipated just a few years ago.
Consider the movie business:
Disney is in a state of crisis, where everything is shrinking (except the CEO’s paycheck).
Paramount just laid off 800 employees and wants to find a new owner.
Universal is now releasing movies to streaming after just 3 weeks in theaters.
Warner Bros. actually makes more money canceling films than releasing them.
The TV business also hit a wall in 2023. After years of steady growth, the number of scripted series has started shrinking.
Instead, he wrote, distraction will replace it:
The fastest growing sector of the culture economy is distraction. Or call it scrolling or swiping or wasting time or whatever you want. But it’s not art or entertainment, just ceaseless activity. The key is that each stimulus only lasts a few seconds, and must be repeated.
He posits that the ultimate destination will be an addiction to dopamine for everyone in our culture. (See Dopamine Note in footnotes1.)
Ted sees it as a grand battle for our attention by the big internet and media companies, and once that attention is acquired, the goal is to so captivate people as to trap them in an addictive cycle of consumption. The distractions these companies are creating for our consumption must ultimately result in a mass dopamine addiction.
That is quite an assertion, but it seems to be happening, and, sadly, it seems to be working. Wherever you look, you see people glued to their devices, ignoring their loved ones and what is most important as they flick and scroll through endless streams of cotton candy for their brains. The content presented gets shorter as the audience‘s attention span gets shorter and shorter.
The dopamine loop that is at work in our brains on modern media could look something like this (graphics by Ted Gioia):
I recently preached a message on the topic of paying attention to what you pay attention to, and I made the point that it is critically important to understand that your money and your time will follow your attention. Whatever captures your attention might capture your affections.
The great Silicon Valley companies know this and are becoming richer every day because of this distraction-leading-to-addiction success formula. They seem unstoppable as their profits snowball and the markets cry out for greater returns. The threat of zombie-like minions tethered to the internet, distracted to the point of addiction, is upon us.
Shorter and faster, more, more, more, as our brains fire more and more dopamine, which requires more and more of the same! That is how addiction grips us, and when we are unable to satisfy our dopamine addiction that the big businesses have fueled, we feel sad and depressed. We cannot get happy again until we have re-engaged with the never-ending waterfall of distracting impulses calling for our attention: ding-ding-ding!
Ted provided the following chart to show how that "faster, more, and now" dopamine addiction is already taking shape in our culture today:
Please take the time to read Ted‘s full article. It is a fascinating read!
What he did not cover, however, was how Christians are engaging with their faith communities and families amid this culture of digital and dopamine addiction.
Is it possible that our desire for constant, immediate gratification makes it difficult for us to concentrate during a typical weekend church service without checking our devices? Just look around and see for yourself next time you go to church.
Is it possible to feel like a few Instagram Reels of our favorite megachurch pastors a week is more than enough Bible teaching for the week?
Is it possible that the notifications from our favorite celebrity or politician have become more compelling than the voice of the Good Shepherd?
Is it possible that our need for "fast, more, and now" is making it hard for us to truly allow the saturation in the Word and the needed maturation required by Jesus for all His disciples?
Is it possible that we can shun the community of faith by replacing it with a community of avatars in the online chat channel of a church in a different state?
Or, are all of these things happening already to each of us, and we just don‘t want to think about or talk about them? (A possibility, I think.)
Here's the thing: as Christians, we're called to something higher. We're called to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We're called to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). So how do we do that in a culture that's constantly pulling us in the opposite direction?
Last week, I asked you all to participate in a poll about the top 10 daily struggles of modern Christians. And the results were eye-opening. Mindset, prayer, courage, forgiveness, and patience—these are all areas where we're struggling to stay focused on God.
But here's the good news: We don't have to do it alone. God promises to give us wisdom when we ask for it (James 1:5). He promises to never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). And He's given us the gift of community, so we can encourage and support each other in this journey.
So here's my challenge to you today:
Pay attention to what you're paying attention to. Are you spending more time on social media than in God's Word? Are you letting distractions steal your focus from what truly matters?
Ask God for wisdom and strength. He's ready and willing to help us overcome these daily struggles, but we have to ask.
Surround yourself with a community of believers. Find people who will encourage you, pray for you, and hold you accountable.
Make time for slow-paced things. Prayer, studying the Word, serving others—these things may not give us that instant dopamine hit, but they're what truly satisfies our souls.
P.S. Don't forget to spend some time this week really evaluating how these cultural changes have impacted your own life. Be honest with yourself and with God; He can handle it! And if you need prayer or support, don't hesitate to reach out. That's what community is for.
Thank you for reading.
What triggers dopamine release? Anything that gives you pleasure will trigger the release of dopamine. This can range from a fun activity you enjoy, like dancing or cooking, to sex, shopping, and even certain drugs. Dopamine activates the reward pathway in the brain, leading you to desire these activities more. (Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-increase-dopamine#fa-qs)