TEENS, SCREENS, THE BRAIN, AND THE BIBLE

Pastor Mike
Woman in pajamas, using a phone, sitting in a small room. The room has a fridge, TV, and window.

The following blog post was written as part of Pastor Cherney’s master’s studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling


Can you already notice the irony? When you read the title of this post, I’m sure your mind swarmed with every piece of advice you’ve gotten about how to parent teens through their use of screens. I’m assuming you already know that screen time affects our brains. It’s almost comical that we’re accessing information about the harm of screens … on screens.


Screens are, of course, here to stay. And they’re not all bad. They can bring us together as we sit with our sons and daughters for family movie night. With a screen, your son can let you know that practice might run a little long – which you appreciate, because now you don’t need to rush to pick him up. We can even access the Bible and religious content with our screens with the Bible YouVersion app and Christian accounts on YouTube or Tiktok. You can watch or listen to our sermons with your screen, too (Just visit the “Sermons” tab on this site!). So, no matter what we say, screens are not themselves the enemy.


But like all tools, we need to be educated in order to use them wisely. When we’re teaching our teens how to use and appreciate their screens, it helps to know a little bit of science to back up our parenting decisions.


THE BRAIN OF A TEEN

As our children enter adolescence, their brains are developing rapidly. The shift from pre-teen years (“middle-childhood”) into adolescence is characterized by a rapid increase in social awareness (Erford 2022, p.240). That is, developmentally speaking, the teen’s attention turns toward their peers. By the time a child becomes a teen, she has grown dramatically in her emotional intelligence and social awareness, being able to take other people’s perspectives into account and think about other people’s needs (Erford 2022, p.238-240).


The teen’s brain develops in more sophisticated ways. The teen is able to think more abstractly than before, to hold ideas and concepts in their head, to consider possibilities, and to use their creative imagination in new ways (Erford 2022, p.257-258). They are more concerned than ever with discovering right from wrong, and their own relationship to morality (Erford 2022, p.261). The teen is able to think more seriously about big concepts like justice and how human beings should relate to each other (Erford 2022, p.260).


THE EFFECTS OF THE SCREEN

But they aren’t quite into adulthood yet (sorry, guys). Although teens likely reject anything that seems to them like hand-holding from their parents, they still need guidance and teaching. The parental role might shift a little bit, but it is definitely still needed! Think of how the speaker in verses like Proverbs 3:1-10 expresses his desire to guide and safeguard his child by offering this teaching. This is God’s way of speaking to us through that inspired book, but it also reflects the concern any parent has for their son or daughter. We want what’s best for them!

The increase in social awareness is a two-edged sword. Our teens are as socially aware as ever, but that concern can lead them astray. This is where screens come in. A study conducted by West, Puszczynski, and Cohn suggested that increased screen usage across the board was related to increases in anxiety (West et al. 2021). This includes video games and TV, but when we compare these findings to another study (Khan, et al. 2022) it’s social media that correlates to the highest levels of anxiety in teens. Exposure to social media for more than one hour per day was associated with decreased self-esteem, decreased satisfaction with school, and negatively affected body-image (Livet et al. 2024).


Think about it. If you’re flooded with people’s highlight reels, their painstakingly curated photos, their faces gone through fifty different filters, it affects you! You don’t have to be told that this is the way you need to look, act, or live. The “likes” speak that demand clearly enough. While it’s true that ridiculous beauty standards can be transmitted to our youth via film and TV, social media takes the cake for commanding our youth what society thinks they should be like and what they should care about.


Let’s be honest, these effects can be true for adults too! But think about the flood of social feedback teens are faced with when they open a social media app. This even happens without their intention. Of those teens that participated in the study by West et al. (2021), the biggest reason the teens gave for using screens was to cope with boredom.


“SOCIAL MEDIA” IN THE BIBLE?

You might be wondering what the Bible has to say about this. After all, the Bible was written thousands of years before social media was invented. However, there are multiple places where the Bible warns of the psychological and spiritual effects of comparing ourselves to others. In Psalm 73, Asaph is deeply troubled when he observes wicked people finding financial and social success. Psalm 37 encourages us to take our eyes off of the success of others and focus on the Lord. Early we mentioned the book of Proverbs, which is full of encouragements and warnings against focusing too much on other people’s lives (for example, see Proverbs 3:31, Proverbs 24:1-2, Proverbs 24:15-16). The New Testament is also full of encouragements to avoid taking on the priorities of the social world around you, but rather to focus on God’s goodness (see 1 Corinthians 1:27-31).

PARENTING ENCOURAGEMENTS

There was one finding from the study by West et al. (2021) which struck me the most: when researchers compared the anxiety levels of the students who participated in the study, the ones most impacted by screens were adolescent boys who witnessed their parents heavy use of screens. This suggested that youth (especially boys) were more deeply affected by their parents’ relationship with screens than their own – or at least that they had the potential to be. As a father of two wonderful boys (although they’re not teens yet), this was a dart through my heart. We can talk all day about our children and screens, but what about us parents? What kind of examples are we setting? Even if you’re not a parent, what impression are you leaving on the youth in your life by your screen-related behavior?

Romans 8:1 says that there is no condemnation for us. The sacrifice of Christ on his cross is full and free, and even covers over our sins of setting bad examples for our kids. None of us are perfect parents, and our imperfections are forgiven by Christ. So now, without guilt or shame, let’s talk about what we can do for our youth. When we listen to the research that’s being done regarding teens and screens, we can come up with a few things to consider going forward.



IDEAS TO TRY

  1. Be okay with boredom. Many adolescents reported using screens to cope with boredom. Boredom itself is not the main issue, but coping with it is. Nor is boredom a sin. Nobody ever died from being bored. When screens are readily at hand, they are a convenient excuse to avoid sitting and twiddling one’s thumbs. But a constant refusal to be bored might result in a teen who isn’t used to (or even capable of!) just sitting with his thoughts.
  2. Set limits. The majority of the teens who participated in the West et al. study (2021) reported that their parents didn’t enforce any boundaries with screen use in the home. They were able to watch tv and look at their phone in bed without restriction. Since we know how much prolonged screen time can affect the developing teen’s brain, this seems like a simple necessary step to help them. You might anticipate some resistance. We don’t want to become the enemy. So…
  3. Let the teen in. Maybe there’s some room for negotiation and curiosity. Ask your teen, “What’s your relationship with social media?” “When you find yourself online for a long time, how do you usually feel afterwards?” “What difference do you notice when you take a break from screens?” Ask about their impressions and thoughts about you and your screen usage – and be ready for the answer! Maybe it’s time for a joint-agreement that when everyone’s at home, the screens get put away, and instead we focus on quality family time.
  4. Recognize their need for connection. Teens want to grow socially. Some of the information we’ve discussed shows that teens prioritize meaningful interactions, and that social media isn’t getting them there. What can you do as a family that reinforces connection? What opportunities to connect with other teens can they explore with your support? Remember that screens themselves are not the enemy, but rather what we do with them. So, don’t discount the power of a family movie night.
  5. Remind them who they are. We are all being constantly bombarded with messages about who we should be and what we should be doing. Teens are getting all of these messages too, but at a time when they’re struggling to figure out who they are in the first place. If you aren’t already having devotions at home or regularly discussing their relationship with Christ, now is the time to start. Let your teen hear God’s voice speak to them above all the noise, telling them that they are beautifully and wonderfully made, and that God created them because he wants them on this world so they can know him and his love (Psalm 139:13-14).


FINAL THOUGHTS

Maybe you try all of the above and it blows up in your face. After a few months of doing your best to monitor your own screen time, to include devotions in your family schedule, and to try to talk through these issues with your teen, their screen-related anxiety has not been cured. That’s okay, and it’s not a sign that all has been lost. However, it might be a signal that it’s time to seek some professional help – for you and your teen. Research has strongly suggested that therapeutic treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which target a person’s thinking patterns and reactions to information like social media, are extremely effective at reducing social anxiety in even younger children (Muris & Meyer, 2001).

Finally, consider what kind of messages you and your teen are getting on a daily basis. It can be easy to browse social media mindlessly, but as we’ve seen from the research, this subjects us to so many other opinions about what our lives should be like. It impacts how we view ourselves. My final encouragement would be to find as many ways as possible to let God’s voice be the dominant one in your day-to-day. If it affects your teen to see you on your phone, what would happen if your teen witnessed you reading your Bible instead? If your teen is watching you to “set the tone” for their relationship with technology, what can you show them about their relationship with God? Taking them to church where they can hear, sing, and pray about God’s love for them, talking about the sermon or service on the way home, and including more conversations about God’s love throughout their week are all great, necessary steps to letting God’s voice for them ring louder than all the noise they’re going to hear. I don’t doubt that it will help you too.

 

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION

If you’re hoping to continue this conversation, watch this lively discussion of the nuances of the Bible’s teachings and their bearing on our use of screens hosted by Time of Grace ministries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjYEgM9DlG4


If you’re tired of the villainization of screens and are interested in a more balanced approach to parenting your teen into a healthy relationship with screens, consider watching this Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3XLnHHPVI8 


Sources:

Erford, B. T. (2022). An advanced lifespan odyssey for counseling professionals. Brooks/Cole.


Khan, A., Lee, E.-Y., & Horwood, S. (2022). Adolescent screen time: associations with school stress and school satisfaction across 38 countries. European Journal of Pediatrics, 181(6), 2273–2281. https://doi-org.blcproxy.mnpals.net/10.1007/s00431-022-04420-z


Livet, A., Boers, E., Laroque, F., Afzali, M. H., McVey, G., & Conrod, P. J. (2024). Pathways from adolescent screen time to eating related symptoms: a multilevel longitudinal mediation analysis through self-esteem. Psychology & Health, 39(9), 1167–1182.

https://doi-org.blcproxy.mnpals.net/10.1080/08870446.2022.2141239


Muris, P., & Mayer, B. (2001). The revised version of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED-R): Treatment sensitivity in an early intervention trial for childhood anxiety disorders. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 40(3), 323.

https://doi-org.blcproxy.mnpals.net/10.1348/014466501163724


Nagata, J. M., Al-Shoaibi, A. A. A., Leong, A. W., Zamora, G., Testa, A., Ganson, K. T., & Baker, F. C. (2024). Screen time and mental health: a prospective analysis of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 1–13.

https://doi-org.blcproxy.mnpals.net/10.1186/s12889-024-20102-x


Nesi, J., Rothenberg, W. A., Bettis, A. H., Massing-Schaffer, M., Fox, K. A., Telzer, E. H., Lindquist, K. A., & Prinstein, M. J. (2022). Emotional Responses to Social Media Experiences Among Adolescents: Longitudinal Associations with Depressive Symptoms. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 51(6), 907–922. https://doi-org.blcproxy.mnpals.net/10.1080/15374416.2021.1955370


West, S., Puszczynski, R., & Cohn, T. (2021). Exploring Recreational Screen Time and Social Anxiety in Adolescents. Pediatric Nursing, 47(3), 133–140.

https://doi-org.blcproxy.mnpals.net/10.62116/pnj.2021.47.3.133



Jesus with a crown of thorns and sunburst. Text: Jesus' Threshold Mission, An Advent Series.

Jesus: Our Prophet

By Pastor Mike • December 4, 2025
A boyfriend and girlfriend enter a church. After a ceremony, they leave husband and wife. What happened? Words happened. A soldier enters a change of command ceremony, but leaves with a whole new set of responsibilities and honors conferred upon her. What happened? Words happened. When a pastor pronounces a couple man and wife, or an officer pronounces a soldier as the new leader, a new reality is being constituted – and simply with words! Words clearly have tremendous power. But sometimes they fail, don’t they? You told your son to finish his game and come sit at the table. He did not. What happened? Were your words not enough? You poured out your feelings with words to your best friend, hoping he would give you sympathy, but instead reacted coldly. Was there something wrong with your words? Not necessarily. But sometimes words fail because of the hearer. And no one knew this better than the prophet Moses. As God’s chosen leader for the Israelites, time and again he saw them listen to God one minute only to abandon God in the next. At the base of Mt. Sinai (aka Mt. Horeb) Moses watched the Israelites fling themselves headlong into disgusting idolatry only moments after receiving instruction straight from God’s mouth. God did not overlook that incident. He punished the idolatrous Israelites swiftly and terrifyingly – so terrifyingly that they begged Moses to stay between them and God like a scrawny kid hiding behind a bigger kid. Moses stayed in his position as mediator between God and Israel, as a prophet whom God would give his words to bestow. So Moses led with words. Words were the tool that God gave Moses to guide Israel. That’s the job of a prophet, after all. Moses tells the Israelites to expect this situation to continue: 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” 17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. Like Moses, God would send more prophets. You may know some of their names: Elijah and Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, Daniel, Ezekiel. Each of them came with powerful words. Each of them came with the message God had given them to speak. Just like Moses, each of them experienced the bitter disappointment of their countrymen despising the message. They were laughed at, threatened, beaten, pursued within an inch of their lives – and many of them martyred for that powerful word. Time and time again, the hearers are the weak link. Is that the way it’s going to be this Christmas? Are we going to be the weak link in communication again? I say “again,” because even in my most earnest moments of wanting to hear God’s Word and take his message to my heart, that same heart struggles to understand and put it into practice. Each year, you and I both struggle to take home the true meaning of Christmas – that it is more than just a busier time of year and a weirder time at church. With how hard-headed the human race can be, it’s surprising that God keeps “trying” with us; keeps speaking to us. If the Christmases before are any indication, this Christmas is going to be just as much of a challenge to my hardheadedness to hear the meaning of it all. However, consider this: in a wedding, if the groom-to-be is daydreaming during the pronouncement of marriage, does he leave that church a single man? No. If a soldier sneezes during the words that confer her new command upon her, does she leave unemployed? No! The power of the words remain, because in that moment, their power doesn’t depend on the hearer. It’s when you’re commanding your kids to get off the Xbox that they can choose not to listen. When words are used to declare a new reality, though… that’s different. These verses aren’t just speaking about the long line of prophets to come. They are ultimately true, and true in the fullest sense, in Jesus Christ. As the Son of God in human flesh, Christ was set apart as a prophet. God the Father “raised him up” from the same stock as the rest of the human race. He is like us in every way, yet without sin. He is our empathetic Savior, in the trenches with us. But unlike Isaiah, Amos, Elisha, Jeremiah, or Ezekiel – men called out of other occupations in order to become prophets of God – this prophet is born into his prophetic ministry. Even the circumstances of his birth declare a powerful prophetic message: Your God comes to you not in rage or vengeance, but in gentle humility. This is a message worth listening to. And the way that we “listen” is both by hearing what Jesus has to say and watching what he does, since his actions bear witness to his message. His actions speak just as loudly as his words. And his message is not, “Do better,” or “Get your act together.” We already had that message! And we already terrified by its implications: “We can’t do better, we can’t get our act together, so what will happen to us?” But Jesus arrives in the manger on Christmas Eve as the Living Word, to communicate a new reality – one better than a pastor pronouncing over a couple that now they are married, or even that a soldier now has her dream job. Jesus arrives as a prophet, as a living and breathing prophetic message that, “God and sinners are reconciled.” He declares it with his words, speaking “Your sins are forgiven.” He proclaims it with his actions. Jesus did not come only to command. Jesus came to declare: good news to the poor; freedom for the captives; release from darkness for the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor; to comfort all who mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2). He came to speak the new reality of grace and peace into being. And while Jesus’ living messages of our need for salvation, and the certainty of God’s grace are not fully different from the prophets of the Old Testament, he does speak in a unique way. Instead of a man given the words by God to speak to us, he speaks as God himself. He says things like, “Truly I say to you…” He speaks not just about human kingdoms but a heavenly kingdom, revealing to us through many parables what the kingdom of heaven is – speaking as someone who personally knows! Jesus comes to show us why we really matter to God, why we know he is truly with us, and how we know we’re saved. In the end, we are saved by his ultimate declaration from the cross, “It is finished.” Those powerful words sealed your fate for all eternity. You are his, he has declared it. He was born so that he could speak these words. With the power of God himself, speaking through a human mouth, he has declared to you the everlasting peace of God’s unconditional grace.  That means that any other human mouth that declares the same thing does the same thing. You have in your possession this powerful word. You have in your heart, mind, and soul the powerful declaration to forgive sins. Jesus even says that when you proclaim the same message of grace and peace, he is declaring it through you. When you forgive sins, he forgives them. When you proclaim comforting release from the darkness of guilt and shame, he proclaims it through you. Who wouldn’t want to listen to a sweet message such as this? And why wouldn’t we celebrate the moment the eternal God was born into our human race in order to speak to us this blissful comfort of the gospel? So maybe remembering the reason for the season won’t be that hard at all. In fact, Jesus’ word has a way of powerfully piercing through our stubbornness and getting into our hearts. Rest assured he can and will do so again through the gospel this Christmas. Pastor Mike Cherney
Woman in light blue jacket and man in white shirt, seated on teal chairs, engaged in a conversation.

You Are Ready to Talk About Jesus

By Pastor Mike • November 14, 2025
We share Jesus in order to leave an impact. After all, he is not only our Savior, but he is the Savior of our conversation partner as well!
Jesus preaching to followers. Text:

All Saints’ Day – Luke 6:20-26 – Saints Depend on God for Everything

By Pastor Mike • November 4, 2025
20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

The Art of Giving: Conclusion

By Pastor Mike • June 27, 2025
There! Now that we’ve cleared up all the misunderstandings above giving an offering, we are all ready to worship God in this way with regularity and joy! I’m just kidding. We’ve only touched on a few of the false conceptions that are possible. Because giving is an act of sanctification – a fruit of faith, thankfully offered to God in response to the gospel – it is something to “grow into.” There may still be misgivings, questions, and reluctance. Some readers may have been seriously hurt by church leaders who prevailed too strongly upon their debit cards and bank accounts. To those, one blog post will not be sufficient to restore the act of giving to its Scriptural, rightful place. For others, giving was never properly explained as a fruit of faith, not an act that earns goodness from God. To those, I pray this discussion has been helpful. I write this post as one who is himself growing in the act of giving. May God continue to shape our understanding of how to use our gifts to his glory. Giving to God is not a science. The act of giving looks differently among Christians, just as their acts of service and fruits of faith look differently. There are no hard-and-fast equations. We can’t say that giving an offering ensures that you’ll get rich in return (maybe God will choose to bless you in this way, maybe not). We can’t say that giving will come easy once you have a more stable income (your sinful nature will likely resist no matter how much income you have). We can’t say that you should never feel concerned or self-critical over your giving (is there ever an amount that will properly express your thankfulness to God?). So, I would say that giving is much more of an art. After taking in all of Scripture’s guidance about how to approach the act of giving, we proceed using our best judgment. We start with the gospel, meditating on what wonderful things God has done for us through Jesus Christ. We then look at the gifts God has given to us: our finances, our time, our personality gifts. We envision how to respond to God’s goodness with these gifts. While there are some acts of giving that will look very similar among various Christians (for example, we all give of our time when we attend worship and Bible study together), each one of us goes through our own process of deciding how best to respond to the gospel with our gifts. We submit our hearts to God for audit, recognizing that there are often mixed motives within them (Psalm 139:23-24). We rely on God to work within us and through us even as we thank him (Philippians 2:13). After all, this is about our relationship with God – not about securing it for ourselves with offerings, because it is already secure in Christ. Rather, it is about living out a relationship of worship with God, expressing to him and to the world what he means to us. To that end, let’s close with these verses from Hebrews: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:15-16) God bless you as you find joy in God’s pleasure over you for Christ’s sake, and as you respond to this gospel with thanksgiving! Pastor Mike Cherney 

The Art of Giving: Misunderstanding #5 – We live under the Tithe Law (giving one tenth of one’s gifts).

By Pastor Mike • June 27, 2025
This is a very common conception of the offering, and up to this point it might appear that we also teach the tithe – the practice of giving one tenth of one’s goods as a matter of the law, and not to deviate from that percentage. This is commanded to the Old Testament Israelites in passages such as Leviticus 27:30. But Christ has set us free from the letter of the law (Colossians 2:14, Colossians 2:16-17, Galatians 4:4-5). When the New Testament commands the act of giving, percentages are not mentioned. What is mentioned, however, is that giving be proportionate (1 Corinthians 16:2), generous (2 Corinthians 9:6), done with joy (2 Corinthians 9:7), and a good work sprung from trust in the Lord (2 Corinthians 9:8-11). This is not as specific as the tithe rule. It requires one to spend time reasoning out what a manageable and reasonable gift looks like for them, while still reflecting the thanksgiving and generosity that they wish to communicate in response to the gospel. In many households, ten percent remains a useful benchmark for giving, but must not be treated as a law. Some households will not be able to afford that amount. For others, “proportionate” giving means giving much more than ten percent. It is a lot easier for church leaders to make hard-and-fast rules to “keep people in line,” rather than offer these general encouragements. However, if we remember that giving is an act of worship in response to the gospel, we will avoid strictly laying down ground rules that Scripture no longer enforces. Instead, we will focus on sharing the beautiful gospel with our members, friends, and community, and allow the Holy Spirit to create and nurture the gospel joy that inspires acts of thanksgiving. Likewise, if someone’s giving is “off-kilter,” we don’t want to address their giving with the desire that they “get those numbers up.” That would convey that our worth in God’s family comes from our works. Instead, we express concern over their connection to the gospel, and nurture their relationship with Jesus through Word and Sacrament. Then, and only then, can we discuss what a proper response to the gospel looks like in our giving. Go to next post in this series

The Art of Giving: Misunderstanding #4 – We give ONLY to keep the church running.

By Pastor Mike • June 27, 2025
This misunderstanding is based partly on truth, but becomes misguided when it is treated as the main issue. Like millions of churches across the world, our church is a not-for-profit organization. We rely solely on the offerings of members to keep the doors open and the air conditioner running. It would stand to reason, then, that we should encourage giving so that the work of the church can continue, don’t you think? After all, the Levites (ministers in the tabernacle and temple worship of the Old Testament) were to rely on the offerings of the rest of the tribes of Israel for their livelihood (Numbers 18:21). The Apostle Paul encouraged offerings so that Christians in dire financial need could be provided for (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). There is a practical side to giving an offering. However, this should not be divorced from the attitude of thankful worship described above. Above all, giving an offering is a fruit of faith inspired by thankfulness in response to the infinite grace of God. It is an act of worship. The opportunity to praise God in this way does not cease when the church’s bills are paid off any more than your need to come to worship services ceases when church attendance is up. Go to next post in this series
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