Article: Christians Can’t Multitask

Our latest article with Boundless Webzine, revised since its first publication.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 1st, 2007 at 8:05 am and is filed under The Rebelution. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

20 Responses to “Article: Christians Can’t Multitask”

1. Caleb Says:
   February 1st, 2007 at 9:08 am

   Great article -I certainly enjoyed it, and it has some great truth.

   ~Caleb

2. Tai Sophia Polczynski Says:
   February 1st, 2007 at 9:11 am

   “Wherever you are, be there 100 percent.”

   Wow. I liked that.

   This past summer I was at a Youth Camp and Dave Harvey (most people have probably never heard of him) gave a great message called “Life @ MyHeart.com” (I wish I could tell people how they could listen to it - it was a really splendid message) and in it he addressed technology and how we are a generation that is so used to having everything “instantly”. Music is just a click away. We can text-message with our friends on our cell-phones while we are getting fast-food from McDonalds’! And he also mentioned that, all-in-all, it isn’t technology, but the frequency with which we use it…and the more we indulge, the less we are satisfied. He also said something that stuck with me: “Whatever you think about most often will be that which is closest to you.” (Is your ipod closer to you than God?) And he also said: “Are you choosing companions (media, technology, friends) that are pointing your hearts towards God?”
   So, that was a great message and some great things to remind myself of often!

   Sorry if this seemed rather long (it’s not often that I’m the first to comment - hehe), but that message just kind-of came to my mind after I read your article, and felt it went with what you were trying to say a bit.

   God Bless!

   ~Lady Tai

3. Tai Sophia Polczynski Says:
   February 1st, 2007 at 9:14 am

   I suppose I was the 2nd to comment.
   :)

   But I also thought of one more thing that is a good reminder that Mr. Harvey said, “Every good thing in this world is either a dim reflection or a dark counterfeit.”

4. Bethany S. Says:
   February 1st, 2007 at 10:11 am

   Great article! I loved those Schaeffer quotes. He always says things so thoughtfully and concisely. And I really liked the way you tied things together in the verdict. “…Everything we do as Christians falls under one all-encompassing activity: representing Jesus Christ.” That’s really the ultimate question, like you said, if what we’re doing is bringing glory to God.

   Great job. I really enjoyed your fresh perspective on this issue.

5. Brett Harris Says:
   February 1st, 2007 at 10:14 am

   Bethany: Thank you for your encouraging words! We actually changed the last section of the article since you read it. Would you mind going back and reading the new version and letting us know what you think? Is it an improvement in your mind?

6. Chris Says:
   February 1st, 2007 at 1:27 pm

   On the main page the title reads “Christians Can?t Multitask”. Just thought you might want to know.

7. Tiffany Barclay Says:
   February 1st, 2007 at 2:32 pm

   Hey guys,

   Great job on your revised version! I see a lot of wonderful new things in it–you’ve definitely improved on an already finely written article. =) The comment that stood out the most to me was that we should “act ourselves into a better way of feeling, rather than feeling ourselves into a better way of acting.” Was that comment in your first article? I can’t remember. Anyway, those words were encouraging to me to continue pressing on with what I know is right. Perhaps the feelings will follow later, but the actions must definitely come first.

   Thanks for sharing your rewritten article. God bless you!

8. Emily Says:
   February 1st, 2007 at 3:07 pm

   Alex and Brett Thanks so much for the time and effort you spend to challenge and encourage us. I was really humbled, I am always multitasking. You were right it is to get away from the reality of what is going on in my life. My mom and dad are probably going to get a divorce, and spending quite moments with my own thoughts are hard. God is good though and I know that all things will work together for the good of those who trust in His name.

9. Evers Ding Says:
   February 1st, 2007 at 4:43 pm

   Good point Alex & Brett.

   I think ‘multitasking’ has its origins in the computer world. And as a software developer, I can certainly vouch for the fact that while multi-tasking is evidently powerful, a computer doing multiple tasks at once will not end up accomplishing all the tasks at the end any faster than otherwise, unless they require completely different resources.

   And we’re nowhere as efficient as computers.

   And that’s not accounting for the critical overhead cost of context switching.

   On a different note, in my marriage, I think that multitasking is especially deadly when it comes to building relationship with my wife. As another man has wisely noted, paraphrased, “No, I can’t really surf the web and have a quality conversation with my wife at the same time.”

10. Erin Koller Says:
    February 1st, 2007 at 4:44 pm

    OUCH! This article sort hits ya where it hurts. I am guilty of over multitasking. I am also guilty of not finishing projects. Ummm, I need to really think about what I’m doing.

11. Alyssa L. Says:
    February 1st, 2007 at 4:52 pm

    hmm….interesting article. But I wonder, do you really think that it’s wrong to do several things at a time? I mean, I can see your point in some ways, like people texting when they’re in the middle of a conversation or when they should be paying attention to someone else. But IMing at the same time as you’re working on something else on the computer? Does that really hurt you? I’m interested in hearing everyone’s thoughts.

12. Bethany S. Says:
    February 1st, 2007 at 8:16 pm

    Brett: I think your changes look good! I couldn’t quite remember the way everything was before, but I really liked the changes I noticed. But then, I thought it was still good before as well. I’ve always really liked your guys’ writing style. I can’t quite put a finger on it to express it in words, but I really like it. God has really gifted you guys in your writing abilites.

13. Katrina Rowe Says:
    February 2nd, 2007 at 8:13 am

    “Others are already listening to music or Instant Messaging a friend.”

    *cringe* You know me well. I was doing both.

    “not keeping our minds constantly busy dealing with new articles, IM conversations and song lyrics.”

    *double cringe* Yes, I do spend too much thought on these things.

    That was a very good inspiring article for me. I’m glad that you made the point that it’s not multitasking that’s a problem, but rather not living our whole lives for Christ is. Because, I think we all know that it’s not always wrong to carry on two chats at the same time. I’m going to do better to throw my whole self into what I’m doing now.

    I think you guys should write a post with suggestions for what activities are appropriate for Christian Rebelutionaries to do. I think sometimes we just go to the computer because of lack of inspiration to do other things. I’m sure you guys are busy all the time, but there are some of us who don’t have as many demands. I think you both would have a great ideas of what we all should be doing instead of being on the computer.

14. Anna Lofgren Says:
    February 2nd, 2007 at 9:46 am

    Great article! I’ve found that it is pretty impossible to carry on a good conversation with someone, while on the computer as well. Now, if someone starts talking to me, I make sure to turn away from the computer so that they have my complete attention.

15. Natasha Victoria Says:
    February 2nd, 2007 at 9:46 am

    I agree with what Katrina says, I think a lot of times we just go on the computer when we’re bored. I for one, don’t have a lot of spare time, but I find me going on the computer is generally what I’m doing when I should be doing something else.

    The fact that I am multitasking while writing this really hits home!

16. Bethany S. Says:
    February 2nd, 2007 at 5:41 pm

    Hmm… somehow or another, that second time I read through the last section, I obviously wasn’t reading the version you’d changed. (No wonder I was having trouble noticing the changes — it was because it was the same.) I certainly noticed them this time around…

    “Those negatives obstruct us from fulfilling clear commands and principles of Scripture — like working with all your heart, leading productive lives, meditating on God’s Word, praying without ceasing and loving others fervently.”

    Wow….

17. Ben Says:
    February 2nd, 2007 at 7:01 pm

    Very nice article guys!
    God bless.

18. Stephanie Amber Says:
    February 3rd, 2007 at 10:27 am

    Wonderful article!! I am definitely guilty of multitasking. Often on a normal night from 7-9, I am IMing my friends, replying to emails, watching TV, viewing websites and my friends blogs. It definitely convicted me!
    Emily: I am so sorry that your parents might be getting a divorce! I know how hard it is (my mom has been divorced). You probably already know this, but remember to turn to God and let him be your comfort!

19. amy Says:
    February 4th, 2007 at 1:05 pm

    What a well-writen article–what a blessing! (This is the first time I’ve read it). I have a bad habit of trying to multitask all the time, even when someone (like my sister) is trying to talk to or share something with me. I’ve been trying to work on giving her (and anyone else, for that matter), my full attention, but the temptation to keep multitasking is really great sometimes. The article was just the conviction and inspiration I needed to remember that Christ is calling me to give my undivided attention to the relationships that I’m blessed with. Thanks so much!

20. Mrs. Bartlett Says:
    February 9th, 2007 at 11:27 am

    Very good article! It’s rare to see someone under the age of 50 using the word “proclivity”–or over the age of 50, frankly, but that’s our public-education system for you.

    May I answer Alyssa?

    You say “working on something on the computer.” Do you mean as in, “working for pay”? Most companies frown on personal activities while you’re on the clock.

    That said…

    I suspect the daily activity of multitasking is also an offshoot of a lifestyle of multitasking. What I mean by that is the tendency of people to overextend themselves. Think about it: full-time working moms, seven-year-old kids with fifty-thousand “necessary” extracurricular activities…If you don’t “multitask” daily, you get overwhelmed. Do your homework on the bus or talk on your cell phone while you’re in rush-hour traffic; those things which require one’s full attention fall by the wayside (like cooking dinner or cleaning the toilets–or having fun).

    Would we feel so pressed to “multitask” if we had fewer demands on our time? Perhaps it’s time for a return to simpler living.

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