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First, a verse on fear in the last days. . .
People fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world (Luke 21:26, ESV).
Second, a verse about the plotting of the evil one. . .
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).
And a third verse. . .
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 ESV
Let’s draw a conclusion: There is an explosion of fear and anxiety today. It’s an end-time prediction in the Bible, and since our battle isn’t against flesh and blood but against the forces of evil—the fear and foreboding today must be a last-day scheme of the evil one.
But how’s this plot of fear being accomplished? An aspect of this stronghold is what you are looking at—screens!
We could consider other causes, like the degeneration of the family and our culture’s shift from Biblical values, and in faith circles, these are well-known causes of cultural stress, but we’ve missed the insidious nature of video screens.
Why do I make this seemingly lunatic leap from screens to fear?
I’ve read extensively about brain function in the past two years, as I’ve wanted to know how perfectly or imperfectly a brain performs. Also, I have extensive personal experience with my brain functioning correctly and incorrectly (often on the same day).
I summarize both my research and personal experience by concluding there is a “think and perspective” part of the brain and an “excitable and reactive” part of the brain.
Screens overstimulate the “excitable and reactive” part of the brain, which then overshadows the “think and perspective” side of the brain—which means with increasing screen time, our brain develops patterns of over-reaction leading to fear while diminishing the perspective needed to tamp down this fear.
Let’s review: Screens develop a reactive brain with less and less perspective to keep fear in check.
Now we understand the schemes of the evil one in the latter days. There is a potential “fear developing” device in the hands of almost every person in the world. It’s never been possible until the past few years.
Along with this new temptation for fear, the Bible also teaches that the world will encounter tribulation with greater frequency and intensity in the end times. This explains why fear and anxiety among youth have increased by 150 percent in the past few years!
We do have an antidote. . .
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).
The solution is not to legalistically forbid screens but to creatively learn new ways of walking in the Spirit of God.