Raising Disciples In A Digital Dystopia

Overcoming the Dangers of Smartphone Technologies w/ Techless CEO, Chris Kaspar

Above is an 8 minute clip with the biggest highlights from our our 1 hour interview which you can watch in its entirety here.

How do we raise disciples in this emerging ‘digital dystopia'? New studies about youth and adults on social media are waking everyone up to some dark realities. My recent interview with Chris Kaspar, the Founder of Techless and the Wisephone II, reveals a way forward where technology can once again become a tool that we use rather than puppet strings that control us. Chris and I are both devout Christians as well as committed fathers (he has 6 kids and I have 7), and so we have a lot of skin in the game! We do not want our children to be the ‘Guinea pigs’ of the big tech companies nor do we want them to have high levels of depression from addictive technologies, but rather we want to form in them the joy of following Christ Who is the anchor of their souls.

But this can be a great challenge since smartphones have landed in the hands of many young children. There are many societal pressures coming from peers and even other families that everyone should have this ‘sacred’ device to be ‘normal.’ Of course, there is also the convenience of having the right apps for all of the many tasks we do, but this is where Techless comes in. The new Wisephone II now has a tool drawer filled with vetted apps that don’t distract or tempt. While still having no web browser, email, or social media, the WS2 allows you to bank, know the weather, use maps to find your hotel, get an uber, or even order food through door dash.

Techless is disrupting and changing things for the better. One tech analyst was actually brought to tears after she did some number crunching and personal interviews. The Wise Phone II is empowering young adults to reject ‘dooming scrolling’ and to get back outside to garden, hike, or gaze at the sunrise. It is allowing fathers to more fully engage their children on the playground. This new kind of ‘healthy smartphone’ is making teens more hopeful (and less depressed) as they detox from social media. This phone isn’t for everyone yet, but I believe it has a key role in helping society do an important ‘reset’ on our mental, physical, and even spiritual health.

📱 FYI, for those interested, you can save $40 off the Wisephone 2 w/ through my discount code! www.techless.com/king Your Code: KING It also helps support my family and the mission of Barrel Aged Faith. (but seriously, feel no pressure whatsoever).

Although some people may think I only care about theological debates in the clouds =) (Protestant vs. Catholic vs. Orthodox!), I actually care most about equipping families and young adults with lifestyle changes that better conform us to the Image of Christ. We can call this ‘ancient Christian living’ or ‘orthopraxy’ or adopting the ‘mind of Christ.’ This spirit or phronema of apostolic Christianity emphasizes repentance, fasting, and counter-cultural living (death to the world yet alive in Christ!) while also prizing high hospitality, deep discipleship, sacramental worship, and service to the poor and stranger. I believe this phone actually has a role to play in forming this type of healthy mindset in all of us. It has the potential to help us become better disciples, because it places a value on our humanity ‘in Christ.’

Most phones only value us as consumers and so apps are filled with alluring ads, darks temptations, and addictive algorithms. The Big Tech Companies will also sell your data to the highest bidder or even weaponize it against you, because they worship the almighty dollar first and foremost. The Wisephone II breaks these patterns of the world-system, and this can lead to peace and freedom for many people.

Whether you purchase this phone or not, I believe it is a device that you should be aware of in order to help a friend or family member in need. We all know of people that are struggling and perhaps this phone can play a small part in helping people have the breathing room to grow closer to Christ or encounter Him for the first time.

Btw, if you are enjoying this article, you may enjoy my interview with Robin Phillips, Joshua Pauling, and Jonah Martin on ‘reclaiming our humanity from the Machine’ which dives into the many ethical dilemmas we face in the modern era as followers of Christ.

Also, I just uploaded another homily given by Fr. Patrick Cardine, an Orthodox priest who celebrates the ancient Divine Liturgy of St. Gregory the Great (simply called the ‘Mass’). This 15 minute homily is actually a summary of my 1 hour interview with him on the origins of All Saints Day and so you may prefer this ‘cliff notes’ version =)

Lastly, thank you all for the prayers on behalf of my family as we welcomed our 7th child, Julia, into the world almost 50 days ago. Its been filled with joy and blessing, and we could not do it without everyone’s abundant love in our lives.

Be entirely His until the Day,

Kyle

(My mission statement below is in need of updating!)