Let it be said that I don’t agree with all of Tony Reinke’s theology. He seemed to imply that technology will help our world get better and better until we reach the kingdom, which does not align with my beliefs, though it’s possible I misinterpreted some of his statements. He also references some quotes or elements of popular culture that I don’t agree with. I knew before starting this book that he would be operating from a Reformed perspective, so I took that into account—but overall, what a Christ-centered look at what technology is and how we should approach it.

I very much appreciated Reinke’s balanced view: “technology” is not limited to today’s digital devices, nor is it unbiblical or incapable of being used for good. At the same time, it’s irresponsible of God’s people to avoid asking ourselves hard questions about the way we use digital technology. Part of the strength of this book for me lay in the way Reinke connected Scripture to the use of technology through copious footnotes. I would never say out loud that the Bible doesn’t address digital technology, because of course the Bible addresses everything, but I had sort of fallen into an unstated idea that technology is an ultra-modern necessary evil that falls outside the purview of traditional Christianity—as in, “Christians throughout history never had to deal with what I have to deal with, and really good Christians probably don’t use smartphones, so God doesn’t really address this kind of thing, but I really do need mine, so I guess I just have to get by the best I can.” Which sounds so stupid when actually stated, and I needed this book to help me tie biblical principles to the digital realm.

Reinke’s focus on the heart is convicting in more ways than one, because digital technology is not the only area in which I tend to focus on myself and lose sight of the surpassing wonder of the risen Christ—the awe and reverence that should drive all my decisions, both digital and analog. As Reinke points out, we can never truly quit unwise smartphone habits until we replace those temptations with the satisfaction that is found in Christ alone. Guilt in the moment is not enough. Asking ourselves these questions is hard but necessary, and asking them of myself has made me realize how often my online activity is centered around me—having fun, learning something that makes me smarter than the next person, avoiding what I should be doing—rather than around the wise use of my time and the service of my Redeemer.

I do wish the book would have delineated more between social media use and other forms of online behavior, as someone can spend little time on social media (me) and still have unwise online habits (also me). Some of the book should really have been titled 12 Ways Social Media is Changing You. Yet I realize that for many people, smartphone use and social media are practically interchangeable, and most of Reinke’s points concerning one do apply to the other. I can ignore the people around me, inflate my own ego, and lose my place in time just as easily if I’m skimming articles or flicking through social media. In the same way, this book’s value reaches beyond the realm of digital technology and forces us to look at all the ways digital technology simply magnifies the tendencies that are already in our own hearts: being addicted to distraction, ignoring the limits of our fleshly bodies, craving immediate approval, devaluing critical reading and comprehension skills, feeding on man-made productions, becoming like what we worship, feeling lonely, indulging secret sins, losing meaning, fearing any kind of missing out, being harsh and impatient with the people around us, and losing our sense of how we fit into God’s grander plan. These heart issues, and Reinke’s suggestions for countering them, are far from being online-only phenomena, and that is part of what makes this book so challenging.

Reinke’s writing style is both elevated and approachable, handling tough topics with straightforwardness and grace. If you want a quick digital-detox checklist, this is not the book for you. Or maybe it is. I thought that was what I wanted. Instead, I got a book that made me look beyond “turn your phone off an hour before bed” to “it’s easier to look at my phone than interact with the flesh-and-blood imago Dei person next to me in line.”

Read this book. And then think about it. Let it challenge the motives of your heart and point you to the redemptive power of Christ. We cannot wisely manage our technology otherwise.

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Jayna Baas is the author of Preacher on the Run. She is a member of ACFW and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free short story here.