When the phone comes to church

We’ve been studying Romans 14 at church recently, and the teaching has covered "disputable matters" – issues where Christians, in good faith, may disagree.

Politics, preferred Bible translations, and permitted leisure activities on a Sunday are all examples of what might fall into this category nowadays. But one such "disputable matter" is rapidly moving up the agenda for many Christian families: just what should we do about smartphones and children in the church?

This question around smartphones echoes a wider conversation taking place across society. The government's announcement earlier this year that it would strengthen restrictions on phones in schools with legislation was welcomed by almost every teacher I know! While there are legitimate questions about how any ban would be enforced, most school leaders are relieved that this thorny issue is no longer being left entirely in their hands.