Digital Dominion: Five Questions Christians Should Ask to Take Control of their Digital Devices

by Jeff Mingee

Christians are called to exercise dominion in a digital age. Yet our technological world influences us with each notification, app, and upgrade; our habits dominate and shape us.

Digital Dominion moves us from mindlessly incorporating our devices into all of life to mindfully stewarding them in obedience to God. In this book, Jeff Mingee asks five questions to help us apply biblical wisdom to our digital habits and control our devices instead of being controlled by them. Providing a theological foundation as well as clear questions, this book is an accessible primer for digitally engaged believers.

Genres: Christian, Technology, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2022

Reviews

[Bethan Lycett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often inwardly groan at my digital usage, (as a social media manager it's somewhat integral to my job), but this book is a much needed glimpse into the reality of living in a technologically advanced digital culture.

I nodded along, underlined, and even welled up, as I considered how I allow my phone, and other devices, to control me when I should be exercising dominion over them.

Each chapter has some helpful questions to consider, and this would be a good book to read with others to help discussions on the topic.

I have a few ideas having read this of how I plan to take back control, including making better use of the digital wellbeing settings on my new phone and deleting some apps which just waste my time.

I actually think every Christian who has a smart device should read this book, and I now want to go back and read 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You again.

"You are being shaped by your digital habits. The question is: how? As you recognise the shaping effect of your digital habits, you're given the opportunity to curve the effect or redirect the trajectory. When you don't like the direction that your life - yes, even your digital life - seems to be heading, turn around or change direction!"
Jeff Mingee, Digital Dominion, page 48

[Austin Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based in scripture. Pretty good book if you want conviction on taking control of your phone instead of it controlling you. Can be very convicting. I enjoyed the tips he gave to help with taking control of your phones to get started. Very applicable

[Jonathan Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book fresh and fascinating. Instead of taking a negative approach to technology, the author takes an incredibly positive and wise one. Building on the creation mandate to have dominion over all of creation… In a positive way…. We are encouraged to take control of technology, and not let it control us.. To have a book that encourages us to redeem technology for the gospel is superb. A very short read. Well worth getting.

[Gareth Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking easy read about how we should have dominion over our technology not it having dominion over us. Thoroughly challenged!

[Elanor Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful short book, but one that tries to do too much with limited space. The focus here is on "technology" in the broadest sense, though, practically, Mingee primarily discusses smart phones. Narrowing the focus a little would have helped the book go into more depth and avoid some unhelpful general statements. For the most part I appreciated the book's tone, which recognises both the benefits and the dangers of technology, but when Mingee finally presents 10 questions to help us take control of our technology, 8 of the 10 questions suggest cutting down. If it is possible to truly exercise "dominion" over our devices and use them for God's glory, I would have appreciated more of a discussion on how to use them well (and not just as tools for evangelism, important as that might be).

A longer version of this review will be posted on Free Church Books, but, essentially, if you're new to the topic and want something to start you thinking, Digital Dominion is a biblically-focussed look at technology. If you've done a little bit more thinking into our tech usage, however, this book is too short and unfocussed to add much.

[James Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Digital Dominion" by Jeff Mingee was a very readable and helpful book. It presented five questions for Christians to ask themselves in relation to the use of their digital devices. These questions were as follows: "Am I in Control?", "How Is This Shaping Me?", "Does This Help Me Flourish?", "Can I Discern Wisdom and Folly?" and "Am I Being Missional?". These questions allow the reader to carefully and biblically consider whether he/she is using his/her digital devices in a manner that is honoring and pleasing to God.

This book is appropriate reading for an individual as well as for use in a study group. Each of the chapters ends with discussion questions that can be considered individually, but also can be used for further conversation amongst a group. Regardless of how the book might be used, it is certainly a book that addresses an area in which there needs to be thoughtful consideration as to the best way to be engaged in a God honoring manner.

[Bradley Endsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christian how is your relationship with technology? In this book Jeff Mingee gets us to ask a simple question what has dominion yourself over your tech or your tech over you. In this short book the author shows how by looking at whether we are flourishing, being missional minded and whether we are using wisdom and discerning how tech can be misused. Helpfully the author does not come at this as a place of I know all the answers but as one trying to work this out. Tech is an outgrowth of the dominion mindset in forming tools to help us, the helpful thing to remember that it is tech that is the tool and we are not to be the tool tech controls.

[Noah Senthil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a brief, accessible work about how Christians can think wisely about digital technology. I read it in one sitting and found some helpful insights in it. Mingee is a bit more optimistic than me about social media's use for mission and evangelism, but he offers a biblically grounded vision of human flourishing in the digital age, along with some practical tips.

There's some great quotes from Charles Taylor, Neil Postman, Andy Crouch, Tony Reinke, etc., which makes sense because it's mostly a synthesis of other less accessible works. Nothing ground-breaking here, but it could serve as an okay primer.

[Nathan Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I was a little frustrated that this book didn’t explicitly tell me what I needed to change in my life. After remembering why Jeff wrote it, I saw the use of it.

This book did a great job of putting thoughts in my head to using technology for the glory of God and establishing good habits in my life. It is simple and easy to read, but rememberable.

[Alastair Gooderham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful little book urging us as believers to wisely think through our use of digital devices in light of God’s call for us to exercise dominion and be on mission. Questions at end of each chapter are great for discussion.

[Brianna Smith Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oof. What an encouraging and convicting book. Expect to be challenged in regard to your digital practices. A great book to read with your family, a small group, or on your own. I plan on picking it up once a year or so as a reminder of how to use my devices in a way that honors Jesus.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but very strong book looking at how we should be using our devices to glorify God rather than just follow trends. Not as clear on literal application as some, but still a solid read that makes for some good questioning of current lifestyle.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring little book that is filled with wisdom on every page. Jeff has taken time to carefully and scripturally examine how we should be wisely using our devices and whether our habits are helping us flourish and honor Christ and others. He leads us to answer five questions about our digital habits, including whether we're being 'missional' with our devices and using our platform online as a way to point others to Christ.

This is a book that every Christian needs to read in that we all have devices and likely very few of us have 'dominion' over them—and it is short enough to read in one sitting! A great resource for ministry leaders to get their church reading together as well; it has discussion questions at the end of each chapter that will help small groups talk through it.

(Note: As an employee of 10ofthose.com, I received a free copy of this book, but was not required to give a positive review)