Strategy 1: The Power of the Dinner Table

Some of the best moments in TV sitcoms occurred around a family dinner table.

It was here that Andy taught Opie many life lessons, Danny Tanner taught his daughters about the realities of growing up, and who can forget some of the fun items discussed around the Cartwright’s table at the Ponderosa. For those shows, the dinner table created a natural space for conversations without disruptions from the outside world.

It was often here where the issues of the day were discussed, headwinds were exposed and the ever-so-important act of connection occurred. It appears that the evil one, in his attempt to destroy the family unit, put his crosshairs on the dinner table and for many, he has effectively taken that potential place of sanctuary out of the equation. This is of no surprise, as the last thing he wants to occur is for families to connect in a meaningful way and simply enjoy fellowship with each other.

Scripture highlights the importance of having meaningful engagements with your family, especially when you are at home, which as a reminder is our first ministry, and yet this is often the place that receives the most neglect. Upon reflection on how the tactics have changed to trip us up over the years is reason to pause.

The first and most obvious way that the dinner table has come under attack is with the introduction of electronics in the dining area. Now before you think here goes another smartphone basher just hear me out. I’m actually going to take it further back to when the television was introduced into homes. Up until this point entertainment for a family having dinner resulted in the stories they shared amongst themselves. Details regarding the events of the day were unpacked, jokes were shared and intentional conversation occurred naturally.

The television replaced organic conversation with fabricated fantasy. While the shows may not have been morally corrupt at the beginning, the placement of that device disrupted the natural flow of connection in a negative manner. Fast forward several decades and the distractions have multiplied exponentially. It has gone so far that many have forgotten how to simply enjoy a meal and conversation with the ones they love the most without a distraction such as a smartphone. If you need further evidence, pay attention the next time you are at a restaurant and see where the eye-to-eye contact is happening versus the shine of a touchscreen.

To combat this head-on we must go on the offensive and return this area to its natural state. Removing electronics from the dining area coupled with enforced no-smart device boundaries is a fantastic way to fight like crazy for your family. While there may be resistance to these actions there should be a high level of intentionality by explaining that those decisions are conducted through the lens of love. No one can do this except you - take back the family dinner table and be vigilant in the pursuit of family connection.

Questions to Consider:

1. How has the introduction of technology, such as TVs and smartphones, impacted the quality of your family’s conversations around the dinner table?
2. How do you think the absence of regular family dinners might affect the spiritual and emotional development of children over time?