Why Do We Judge Green Text Bubbles?

In big and small ways, we humans can be a judgy bunch. One of the weirdest ways we judge each other is by the color of a person's text bubbles. Apple users know the annoyance of having green text bubbles, and Android users know the pain of being judged for it.

My daughter is now in high school, and she was asking me for a phone. A few months back I caved and said I'd get one for her, but it was going to be an Android. She told me if I was going to get her an Android she'd rather not have a phone. I was shocked. When I asked why, she told me that kids with Androids are constantly left out of group texts and she would probably be made fun of. Ouch.

Judgment over Android is real. Android Authority reports that If you use dating apps, and have an Android in your profile, you are as much as 30% less likely than the average to have positive profile swipes. But if you have an iPhone in your profile you are 76% more likely than the average to have positive profile swipes. That is a 106% swing! And if you were a Blackberry user you were 76% less likely than the average. No wonder Blackberry is dead.

I must confess only a few years ago I was a green bubble hater until an Android user gave me a compelling argument from the Bible about judgment, favoritism, and discrimination. It hurt, but it was a good word. I began trying to meet Android users halfway with platform-agnostic texting apps like Signal. This is also why we use the Arborway app for church messaging. Yes, we can be judgmental over things as stupid as phones and text bubbles.

It makes sense why Jesus addresses judgment in his most famous sermon. In what is likely the most well-known verse in the Bible Jesus said, “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged." At first glance, it looks like Jesus is saying we should never judge anyone about anything, and that's often how it is used. Yet, if that's the case, how could we ever discern who to vote for, be friends with, or marry? We have to be able to judge in some capacity! In the passage's greater context we see that judgment isn't the problem, but how we judge is. Jesus does not prevent judgment. He gives us the proper guard rails for it. Just like the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus' word to us will be challenging but so very beneficial.

I look forward to worshiping with you tomorrow at 10 AM!