Looking for some guidance

Jan 7, 2016
18
6
California
✟15,164.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Hi, I'd really appreciate some advice. Before I start, I should add I've struggled with scrupulosity, a form of OCD for quite awhile now. Sometimes making it difficult to determine whether or not the most harmless of things are sinful. Thankfully, it has gotten much better as of late. However, something recently came up that I just can't justify and would like to know if I'm thinking clearly.

For the past few years, I've regularly played GTA. I know games like this aren't the best way to spend your time, but I've met many wonderful friends through it over the years. Friends who have made me a far greater person, and as silly as it sounds, brought me closer to God than I've ever been. I've also found a hobby in making movies using the game's video editor, which has been an awesome creative outlet.

However, I recently spotted a poster inside the game world for a fictional heavy metal band called Fatal Incursion. The logo for this band's name is written using very disturbing, ungodly symbols. This was unsettling enough for me to shut off the game. Now I'm frightened to even start it back up for fear of being blasphemous.

I try to remind myself there's also many positive Christian symbols in the game. This particular band poster is not really glorified, as it can be found in the room of the protagonist's teenage son, who is portrayed quite negatively throughout the storyline. In the entire game world, I think it can only be found in about 3 rooms you don't have to enter, though there could be pedestrians wearing clothing with it that I haven't spotted yet.

What would you do? I don't mind giving up the game itself too much, but being unable to spend time with friends playing it from now on is worrying. Thanks for reading!
 
Last edited:

Thunder Peel

You don't eat a peacock until it's cooked.
Aug 17, 2008
12,961
2,806
Missouri
✟40,869.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Ultimately it's between you and God. Personally, I wouldn't stop playing a game just because of that. There are a lot of games out there that include foul language, sexual content and violence that I don't agree with, yet the rest of the game is exciting and fun to play. I don't believe in the Greek gods but playing God of War is fun when taken as mythology. I don't agree with stealing but Sly Cooper is still a blast to play. As long as they don't hinder your walk with Christ or tempt you to do things you shouldn't then I don't see an issue with it. It's very hard to find a modern game that doesn't have something offensive or un-Christian in it, unless you're playing something like Mario.

I can be OCD about things like that and I know it's a struggle to determine what's acceptable and what's not. In the end it comes down to whether or not God is convicting you about it. I'm no fan of satanic symbols but one or two in an otherwise bigger game shouldn't be an issue. If you're not following the devil and letting him influence you then I'd say you're okay.:)
 
Upvote 0
Jan 7, 2016
18
6
California
✟15,164.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Thank you for the advice! It's been a difficult thing to wrap my head around, since similarly bad content can be found just about anywhere (YouTube, Netflix, Facebook, etc) if you're actively looking for it. It's difficult to draw a line somewhere in between it all. Just loading this page is taking a chance, since anyone can post images here. I suppose it only matters whether or not it negatively affects your faith, but simply knowing it's there can be really unsettling, though that might just be the OCD talking.

I guess I'll have to take that leap of faith. Thanks again!
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

The-Doctor

Man with a scarf
Nov 12, 2002
3,981
262
England
✟28,282.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
As a fellow ocd sufferer the one thing I found that stopped my ocd was doing the one thing I didn't want to do and stopped doing what my ocd wanted me to do...try it...and when the worst does not happen you feel a lot better. Trust me
 
Upvote 0

JaeMelo

Active Member
Dec 30, 2015
104
38
33
Bermuda
✟9,304.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
^ Great advice.

I've always been surrounded by gods word. My immediate family were mostly Jehovah Witnesses while others were Methodist but I don't think I was ever serious about any of it at least not to the degree I am now. Im a foreign college student in the US and fell off from Gods word after being on my own while in school. The funny thing is just recently I started praying more because of a spark of faith and as a result I've been paying more attention to Gods word. Surprisingly the things I once enjoyed during my leisure time I have suddenly experienced a change of heart for them in regards to the way I view them. My PS4 is loaded with a bunch of crap Like GTA 5, The Witcher 3, Killzone and many more. Mostly games that consist of violent content.

Although Im not entirely sure these games can turn you into a bad person and impact your salvation directly they some of them can't possibly be of any benefit or good. If you are second guessing on wether you should be indulging yourself in them or not just stay away. I personally feel like thats the Spirit in you trying to help you turn away but thats just my take on it. Regardless, if you really enjoy playing games I'm sure you can find something out there like sports games or simulations/puzzles that aren't toxic to the mind. I myself started playing Rocket League. It probably not everyones cup of tea; its competitive but, violence free and pretty fun once you get the hang of it. I also play Star Citizen on the PC which isn't exactly a finished product or violence free but I try to avoid the violent aspect of the game and just fly around the universe and explore it with people I meet in the random instances. I also use to do the exact same for GTA also. Never really cared to go around beating and killing people just enjoyed traversing the environment.

If you feel dubious about something in front of you id say thats good thing. Some people feel absolutely nothing at all. Those same people can be comparable to whats described in the bible.

Ephesians 4:18
"Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart"

Proverbs 28:14
"Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief"
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Jan 7, 2016
18
6
California
✟15,164.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
As a fellow ocd sufferer the one thing I found that stopped my ocd was doing the one thing I didn't want to do and stopped doing what my ocd wanted me to do...try it...and when the worst does not happen you feel a lot better. Trust me
That's true! I followed Thunder Peel's advice and decided to face this fear. At first, it was a bit frightening, but it has mostly calmed down now. Thanks!
Although Im not entirely sure these games can turn you into a bad person and impact your salvation directly they can't possibly be of any benefit or good. If you are second guessing on wether you should be indulging yourself in them or not just stay away. I personally feel like thats the Spirit in you trying to help you turn away but thats just my take on it. Regardless, if you really enjoy playing games I'm sure you can find something out there like sports games or simulations/puzzles that aren't toxic to the mind. I myself started playing Rocket League. It probably not everyones cup of tea; its competitive but, violence free and pretty fun once you get the hang of it. I also play Star Citizen on the PC which isn't exactly a finished product or violence free but I try to avoid the violent aspect of the game and just fly around the universe and explore it with people I meet in the random instances. I also use to do the exact same for GTA also. Never really cared to go around beating and killing people just enjoyed traversing the environment.

If you feel dubious about something in front of you id say thats good thing. Some people feel absolutely nothing at all. Those same people can be comparable to whats described in the bible.

Ephesians 4:18
"Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart"

Proverbs 28:14
"Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief"
I appreciate the advice! The trouble with OCD is, you're almost always second guessing things. You can feel just as convicted doing something harmless as you would doing something terribly wrong.

I honestly believe much good can come out of playing most online games. Meeting cool people and brightening their day is awesome. Like anything in life, you just have to be vigilante in staying away from people who are clearly a bad influence and ignore some of the ridiculous trash talk you'll hear.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JaeMelo
Upvote 0

Zoleee

So do not fear, for I am with you Isaiah 41:10
Jul 23, 2014
850
610
29
Hungary
✟19,945.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Single
I so know how you feel. I suffer from religious OCD too, but it's worse for me. I just can't decide whether things are sinful or not.

I'll talk about it just to show people how this OCD things work. I used to play a game with one of my friend where hell was a playable place. It was not promoting any satanic or bad things, it was just a place with creatures and lava. And suddenly I had a fear like: what if I go to hell because I play a game where there is a hell? This was the beginning of my OCD. Then I started to avoid more and more things. More games, then movies, series, and with time a lot of things. After some time I was even worried about crossword puzzles, and then even about certain food and numbers! It was brutal. But it is much better now, I only have this issue about entertainment. I like playing games, although I don't really like the violent ones. I don't judge anyone playing them, I just don't like them. I prefer Wii / Wii U / mobile games. The worst thing abut OCD is overthinking. If you don't find wrong in a game, you create one. You start to "search for" bad things and sinful things in games, and in my case in everything. I could talk about so much more about my OCD but anyone who doesn't suffer from it would think I am totally crazy. For example I like mario games, but I found some conspiration theory that one of the games has a hidden promoting message that the game is "granting kids to hell". Nintendo rejected it that it's just a mishearing but I still feel bad like What if its true? Even though I know it's just a conspiration theory. And the other bad thing from OCD is you just can't decide whether things are sinful or not, so you start to ask and search for things. And if you find 10 people or websites saying it is not sinful, but 1 says it is, then are still unsure about it.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

CaptainToad

Active Member
Feb 7, 2015
331
108
✟13,139.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
As with many subject people will have differing opinions and supportive arguments.
IMHO you shouldnt really think too much about games as being sinful or not - as long as you dont do the bad stuff that GTA or other games are promoting things should be fine.

I played games like those for years and didnt turn into a gangster or something. However, when the new gen of consoles released and I wasnt sure which one to pick I gave the whole gaming thing some thought and found out that I didnt like it anymore. I bought myself a wii u and shortly after a 2ds. About a month later I began selling off my 360 games and console.

I am not saying that nintendo is the stuff that christians should play - in fact there is some questionable symbolism in those games as well. What got me convinced was the feeling that I had when I played games like Mario Kart and stuff - I actually had lots of fun and felt comfortable playing them. If you dont feel comfortable playing a game then maybe you shouldnt force or talk yourself into it.
 
Upvote 0

HollyTranquil

Active Member
Feb 26, 2016
26
4
30
USA
✟15,171.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
As a fellow ocd sufferer the one thing I found that stopped my ocd was doing the one thing I didn't want to do and stopped doing what my ocd wanted me to do...try it...and when the worst does not happen you feel a lot better. Trust me
Very good advice, however make sure that if you have a therapist that you talk to them first and if at any point your emotions flare take a moment away from the source and come back when you are calmer.
 
Upvote 0