Overthinking and unsure about entertainment

Zoleee

So do not fear, for I am with you Isaiah 41:10
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Hey everyone.

I have religious OCD (I have a fear of sinning), and I have a question for you. It's a general question not about my OCD, just about entertainment and overthinking. My "illness" is much better, there were harder times, like I was really afraid about even numbers and colors and I was afraid of eating and almost everything... It is hard to imagine but it was really hard. Thank God it is much better now, and I feel much stronger in faith too. :amen::bow:

I only have these two remaining problems. I am unsure about entertainment, and I always overthink everything. My overthinking is because of my anxiety, so I don't really want to talk about it, but I am curious about your opinions about entertainment.

Every time I watch a movie, listen to a song, play a video game so every time I do something to have fun, I feel like I am sinning. I can't describe it. So I end up avoiding everyting, I am like I don't want to sin directly, so I avoid things. But after a time I ended up avoiding everyting. And I realized that maybe it is not good. I don't idolize these things, I just like them as a way of entertainment. If I could know for sure that these things are sinful, I would immediately stop and avoid them, but now I am unsure. And everytime I am like: Okay I don't think these things are sinful so I would not avoid them, I always find something "bad". And I overthink it. For example today I asked almost the same question on a group and they said it is not sinful to have fun and I was like okay I feel strong I will not fear and not avoid these things. But I was curious so I searched for "Is it a sin to play video games?" and the second thing I found was this:

http://www.christianforums.com/threads/is-it-a-sin-to-play-video-games.7617542/

So if you watch this thread you find this line: Listen people, all gaming and I say ALL GAMING is from satan.

After seeing this, I ended up anxious, I felt like it is a sign from God that it is sinning. Now I really don't know what to do. Should I avoid all video games / entertainment? Or what should I do? I know it is an axiety based question but I am corious about any opinions.

Sorry if something is not understandable, I am really tired and maybe my english is not the best right now.
 
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QuietBeauty

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I don't think that enjoying things like entertainment is a sin unless you put those things before God. Some entertainment such as movies and video games are sinful because of the content. As long as you stay away from those kinds of things it's not a sin. God wouldn't want you to not enjoy things and be miserable. You can have fun, relax and enjoy entertainment. Just keep God first in your life and be careful what you watch and involve yourself in. Be careful what you read online because it can make you feel bad about something for no reason. If you ever read something that your unsure about , Go to God always and He'll guide you in the right direction.
 
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Mister_Al

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Romans 5:13 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

13 [To be sure] sin was in the world before ever the Law was given, but sin is not charged to men’s account where there is no law [to transgress].

If the Bible doesn't say it's a sin then it isn't a sin. However, that doesn't mean that everything is good for you to do. You just need to listen to your conscience to decide what is good or not. If you want to play a game and you feel uncomfortable about doing it then stop. If it's a game you feel comfortable with playing then enjoy it.

Alan
 
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miss-a

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I don't think that enjoying things like entertainment is a sin unless you put those things before God. Some entertainment such as movies and video games are sinful because of the content. As long as you stay away from those kinds of things it's not a sin. God wouldn't want you to not enjoy things and be miserable. You can have fun, relax and enjoy entertainment. Just keep God first in your life and be careful what you watch and involve yourself in. Be careful what you read online because it can make you feel bad about something for no reason. If you ever read something that your unsure about , Go to God always and He'll guide you in the right direction.


For what it's worth, I know of several pastors who game. They do it for recreation, not as an addiction, and they don't do games that have erotic content. Other than that, they let themselves have fun.
 
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NothingIsImpossible

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Well lets use the example of a popular game like GTA (Grand Theft Auto). Will you go to hell if you play it? No. Is it a sin to play it? No. Should you play it? Probably not. However one has to consider many things. Such as does the game affect you outside of it? Like if you play a game with alot of swearing, do you find yourself swearing outside the game? Next is of course addiction. Would you rather stay home from church to play the game? Maybe skip devotions to play it? Then its an addiction and your preferring it over God. Next is the Holy Spirit convicting you about what your doing? If so then listen and don't play it.

Though having OCD I'm sure its much harder to know what the Holy Spirit and whats the OCD.
 
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BFine

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If it helps, set a time limit on game playing,
movie watching, etc.

We usually watch a two hour movie each day...
we don't have cable TV but we do have internet.
Today, the majority of our time was spent with
other Christians and with our grandchildren.

I didn't consider a movie at this evening... I found a Christian podcast to listen to instead...
 
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Zoleee

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Thank you guys you helped a lot to understand my situation.:groupray:

No, of course the games/movies/series don't affect my attitude, these are just ways of entertainment. I mean, sometimes it even helps to be a better person. (I like Christian movies, they have good messages)

Yes, with OCD it's hard to tell if it's the Holy Spirit, or my OCD. But with prayers, God's help, it is better with each day.

This limit idea is good too, however I don't really spend a lot of time on these. And yeah sometimes I am not even in the mood to watch or play something, I am rather with my family/friends or listen to some gospel music. :prayer:
 
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Kuriositina

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Hey everyone.

I have religious OCD (I have a fear of sinning), and I have a question for you. It's a general question not about my OCD, just about entertainment and overthinking. My "illness" is much better, there were harder times, like I was really afraid about even numbers and colors and I was afraid of eating and almost everything... It is hard to imagine but it was really hard. Thank God it is much better now, and I feel much stronger in faith too. :amen::bow:

I only have these two remaining problems. I am unsure about entertainment, and I always overthink everything. My overthinking is because of my anxiety, so I don't really want to talk about it, but I am curious about your opinions about entertainment.

Every time I watch a movie, listen to a song, play a video game so every time I do something to have fun, I feel like I am sinning. I can't describe it. So I end up avoiding everyting, I am like I don't want to sin directly, so I avoid things. But after a time I ended up avoiding everyting. And I realized that maybe it is not good. I don't idolize these things, I just like them as a way of entertainment. If I could know for sure that these things are sinful, I would immediately stop and avoid them, but now I am unsure. And everytime I am like: Okay I don't think these things are sinful so I would not avoid them, I always find something "bad". And I overthink it. For example today I asked almost the same question on a group and they said it is not sinful to have fun and I was like okay I feel strong I will not fear and not avoid these things. But I was curious so I searched for "Is it a sin to play video games?" and the second thing I found was this:

http://www.christianforums.com/threads/is-it-a-sin-to-play-video-games.7617542/

So if you watch this thread you find this line: Listen people, all gaming and I say ALL GAMING is from satan.

After seeing this, I ended up anxious, I felt like it is a sign from God that it is sinning. Now I really don't know what to do. Should I avoid all video games / entertainment? Or what should I do? I know it is an axiety based question but I am corious about any opinions.

Sorry if something is not understandable, I am really tired and maybe my english is not the best right now.


I have a similar problem to you. So happy you asked this question as I would have never thought to...I couldn't even put a name to it like you did. Relgious OCD! That is so me! Really loved everyone's responses here too...incredibly helpful.
A+ thread would read again!
 
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