1 Corinthians 10:31
31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
God has given us life for His purposes, not ours. He has set us upon the earth to fulfill His will, to be "vessels sanctified and meet for the Master's use." (2 Timothy 2:21) How does spending hour after hour immersed in the illusions of a video game, exerting one's self to accomplish ultimately pointless goals, glorify God and fulfill His purposes in the world? A wise man once wrote,
"Only one life,
'Twill soon be past.
Only what's done for Christ will last."
The Bible indicates that the person with a temporal view of life, who is investing only or primarily in the here-and-now, who does not order his present living under the reality of an eternity to come, is living foolishly. The believer is, instead, to "set his affections on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2) I can't think of anything that is more short-sighted, that ignores more completely the eternity that awaits us all, than video game play. All of the focus it requires, all of the time it consumes, all of the godless philosophies, and values, and ethics it promotes, all of the useless effort expended in accomplishment of goals that have no eternal worth whatever - these are all reasons that ought to discourage the Christian who is serious about their faith from video game play.
Jesus said that all those who would come after him, who would follow him as his disciples, would have to live lives of self-denial and sacrifice. (Matthew 16:24-25) In fact, he said that anyone who would not embrace such a life could not be his disciple. I see no self-denial whatever in video game play, however. It is entirely self-centered entertainment, serving no purpose but to please, and gratify, and (over) stimulate the player. And what's more, most video games are designed to foster chronic game play, even addiction. Many of those I know who most vigorously defend video gaming are addicted to it. They vow that they aren't - a common characteristic of the addict - but are playing many hours every day, spending far more time in game play, in fact, than any other activity in which they engage (except, sleeping, perhaps). How is God honored in this? How is a person secluded in their bedroom or basement for days on end, navigating an illusory world often filled with violence, and the demonic, and anti-Christian values, following after Christ in a life of holy self-denial?
The disciple of Christ has been given by God two primary mandates to fulfill: preaching the Gospel and making disciples. (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2) The Christian's life ought to be largely occupied by these things, not the endless distraction of an online MMORPG or the next installment of some constantly-expanding video game (ie. Final Fantasy or Dragon Age). When's the last time a chronic game player shared the Gospel with a person lost in sin and destined for hell? When's the last time he spent a couple of hours discipling a new or immature believer deeper into the faith? How can he when he is kept forever spiritually juvenile in his own faith, devoted as he is to the useless distraction of video games?
The basic purpose of every life God has made is to know God, and in knowing Him to love Him, and in loving Him, to delight in Him and live to His glory. How, exactly, does the endless distraction of video games fulfill these things? As far as I can see, generally, video games prevent the pursuit of God's basic purpose in creating all people.
1 Corinthians 10:31
31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
