Are video games a sin?

JohnB445 · Feb 28, 2023

I would first start out and say I'm a working man with a good career and other outside hobbies such as sports.

I do a lot of gaming too when I have the time. Sometimes 2 hours a day.

I have heard it said by some Christians that video games are sinful.

What exactly do we mean here, the game or the kinds of games?

And if it is a sin where do we draw the line? Chess is also a game.

ozso · Feb 28, 2023

I'd say it depends on the content of the video game. Pretty much the same as the content of a book, or a movie, or a TV show.

Blade · Feb 28, 2023

JohnB445 said:
I would first start out and say I'm a working man with a good career and other outside hobbies such as sports.

I do a lot of gaming too when I have the time. Sometimes 2 hours a day.

I have heard it said by some Christians that video games are sinful.

What exactly do we mean here, the game or the kinds of games?

And if it is a sin where do we draw the line? Chess is also a game.

This is not something any of us can answer. Some might try but this is between you and Him. Ask Him.. He will give you a peace or not about it. I don't know if I would call them sin..some I am sure are so evil but. Well take this with a grain of salt this man said Jesus shows up sees these magazines on this table. One was Nation Geographic's. The man said He picked it up and went through it so fast put it down. The man started to say sorry but the lord said "it has no life in it". Its like music its not all bad its just no life in it. Its nice sounds wonderful but no life in it. Everything in creation worships praises Him. We know great men woman of God that wrote music and we don't hear God in it yet in that persons heart it was always something some way about Him. Life in it. So haha just saying many or most games just have no life in them. If that makes sense I would not call it sin

Gregory Thompson · Feb 28, 2023

JohnB445 said:
I would first start out and say I'm a working man with a good career and other outside hobbies such as sports.

I do a lot of gaming too when I have the time. Sometimes 2 hours a day.

I have heard it said by some Christians that video games are sinful.

What exactly do we mean here, the game or the kinds of games?

And if it is a sin where do we draw the line? Chess is also a game.

generally to some Christians, anything that is fun, is a sin.

ecumeni · Mar 5, 2023

I use to play a lot of video games, and I do not see anything sinful about it, even with games like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. To those with weak faith though, I would recommend staying away from those kinds of games. Sports games are good to pass the time, but they get boring too.

Sketcher · Mar 5, 2023

In and of themselves? No.

If they have content that takes you in the opposite direction that the Holy Spirit wants you to go, yes.

If they take up too much of your time, yes.

FreeinChrist · Mar 7, 2023

ADVISOR HAT

This thread was moved from Ethics & Morality to this forum where it is better fit.

PsaltiChrysostom · Mar 8, 2023

I enjoy strategic games such as Civilization, Stellaris, and SimCity. I have a strategic / big-box thought process and my job is often tied up in details. These games give me an outlet for my preferred way of thinking.

Neostarwcc · Mar 8, 2023

Video games in and out of themselves are not sinful. But if they take up too much of your time than, yes they are sinful.

Or it depends on the content. If it has anything pornographic or takes you in a direction the Holy Spirit doesn't want you to go it's sinful.

Like GTA for example, is an example of a game that Christians should not be playing. Just use your head and usually you can figure out what video games are bad for you and what ones arent.

linux.poet · Mar 9, 2023

Any game that connects you to the other players in some form or other can be an opportunity to connect with people and spread the Gospel.

Some mission fields are more challenging than others. The group of humans that are interested in chess are probably easier evangelism prospects than those interested in GTA.

LW97Nils · Mar 27, 2023

They certainly are addictive

Heart_Like_A_Wheel · Mar 28, 2023

I enjoy playing video games when I can (not much time for them when I have a family of my own that I'd rather spend time with) but avoid games like GTA, COD and anything really violent. They're not games to me. Then again, I'm hitting middle age with two kids of my own and all the games I play are old school Nintendo/Genesis games.

ViaCrucis · Mar 29, 2023

I'm a gamer, I don't always have the time to play a lot, but it's one of my hobbies.

No, it's not sinful. For something to be sinful there has to actually be something sinful about it. But as in the case of most things of life, following one's conscience is key.

-CryptoLutheran

FireDragon76 · Jul 13, 2023

JohnB445 said:
I would first start out and say I'm a working man with a good career and other outside hobbies such as sports.

I do a lot of gaming too when I have the time. Sometimes 2 hours a day.

I have heard it said by some Christians that video games are sinful.

What exactly do we mean here, the game or the kinds of games?

And if it is a sin where do we draw the line? Chess is also a game.

No.

timewerx · Jul 13, 2023

linux.poet said:
Any game that connects you to the other players in some form or other can be an opportunity to connect with people and spread the Gospel.

Some mission fields are more challenging than others. The group of humans that are interested in chess are probably easier evangelism prospects than those interested in GTA.

I once met a Christian trying to spread the Gospel in World of Warcraft (WoW) mmorpg when I used to play that game.

I can't remember if he's a paladin or a priest. Either character uses abilities that are terminologies used in the Bible like 'consecration', 'repentance' and the graphical effects of their abilities would be in the form of Catholic symbols.

I told him I'm a Christian so "leave me alone" so to speak. ^_^

Other characters are pagan like hunter, druid, warrior, shaman, death knight etc. Others are demonic like warlock, demon hunter. One is an atheist - rogue assassin. :doh:

Nowadays, I only play one of the many adaptations of the Tetris game and a few old rts and fps games in single player I modified to make things a little bit interesting.

FireDragon76 · Jul 13, 2023

linux.poet said:
Any game that connects you to the other players in some form or other can be an opportunity to connect with people and spread the Gospel.

The best thing to do as a Christian witness is just to play fairly and be an honorable person and a good sport (don't talk trash or taunt people). "Spreading the Gospel" through proselytism is often annoying, unwanted, and is against the rules in many communities.

linux.poet said:
Some mission fields are more challenging than others. The group of humans that are interested in chess are probably easier evangelism prospects than those interested in GTA.

Not likely. Chess is a thinking game that punishes impulsiveness and rewards a critical mind. Most of the best chess players historically have been irreligious Jews (Garry Kasparov, probably one of the greatest of all time, is an irreligious Jew who identified more with his Russianness than his Jewishness). Bobby Fischer is the only grand master I can think of that was religious, he was a Christian fundamentalist that was disagreeable, probably borderline autistic, and died in exile.

CoreyD · Jul 15, 2023

JohnB445 said:
I would first start out and say I'm a working man with a good career and other outside hobbies such as sports.

I do a lot of gaming too when I have the time. Sometimes 2 hours a day.

Recreation - activity done for enjoyment when one is not working.
You can instead basically phrase your question, Is recreation a sin?
The answer is obvious.

JohnB445 said:
I have heard it said by some Christians that video games are sinful.

Video games are not Ouija boards.

JohnB445 said:
What exactly do we mean here, the game or the kinds of games?

I guess, it might be better to ask those persons, so that they can clarify, since everyone does not speak clearly, and sometimes are a bit loose with what they say.

JohnB445 said:
And if it is a sin where do we draw the line? Chess is also a game.

Recreation is obviously not a sin. Playing video games, watching movies, playing chess, sports, etc., are all recreational activity.

Are video games a sin?

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