Anybody not getting GTA4?

[Holygeneral79]

My relationship with God for the past 4-5 has been not there. I've been through some stuff and I've gone away from God. But recently I decided, out of desperation, to go back to the Father. Because the past 4-5 months has been like Hell and I don't wish to go back to that. Well, after taking the right direction again through confession and forgiveness I recently started playing San Andreas again... but something has changed. I can't handle the violence, the vulgar language, the sexual themes, drugs etc .. at least not with a conscience of somebody who is claiming to be a disciple of Christ. I have a question though.. don't you guys feel anything when you play these types of games with vulgar language, sexual themes, violence even a lot non-Christians find offensive. Don't you as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ feel you shouldn't be playing these kinds of games and feeding your mind with so much crap? I mean secular people say "it's just a game" but aren't we supposed to be different?

I apologize for this long rant but I just wanted to know what other brothers and sisters feel about playing these kinds of games and what thoughts they use to justify playing them.

 

[TheWorm]

*Removed due to stupid content*

 

[Holygeneral79]

I refuse to believe someone at your age can actually behave in that manner. I can't believe I'm getting the exact same response that I got from non-believers from gamefaqs here in Christian forums.

 

[Steezie]

I refuse to believe someone at your age can actually behave in that manner. I can't believe I'm getting the exact same response that I got from non-believers from gamefaqs here in Christian forums.

You gotta understand we get this "holier than thou becuause all I play is Bejeweled and I used to play Super Gore Blood Match" stuff ALL THE TIME and it gets old quickly.

I dont think Im gonna play it simply because I dont see a ton of difference between GTA 3 and 4 except graphics

 

[NavyGuy7]

I won't be getting GTA.
I personally think it's stupid and there's no point to the game.
If I wanted to go around killing everyone, well..
that's what Oblivion is for, hehe.

 

[Holygeneral79]

My sister, how can something like that get old in the first place? is not a concern of your faith to question such things? Or are those things not even considered anymore? I'm sorry if it indeed sounded Hollier than thou but why can't you not take it as a testimony? Is it not a good time as ever to question your faith and see where you're standing? shouldn't you always question that? I know this is the games section but are we not still Christians? My post was never meant to impose guilt on anyone but I don't deny its tone was that of judgment for that I apologize.

Believe me my intentions are purely out of concern. See this passage here from the beatitudes of Jesus

Matthew 7:22-23
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your body will be full of light. but if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness, how great is that darkness!"

Wow, He says "how great is that darkness".. to me that implies that what you see with your eyes can have either a great positive impact on your whole body or a negative impact on your body. What you chose to see with your eyes has consequences that impact your whole body. Jesus tells us if we look at someone with lust we already have sinned in our hearts. Doesn't playing violent games bring some kind of emotion in you? or are you comopletely oblivious to your feelings when you are playing a violent game? is it not your own brain and your command to pull the trigger on the controller to shoot someone? Or is it the game that's making you do that?
People keep mentioning that games are just games and because there's not real consequence in the real world it doesn't affect anyone negatively. Well if a lot of Christians agree with this I guess it's ok to watch porn too. Hey I'm not really doing anything except watching. But oh wait, watching porn will lead me to lust. So what's the difference between lusting to porn and choosing to pull the trigger on a controller to shoot someone? by worldly definition it doesn't affect anyone because there's no real consequence, or is there?

The truth is, I believe that once you've met Jesus you have grounds to build an identity, a true identity, of who you really are. So with the assurance of salvation and the Gospel in your hands you are more than capable of protecting your faith in God's Grace. I believe it is you in the end who makes the decisions and the real consequences will be shown to you when the time comes. I encourage anyone who is not so sure of where they are standing in regards to their faith, to just put secular ways aside and really serach for their identity in God's family. I hope you find piece in that journey and help others with your new found life; Peace and love in christ God bless.

 

[decoytdtc]

I won't be getting GTA.
I personally think it's stupid and there's no point to the game.
If I wanted to go around killing everyone, well..
that's what Oblivion is for, hehe.

ew Oblivion seriously? Morrowind was so much better

I'll get GTA4 when it comes out for the comp, I'm not buying a new console just for it

 

[TheWorm]

Ok, here is a legit response.

Let me FIRST say, there is only one part of this "speech" where I am "sarcastic" common sense will let you know.

Yes, it is of a medium length, and I respond to each person who has posted in this thread, everyone should knoq who I am directing at.

First I will give you an honest response HolyGeneral, I guess I would say it is normal to feel that way, you feel as if you are totally immersed in this virtual world of GTA and see the pixels you are killing, in a way, as some forms of life or seeing them as if you would see a person in reality, personally, I enjoy the games, I find them a great deal of fun, I play them to release stress, it is fun to have your own virtual world where you can do as you please in with no consequences.

Well, the only difference between it and the other games is it is the opening of a whole new story. It in no way ties in with the other games, story wise. They may refer to past characters bu in no way will they be "in" the game. Plus, the visuals are pretty sweet.

First of all there is actually a point to the series, if you actually played the games, you would know that.

It's not "OH IMA GO AND KILL PPL LOLOLOLOLOLOL"

Of course there are missions where you must kill someone. But killing innocent people in the game is totally up to you.

Yes, Oblivion is a ton of fun, I have spent hundreds of hours myself in it, and yes, it is indeed fun to go on a killing spree, especially if you have "The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal" from the Thieves Guild quests. It is just of your preferences, each and every living human being is allowed to have their own opinions and beliefs.

Anyway, back to GTA. If you were a true fan of the game series, you would understand that, I am not saying anyone here is or isn't, we all love things to different magnitudes and there is no reason why we should judge each other over it.

I am what I would say am a true fan, I mean I've had it reserved since November 06'.

I am sorry for my rudeness.

I am open for more responses also.

EDIT: I would more than gladly show everyone my age, if only they would be mature enough themselves to not judge someone's knowledge of their age. And also, I am truly sorry for that immature post.

EDIT 2: I am also sorry if I seemed rude in this post, I in no way meant to sound rude...
(except in a couple places )

 

[Steezie]

First let me state how ironic it was when I looked at the bottom of the thread and I saw a banner ad for GTA IV

My sister, how can something like that get old in the first place? is not a concern of your faith to question such things? Or are those things not even considered anymore? I'm sorry if it indeed sounded Hollier than thou but why can't you not take it as a testimony? Is it not a good time as ever to question your faith and see where you're standing? shouldn't you always question that? I know this is the games section but are we not still Christians? My post was never meant to impose guilt on anyone but I don't deny its tone was that of judgment for that I apologize.

I could honestly give a flying frog's fart what you play or dont play or your reasons why. Whatever they are, they are your choice and wont effect me one bit. But when YOU start passing judgment on people who DO play these games, y'get on my nerves.

Believe me my intentions are purely out of concern. See this passage here from the beatitudes of Jesus

I much prefer the quote "The road to hell is paved with good intentions"

Wow, He says "how great is that darkness".. to me that implies that what you see with your eyes can have either a great positive impact on your whole body or a negative impact on your body. What you chose to see with your eyes has consequences that impact your whole body. Jesus tells us if we look at someone with lust we already have sinned in our hearts. Doesn't playing violent games bring some kind of emotion in you? or are you comopletely oblivious to your feelings when you are playing a violent game? is it not your own brain and your command to pull the trigger on the controller to shoot someone? Or is it the game that's making you do that?

I fail to see how losing yourself in a game is different than losing yourself in a book, movie, tv show, during sex, or in a beautiful scenery.

People keep mentioning that games are just games and because there's not real consequence in the real world it doesn't affect anyone negatively. Well if a lot of Christians agree with this I guess it's ok to watch porn too.

Got that front covered

Hey I'm not really doing anything except watching. But oh wait, watching porn will lead me to lust. So what's the difference between lusting to porn and choosing to pull the trigger on a controller to shoot someone? by worldly definition it doesn't affect anyone because there's no real consequence, or is there?

Lust is not unhealthy, but like anything else, moderation is best. You also might want to consider that I dont share your beliefs

AND you might want to consider that I've slaughtered, butchered, executed, killed, tortured, slew, struck down, and generally rampaged through probably several million people in the course of my gaming career. Im a fairly stable individual, I have yet to kill someone (Came close, came REAL close, but didnt actually do it) or even kick the crap out of someone without a justifiable reason.

The truth is, I believe that once you've met Jesus you have grounds to build an identity, a true identity, of who you really are. So with the assurance of salvation and the Gospel in your hands you are more than capable of protecting your faith in God's Grace. I believe it is you in the end who makes the decisions and the real consequences will be shown to you when the time comes. I encourage anyone who is not so sure of where they are standing in regards to their faith, to just put secular ways aside and really serach for their identity in God's family. I hope you find piece in that journey and help others with your new found life; Peace and love in christ God bless.

Again, ya might want to check my faith icon before you try that talk on me. This is CF, and in case you arent familiar, there are heathen in your midst.

 

[Psalms34]

I refuse to believe someone at your age can actually behave in that manner. I can't believe I'm getting the exact same response that I got from non-believers from gamefaqs here in Christian forums.

You’ll get that a lot here, this is a tough forum, has been for years. I usually need to make sure I have second skins on before coming in here, and usually I just stay away from this forum all together.

Anyway, no, I have no desire what so ever to play GTA4. I saw the reviews on like G4 TV and it was pretty sad... or repulsive, just purely designed for murderous violence etc. Scary times we live in, it's a world gone mad. People ACTUALLY get entertainment from that, and being the most anticipated game of the year... scary.

 

[Holygeneral79]

Wow, these are different times indeed and Satan is making real good use of the entertainment business. Violence is not just violence anymore, now is "it's violence IN a game" so that makes it ok for many of our brothers and sisters to dwell on those forms of entertainment while their minds get fed over and over with stuff that we shouldn't even go near. It's a scary world because Christians are becoming more tolerant and as you saw here try to justify everything they do, which is no different than any secular person would do. It is even more scary when somebody comes and wants to question or share his opinion based on things that seem inapropriate to a disciple of Christ and you get such a defensive reaction; it is not only troubling but very unfortunate It's scary how the line between what Christians should and should not do is becoming even thinner.

 

[Steezie]

Wow, these are different times indeed and Satan is making real good use of the entertainment business. Violence is not just violence anymore, now is "it's violence IN a game" so that makes it ok for many of our brothers and sisters to dwell on those forms of entertainment while their minds get fed over and over with stuff that we shouldn't even go near. It's a scary world because Christians are becoming more tolerant and as you saw here try to justify everything they do, which is no different than any secular person would do. It is even more scary when somebody comes and wants to question or share his opinion based on things that seem inapropriate to a disciple of Christ and you get such a defensive reaction; it is not only troubling but very unfortunate It's scary how the line between what Christians should and should not do is becoming even thinner.

Ugh....its like throwing bricks in the grand canyon

 

[Psalms34]

Wow, these are different times indeed and Satan is making real good use of the entertainment business. Violence is not just violence anymore, now is "it's violence IN a game" so that makes it ok for many of our brothers and sisters to dwell on those forms of entertainment while their minds get fed over and over with stuff that we shouldn't even go near. It's a scary world because Christians are becoming more tolerant and as you saw here try to justify everything they do, which is no different than any secular person would do. It is even more scary when somebody comes and wants to question or share his opinion based on things that seem inapropriate to a disciple of Christ and you get such a defensive reaction; it is not only troubling but very unfortunate It's scary how the line between what Christians should and should not do is becoming even thinner.

Matthew 24: 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Genesis 6: 5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

 

[Tacere]

I mean secular people say "it's just a game" but aren't we supposed to be different?

I'm not secular. And I say it's just a game. I play bloody shooters on occasion and I have no problem telling the difference between real and fantasy.

 

[Psalms34]

Eh well I see a difference between playing a shooter like BF1942 where you play an army role and reenact famous battles of WWII… sort of like a game of paint ball but to “kill” as part of the game in a sense (as opposed to thou shalt not “murder“). And then the difference being GTA as a “murderous” rampage out for pedestrians, innocent bystanders and cops, with the many ways to slaughter them for your enjoyment. So now you reenact how to car jack, run people down, shoot them in the back for no reason, and get out of the red zone to hide and allow some time for things to cool down before you start back at it again. Just murderous violence being washed through the heart and mind, in a sense of enjoyment and gratification.

every intent of the thoughts of his heart

 

[Steezie]

Eh well I see a difference between playing a shooter like BF1942 where you play an army role and reenact famous battles of WWII… sort of like a game of paint ball but to “kill” as part of the game in a sense (as opposed to thou shalt not “murder“). And then the difference being GTA as a “murderous” rampage out for pedestrians, innocent bystanders and cops, with the many ways to slaughter them for your enjoyment. So now you reenact how to car jack, run people down, shoot them in the back for no reason, and get out of the red zone to hide and allow some time for things to cool down before you start back at it again. Just murderous violence being washed through the heart and mind, in a sense of enjoyment and gratification.

every intent of the thoughts of his heart

NO ONE has yet been able to explain why I play games like this and have yet to kill anyone, steal a car, or re-create any of the violence in the games I play

 

[Tacere]

NO ONE has yet been able to explain why I play games like this and have yet to kill anyone, steal a car, or re-create any of the violence in the games I play

Same for me.

 

[Psalms34]

NO ONE has yet been able to explain why I play games like this and have yet to kill anyone, steal a car, or re-create any of the violence in the games I play

You don't need to for it to still be evil. Obviously you are removing the supporting scripture I keep reposting. It's intent enough to wipe out life on earth, as it once happened already, and will happen again but this time by fire.

You question how it effects you, simply by your outwardly actions, and it may be true that you have not physically murdered someone yet, but then God looks at the heart, and murder can be in your heart long before you find the nerve to act that murder out. Your life is not over yet, you are still young, you may act it out some day, you may not; but still it is in the heart, a place where God looks and passes judgment upon. And is also something you promote, encouraging others to do the same.

Then what about the other guy? You may not carry out such an action against another, but someone may against you, your family or your neighbors. Why is the defense "me me me"? One thing, I don't know you, you could be sitting in a prison cell right now having computer and Internet access due to "good behavior" even though you may have murdered someone already. My guess is you are not, but you could be some day, your life hasn't progressed to the ending yet, and that may not be long if these thoughts in the heart continue further dragging our society into an utter murderous rage as it is already becoming.

 

[Steezie]

You question how it effects you, simply by your outwardly actions, and it may be true that you have not physically murdered someone yet, but then God looks at the heart, and murder can be in your heart long before you find the nerve to act that murder out. Your life is not over yet, you are still young, you may act it out some day, you may not; but still it is in the heart, a place where God looks and passes judgment upon. And is also something you promote, encouraging others to do the same.

So because it MIGHT make me want lash out and kill someone, its therefore bad? That doesnt make much sense

Then what about the other guy? You may not carry out such an action against another, but someone may against you, your family or your neighbors. Why is the defense "me me me"? One thing, I don't know you, you could be sitting in a prison cell right now having computer and Internet access due to "good behavior" even though you may have murdered someone already. My guess is you are not, but you could be some day, your life hasn't progressed to the ending yet, and that may not be long if these thoughts in the heart continue further dragging our society into an utter murderous rage as it is already becoming.

Of course I COULD be, but my point is that I have yet to go on a murder spree or even consider it and I've seen no evidence in myself or others that violence in video games makes you more prone to violence

 

[Psalms34]

So because it MIGHT make me want lash out and kill someone, its therefore bad? That doesnt make much sense

You place three rounds in the chamber and leave the other three chambers unloaded.
You lock the cylinder into position and then give it a spin.
Next you switch the safety off and place the open end of the barrel against your head.
Once you have the barrel in position, you apply your finger to the triggering mechanism and squeeze it.
It MIGHT kill you, it MIGHT not.

But carrying out such an act, what does it say of yourself? God looks at the heart; and once all the earth was full of violence, even in the thoughts of the heart, and it was destroyed. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the time of the return of Christ. We are in those times.

I'm can imagine Noah said a lot of the same types of things to his generation...