Are "certain" video games unholy?

[invisible trousers]

In Grand Theft Auto:San Andreas you can unlock a sex game with hacks you need to use a PC and only specialized hackers can perform it.

There's a reason they took it out-- because it totally sucks and isn't worthwhile at all. I bothered to patch and play the mod and was annoyed at how much time I'd wasted doing so.

I'm sad you guys are ripping on San Andreas. It's probably one of the best video games ever, and GTA IV looks to be even better. Besides, there's nothing like playing SA online (San Andreas: Multiplayer), getting 3 other guys, loading up a sedan, putting on some Dr. Dre and doing drivebys until your car catches on fire and everyone has to bail

 

[Ringo84]

There's a reason they took it out-- because it totally sucks and isn't worthwhile at all. I bothered to patch and play the mod and was annoyed at how much time I'd wasted doing so.

I'm sad you guys are ripping on San Andreas. It's probably one of the best video games ever, and GTA IV looks to be even better. Besides, there's nothing like playing SA online (San Andreas: Multiplayer), getting 3 other guys, loading up a sedan, putting on some Dr. Dre and doing drivebys until your car catches on fire and everyone has to bail

It is a great game that unfortunately receives a lot of blame for the problems of society in general. People have to find a scapegoat for the problems they see, so they choose the most convenient target. Forty years ago, it was rock and roll. Currently, it's videogames. When my children grow to be young adults, it'll be something else.
Ringo

 

[SymphonicaX]

Proverbs 31:8-9 instructs us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” and to “defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Often the only means by which we can do this is conflict, perhaps even war. Further still, it is difficult to condemn men for going to war and taking life when God commanded them to do so on numerous occasions. Killing and war, then, are not inherently sinful. If so, these things remain morally innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around.

I really don't want to make this thread about war or governments, but just briefly, I disagree with using war to bring justice and help the poor. It doesn't make sense when God calls you to turn the other cheek and love your enemies. I personally don't think proverbs is implying to go to war, but rather giving your help to the ones that are oppressed.

Also the OT wars were not just simple wars. God used them in ways to help us understand spiritual implications, and to help fulfill his promises. Populations were wiped out by God to let the Israelites into their Promised Land. And now there is no need for God to fulfill anything anymore until the resurrection and judgment. So I don't think we need anymore wars, and I don't believe the wars we have now are justified.

What good is in that? Plenty. People like to be victorious, especially if they have to fight for that victory. It’s rewarding. Such games also reinforce the use of strategy, quick thinking, anticipating others’ moves, and team work. It also provides a field by which people can display genuine acts of courtesy, honor, and mercy by how the opponent is treated.

What is the difference between being victorious in a porn game where you have sex with multiple women to claim the 1st prize for having the most sex, and killing people in the Counter-Strike for having the most kills?

This is what I just don't understand. Sure you and I aren't affected by it, even spiritually, but I just don't understand the difference.

We place so much attention on avoiding porn and fornication, yet we don't pay much attention to violence in games and movies.

Only if such video games become addictive so that there are adverse consequences in the player’s life does it become a problem. Of course, this could be said of anything, from putting puzzles together to cross-stitching.

I can totally understand this.

 

[Dannager]

Thinking about naked girls and lusting about them is not real either, but yet it's condemned by Jesus is Matt 5:27-29. What makes thinking about violence in video games not as bad?

This is the sort of thing that taking a biblical history course would really help with. First, the modern concept of lust is not the same as the meaning of the word used in the Bible. You cannot impose modern language on ancient dialect and hope to retain the meaning of the passage. Second, objects of sexual desire in ancient times were not on billboards, television or the internet. They were real people, nearby, easily accessible. A desire for sex often led to actually having sex with that person. That is what is being warned against. You cannot bring the Bible into today's society and suddenly assume it holds true for anything you throw at it. You need to carefully examine the contextual nature of the passage to determine what its intent was and where it was meant to apply.

What I meant is that gratifying yourself to sin is sinful, such as lust and pornography.

I would argue that it is not, in fact, sinful, and that the puritanical attitude towards sexual health that mindset engenders is harmful.

So if we are gratifying ourselves with playing a fantasy game that involves witchcraft and violence which are sinful (by violence I mean murder), how and why is that any different?

It's not different, but it's not sinful either.

porn in your mind isn't real either.

And porn in my mind isn't sinful.

I've been doing well with that. I just used porn as an example.

No, what I meant is you need to abandon the belief that pornography is inherently sinful.

 

[Dannager]

I believe there are games that are quite demonic for anyone to play, christian or not.

For example, about 2 1/2 years ago, I used to play Diablo II:Lord Of Destruction. I liked it very much but before long, I had nightmares (3 nights in a row, even) about that game, so I knew I had to get rid of it. I broke it to pieces, threw it in the trash and then took the trash out to the dumpster!

So yes, there are some games people really shouldn't play. Believe it or not, games like the one I used to play and others like it leave you wide open for the enemy to attack you. I'm living proof of that.


Btw, in Diablo II, there's the top boss monster named Baal. If you recall in the bible, there were those who worshipped Baal (a false god) and were condemned, by God, because of that.

Of course, the idea that those nightmares were simply generated by your experience playing the game and the frightening images within coupled with a growing sense of societally-induced guilt towards it wasn't even worth you pausing to consider. Nope, had to be demons.

 

[Digit]

Hey SymphonicaX,

I had played GTA because of it's freeform gameplay. But it involves crime syndicates, and how can we find any good in that?

The real world involves crime syndicates. Should we not be in the real world? To a degree I don't think it matters what the game contains. For example, if there was a game where you played a cop, and your job was to arrest heads of crime syndicates and bring them to justice and fair trial, would that be bad just because it contains crime syndicates. I don't feel so no. Game content is a misleading factor. It's how it's intigrated and experienced that makes my decisions for me.

But how is it right to play a game such as Battlefield 2 where you are killing the opposition to gain victory? There is no good in killing our enemies. God calls us to love our enemies, so why do we play a game that glorifies killing the enemies?

It depends why you play BF2. I love competition, and excercising my mind and trying to outsmart and out-reflex my enemies in FPS games. I certainly didn't play BF1942 to kill people. Or to simulate killing, it's a very poor murder simulator in that regard. I played it for the competative edge, the enjoyment of competing against other people, the social aspect, the amusement and jokes in the game and the crazy situations. The atmosphere and fellowship with other players. I was in a BF1942 clan for 2 years and a Raven Shield clan for another 1 & 1/2, so please believe me when I say the above were my reasons for playing those games with people.

What if there was a game called porn journey or something, where you were a pornstar and had to go around doing immoral acts to win the game? You wouldn't play it right?

Yes, correct I most certainly would not play it.

But what's the difference between that and the violent games that make you win the game by killing your way to victory?

It comes down to the why we play them again. As I mentioned, I can imagine the pornographic game to be something I would play to gain satisfaction from sexual situations and encounters, from being immoral and revelling in the act of sex, and enjoying the feeling of lust. These are not good things. We should not encourage this behaviour in ourselves, or this mindset or character. As these are things which are important to God remember.

Our intent in porn is to gratify ourselves which is sinful.

Well, no. I don't feel that gratification is sinful because it's gratification. It depends on how we are gratified. I am very grateful for someone helping me by giving me a lift to work, that isn't sin though.

What is our intent in a game such as Battlefield 2?

In any game, victory is the key and our goal. As you rightly say below.

To win, and how do we do that? By killing the enemies. But why would winning by sinning be any better morally than porn?

I think the issue has crossed wires here.
First of all, recall what I said about why we play games. What are our motives.

Then apply this to the two examples. Why do we play a pornographic game? Because we are fueling impure motives and desires.

Why do you we play a FPS game? The answer to this determines if you should continue to play it. Do you revel in the gore, violence and bloodshed, or the fellowship, competition and skill-based gameplay? Those are quite general resons, but the distinction between them is clear. One set feeds impure desires, motives and warps our character, another feeds positive attributes. Fellowship, interaction, good sportsmanship, enhances our minds to think strategically and keep sharp. You would be surprised to learn that often in games people simplify the environment in their mind and liken it to an ever-changing puzzle:

Theres a clean road with the enemies flag.
Move along the road.
A tank appears.
I don't have anti-tank.
I call for air support.
A team-mate kills the tank.
I can reach my goal.

In addition, to play these kinds of games to revel in killing and gore, it would make no difference if we play them in multiplayer or singleplayer, as both contain these things. Yet people don't. Multiplayer games are a big hit because peopel thrive on good competition and challenges of their skills. They enjoy the fellowship and all the reasons I've stated. Their reasons for why they play the game, are good and pure.

I still don't understand why it's acceptable to involve ourselves in the sinful elements of violence and witchcraft in a video game, when we can't involve ourselves in pornographic elements. How do we bypass this?

We don't bypass this at all. It's the same as watching movies with sex-scenes in them. Do we watch the films for the sex, or do we have other reasons to watch them? Chances are if you watch a film like The Fifth Element for the sex-scenes, you would most likely be watching pornography anyway. As they feed that desire far better than a sci-fi film, with witty dialogue, great action and a good story. Just as many games contain elements of these things, we choose why we play them.

Do we play games like Manhunt and God of War 2, because we enjoy gratuitous violence and gore? Do we feed these impure desires and cultivate negative changes in our character, or do we play games like BF2 and Counter Strike, to compete, to commune with other players and to challenge ourselves?

Lastly, I would like to point out that as Christians, we have a great opportunity to influence people in games. Just as in real life, there are areas where life presents impure temptations that people often fall prey too, so are there in games, with squabbling and arguments, griefing and swearing. To set an example in these games, with our good-sportsmanship and fair-play, our encouragement of other games, and team-spirit, is a great chance that we should not pass up.

Recognise that games, films and books are (for the most part) not real. They are fictional tales and settings. In real life, the things you mention are sinful, as they are real acts, in these environments we must be guided by God in our actions and should be steadfast to our integrity as Christians. When something is not real, and a fantasy setting, we must apply our moral and ethical character to decide if we are doing these things for sound reason.

Hope that helps.

Cheers!
Digit

 

[Jedi]

I really don't want to make this thread about war or governments, but just briefly, I disagree with using war to bring justice and help the poor. It doesn't make sense when God calls you to turn the other cheek and love your enemies.

So going to war for the purpose of, say, freeing Jews from concentration camps would not be justified? The whole “turn the other cheek” bit is one of the most sorely misunderstood passages of scripture. Look at the culture and the other examples Christ gave. Christ was suggesting not pacifism but resisting oppression in a non-violent way (namely, by making the oppressor look bad). However, this does not negate the justification of war if non-violent resistance fails. Again, how can we condemn warfare as inherently unjustified if God Himself led His people to countless battles?

Also the OT wars were not just simple wars. God used them in ways to help us understand spiritual implications, and to help fulfill his promises. Populations were wiped out by God to let the Israelites into their Promised Land. And now there is no need for God to fulfill anything anymore until the resurrection and judgment. So I don't think we need anymore wars, and I don't believe the wars we have now are justified.

The poet Edmund Birk once wrote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” The opposition of evil is always justified and if it comes to war as the only way to oppose evil or save the innocent, it would be immoral of you to simply stand by and watch. Further still, you suppose that the only justifiable cause for war is spiritual instruction or for God to keep His promises. There is simply no reason to suppose justification is so limited as this.

What is the difference between being victorious in a porn game where you have sex with multiple women to claim the 1st prize for having the most sex, and killing people in the Counter-Strike for having the most kills?

You’re really opening a can of worms, one that should not be allowed to muddy the waters here (the question of what sort of sexual fantasies or activities are permissible). Suffice it to say that for as long as nothing inherently sinful is being promoted, we cannot condemn it as such. Killing is not inherently sinful – having sex with multiple women (presumably at the same time) is. We must also keep in mind that none of these things are actually happening – it is only the depiction thereof. People don’t go to jail because they “killed” their friend in a video game. They go to jail for actually doing it. It is a matter of understanding how this depiction affects you, in which case we must turn to Romans 13:14-18 where Paul discusses personal limitations that should not be imposed on others, stating “if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean” and “Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.”

If for whatever reason you think killing is inherently sinful (goodness knows, then, how you’ll ever survive without consuming plant or animal life for nourishment), then don’t do it. This does not mean, however, that killing really is inherently sinful.

In a nutshell, no one actually does what is depicted in a video game. However, ideas are depicted and the players need to assess for themselves how they are affected. For me, competing against other players in virtual warfare doesn’t affect me in an adverse way – I don’t feel the urge to go out and kill people for fun or start wars to cure my boredom.

 

[MidnightCandel777]

You have to be kidding. They are not even human. Seriously, don't take this the wrong way, but grow up.

Well, Mario does involve the use of mushrooms...........

 

[SymphonicaX]

This is the sort of thing that taking a biblical history course would really help with. First, the modern concept of lust is not the same as the meaning of the word used in the Bible. You cannot impose modern language on ancient dialect and hope to retain the meaning of the passage.

I really don't want to change the topic of this thread, so if you disagree then I really hope we can take this topic of debate to another thread.

Well the greek definition means desire, and you are desiring the woman in your thoughts anyway, so I think it's the same as desiring the thoughts of pornography which is involved in immoral acts.

Mark 7:21-23: "21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "

This passage states that we can have evil thoughts. God made it clear that immorality is evil, so if we are thinking about committing immorality in our thoughts, then I believe it's sinful.

Second, objects of sexual desire in ancient times were not on billboards, television or the internet. They were real people, nearby, easily accessible. A desire for sex often led to actually having sex with that person. That is what is being warned against. You cannot bring the Bible into today's society and suddenly assume it holds true for anything you throw at it. You need to carefully examine the contextual nature of the passage to determine what its intent was and where it was meant to apply.

True there were no billboards, TV, internet, etc, but the evil thoughts were still there and that's where the sin is anyway, in our hearts and intentions. That is what Jesus was speaking about in Matt 5:27-29, about our intentions. If our intentions are to desire a woman lustfully, we desire it in our minds, and commit adultery. Jesus specifically said we commit adultery, meaning we commit sin right when we lust.

I really hope this can be taken to another thread rather than discussed here. The majority of us in this thread agree that lust in the context we are talking is sin, so it makes sense to us when we are relating it to video games. I really don't know what else to tell you.

 

[SymphonicaX]

why[/B] we play them again. As I mentioned, I can imagine the pornographic game to be something I would play to gain satisfaction from sexual situations and encounters, from being immoral and revelling in the act of sex, and enjoying the feeling of lust. These are not good things. We should not encourage this behaviour in ourselves, or this mindset or character. As these are things which are important to God remember.

What if the sexual game was as popular as Battlefield 2 and What if you played the sexual game with the intent of winning against the opposing side and not lusting? Would you still play it?

The reason I ask this is because God condemns murder, and in some games we are called to commit murder to win. So what difference is there between murdering to win and having sex to win, in a game setting? It seems as if we are playing with sin in our minds rather than physically committing it. It's obvious that we sin when we lust, so I'm wondering if there's a difference if we commit murder for fun to win, and that being sin?

Recognise that games, films and books are (for the most part) not real. They are fictional tales and settings. In real life, the things you mention are sinful, as they are real acts, in these environments we must be guided by God in our actions and should be steadfast to our integrity as Christians. When something is not real, and a fantasy setting, we must apply our moral and ethical character to decide if we are doing these things for sound reason.

How do you think participating in these games, films, books relate to the scripture in Eph 5:11: "1Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."

Darkness is murder, lust, rage, etc. If these games contain these elements and even if do participate in these actions for the fun of winning and no intent of ever physically engaging in those activities, are we still participating in darkness?

 

[SymphonicaX]

So going to war for the purpose of, say, freeing Jews from concentration camps would not be justified?

First I think we should reserve this topic for another thread. We sure do disagree with each other and that's ok for now. Let God guide us in the right now direction. But here are my thoughts:

I am hoping you and anyone else doesn't resort to name calling and ad hominem techniques, but I disagree with some of the intentions of our world wars. I'm not saying that the concentration camps didn't happen but rather that I find mass deception in these wars, but that is for another discussion. That one reason why you see me opposing war.

The whole “turn the other cheek” bit is one of the most sorely misunderstood passages of scripture. Look at the culture and the other examples Christ gave. Christ was suggesting not pacifism but resisting oppression in a non-violent way (namely, by making the oppressor look bad). However, this does not negate the justification of war if non-violent resistance fails.

You bring a good point that I'll give more thought to later. I agree with resisting oppression in a non-violent way, but can you support with scripture for going to war if all else fails?

Again, how can we condemn warfare as inherently unjustified if God Himself led His people to countless battles?

I believe God used wars in the OT to succeed his promises to Israel and other prophecies, not just for an example stating that we can create wars too.

The poet Edmund Birk once wrote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” The opposition of evil is always justified and if it comes to war as the only way to oppose evil or save the innocent, it would be immoral of you to simply stand by and watch.

Well I kinda disagree with Edmund, because I don't live for his message, but for God's, and God has already triumphed over evil. (see my earlier posts in this thread). Now with all the injustices happening over the world, I just think countries, especially America are quick to exert military control over others. There have to be other ways to deal with these issues.

Plus with some of these injustices being done, I think we need to evaluate why some of these oppressors are doing these hateful acts and how they came to be. Now that is another reason why I am questioning war, but let's keep this discussion for another thread

Further still, you suppose that the only justifiable cause for war is spiritual instruction or for God to keep His promises. There is simply no reason to suppose justification is so limited as this.

The reason I see war was justified for only God's purpose was because in the OT wars weren't there just for the sake of being there...Israel had to receive it's promises and God made sure everything went right. Plus sin was dealt with by war, famine, etc..., among other things. I believe most things in the OT have been fulfilled now, so there's no reason to go to war anymore to fulfill anything for God. When we go to war, who are we serving? God or America? I believe that there are other ways to serve God.

Now like I said earlier you have some good points yet we still disagree. At the moment I hope we can agree to disagree, and leave it all to God to guide us in the right direction, and also reserve this for another thread.

You’re really opening a can of worms, one that should not be allowed to muddy the waters here (the question of what sort of sexual fantasies or activities are permissible). Suffice it to say that for as long as nothing inherently sinful is being promoted, we cannot condemn it as such. Killing is not inherently sinful – having sex with multiple women (presumably at the same time) is. We must also keep in mind that none of these things are actually happening – it is only the depiction thereof. People don’t go to jail because they “killed” their friend in a video game. They go to jail for actually doing it. It is a matter of understanding how this depiction affects you, in which case we must turn to Romans 13:14-18 where Paul discusses personal limitations that should not be imposed on others, stating “if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean” and “Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.”

I agree with the Romans passage, but if check out what I said in response to Digit

If for whatever reason you think killing is inherently sinful (goodness knows, then, how you’ll ever survive without consuming plant or animal life for nourishment), then don’t do it. This does not mean, however, that killing really is inherently sinful.

Well when I say killing or murder, I mean the murder of human beings.

In a nutshell, no one actually does what is depicted in a video game. However, ideas are depicted and the players need to assess for themselves how they are affected. For me, competing against other players in virtual warfare doesn’t affect me in an adverse way – I don’t feel the urge to go out and kill people for fun or start wars to cure my boredom.

I really want to agree with you, and have before, but I've been given different points about scripture and I'm confused now.

 

[SymphonicaX]

First I think we should reserve this topic for another thread. We sure do disagree with each other and that's ok for now. Let God guide us in the right now direction. But here are my thoughts:

I am hoping you and anyone else doesn't resort to name calling and ad hominem techniques, but I disagree with some of the intentions of our world wars. I'm not saying that the concentration camps didn't happen but rather that I find mass deception in these wars, but that is for another discussion. That one reason why you see me opposing war.



[/size][/font]You bring a good point that I'll give more thought to later. I agree with resisting oppression in a non-violent way, but can you support with scripture for going to war if all else fails?



I believe God used wars in the OT to succeed his promises to Israel and other prophecies, not just for an example stating that we can create wars too.



Well I kinda disagree with Edmund, because I don't live for his message, but for God's, and God has already triumphed over evil. (see my earlier posts in this thread). Now with all the injustices happening over the world, I just think countries, especially America are quick to exert military control over others. There have to be other ways to deal with these issues.

Plus with some of these injustices being done, I think we need to evaluate why some of these oppressors are doing these hateful acts and how they came to be. Now that is another reason why I am questioning war, but let's keep this discussion for another thread



The reason I see war was justified for only God's purpose was because in the OT wars weren't there just for the sake of being there...Israel had to receive it's promises and God made sure everything went right. Plus sin was dealt with by war, famine, etc..., among other things. I believe most things in the OT have been fulfilled now, so there's no reason to go to war anymore to fulfill anything for God. When we go to war, who are we serving? God or America? I believe that there are other ways to serve God.

Now like I said earlier you have some good points yet we still disagree. At the moment I hope we can agree to disagree, and leave it all to God to guide us in the right direction, and also reserve this for another thread.

Like I said in this post I would give it more thought and that's just what I did. I'm changing my views a little. I've read some articles and scripture relating to warfare, and I've been humbled to a new understanding. I apologize to you and others for what I believed about war being 100% wrong. I now say that it isn't always 100% wrong. I personally believe it comes down to why we are going to war, and that should be its justification.

But I still believe in some of the other points such as Israel going to war to fulfill God's promises and to eradicate sin, but even then it's an example of God's judgment on evil, and God can still use war to judge evil because he appoints Gov'ts to judge people for evil acts.

And I still believe in my views on todays wars being deception, but that is for another discussion.

Now with video games my whole view changes too. But the acts of murder are still something I am undecided on.

 

[chris777]

This is the sort of thing that taking a biblical history course would really help with. First, the modern concept of lust is not the same as the meaning of the word used in the Bible. You cannot impose modern language on ancient dialect and hope to retain the meaning of the passage.

The Scriptures tell us their is nothing new under the sun.
Many of todays activities, are merely updates of those done in the past. The appearance is "new" but the form and function are quite similar to what has always happened. The sword has been exchanged for the gun, the horse for the car, but they perform the same basic functions.

Second, objects of sexual desire in ancient times were not on billboards, television or the internet.

Pompeii comes to mind as a direct contradiction to this, their were symbols of genitalia everywhere. Many of which were suspected to lure customers into the respective buisnesses that displayed them. It may not have been broadcast into their homes, but it was surrounding the people and their children in some ways more than we have now.

They were real people, nearby, easily accessible. A desire for sex often led to actually having sex with that person. That is what is being warned against. You cannot bring the Bible into today's society and suddenly assume it holds true for anything you throw at it.

But it can apply to every situation, if one takes the time to study it.
And see how to apply it to a particular situation.

You need to carefully examine the contextual nature of the passage to determine what its intent was and where it was meant to apply.

Agreed, but Not nessesarily with your application of it.

I would argue that it is not, in fact, sinful, and that the puritanical attitude towards sexual health that mindset engenders is harmful.

I would argue it creates a sense of ease, with whatever activity is being presented, and the familiarity produces a comfort with a situation, that one is not nessesarily meant to be comfortable with. The oversexualization with children is a prime example. Not only are girls being prompted to expose themselves, but im manay ways it is being forced upon them. For example I have had quite a difficult time locating appropriate clothing for my daughter, the schools require certain lengths of shorts for example, the problem is many manufacturers only produce the short shorts,
Another issue is paper thin t shirts, that seemed designed to form fit the body. the attitude of comfort in sexuality , does not nessesarily apply to children, and I would argue that this secular notion, is working its way into the church like leaven.

It's not different, but it's not sinful either.

But why is it not sinful?
why is the imitation of sinful behavior considered harmless?

And porn in my mind isn't sinful.

elaborate

No, what I meant is you need to abandon the belief that pornography is inherently sinful.

What is sinless about it?

 

[Dannager]

The Scriptures tell us their is nothing new under the sun.

Back then there wasn't. Now there is. Christian fundamentalism, for instance, is new.

Many of todays activities, are merely updates of those done in the past. The appearance is "new" but the form and function are quite similar to what has always happened. The sword has been exchanged for the gun, the horse for the car, but they perform the same basic functions.

Except when they don't.

What is sinless about it?

The porn part.

 

[SymphonicaX]

Back then there wasn't. Now there is. Christian fundamentalism, for instance, is new.

Except when they don't.

The porn part.

I appreciate you bring your view into the matters of lust and porn, but can we please direct this discussion into a new thread?

I really want to keep it centered on video games without going too off-topic. I understand lust relates to the video games, and the majority of us in this thread already have an agreeable conclusion about lust. The argument for or against lust not really applicable to this thread because of this agreement.

I do not mean to exclude you from the discussion though, but you are more than welcome to create a separate topic on lust if you want.

 

[Chie]

I have been playing videos for almost half my life now. There are some that I do not play . over my own convictions and my experiences.
Confusion comes when our mind and heart do not line up with one another, but we have to remember all things need to line up with the Word and Will of God in our lives.
There are some things that the bible is silent on. This is when we must trust the Lord to guide us in all truth concerning them. So that means we must not seek the comfort in ourselves but in him rather.
Being convicted over someting that the bible is silent on doesn't mean that our conviction is the right will and way of God concerning all men/women.
We all have different strengths and weaknesses, not to mention the differences in our makeup, personality, physical and emotion being.
This is to be took in consideration in regaurding the will of God on all issues in our lives from playing videos to our everyday living and functioning and in all entertainment.
To a addictive personality, their walk will be different than someone who is strong willed, not easy influenced.
I do not have negative thoughts on certain games but out of respect of a loved one and the concern of their addictive behavior, I aviod them that might cause him to stumble and be emotional and spiritual harmful to them.

 

[SymphonicaX]

I have been playing videos for almost half my life now. There are some that I do not play . over my own convictions and my experiences.
Confusion comes when our mind and heart do not line up with one another, but we have to remember all things need to line up with the Word and Will of God in our lives.
There are some things that the bible is silent on. This is when we must trust the Lord to guide us in all truth concerning them. So that means we must not seek the comfort in ourselves but in him rather.
Being convicted over someting that the bible is silent on doesn't mean that our conviction is the right will and way of God concerning all men/women.
We all have different strengths and weaknesses, not to mention the differences in our makeup, personality, physical and emotion being.
This is to be took in consideration in regaurding the will of God on all issues in our lives from playing videos to our everyday living and functioning and in all entertainment.
To a addictive personality, their walk will be different than someone who is strong willed, not easy influenced.
I do not have negative thoughts on certain games but out of respect of a loved one and the concern of their addictive behavior, I aviod them that might cause him to stumble and be emotional and spiritual harmful to them.

but what about relating video games to biblical principles? How do video game relate to a passage such as Ephesians 5:11 that states to avoid darkness and expose it, and darkness including murder, impure and sexual things, witchcraft.....of which some video games have elements of.

 

[Dannager]

but what about relating video games to biblical principles? How do video game relate to a passage such as Ephesians 5:11 that states to avoid darkness and expose it, and darkness including murder, impure and sexual things, witchcraft.....of which some video games have elements of.

The video games depict fake versions of all of the above. They are not real. Video game magic is not magic. Video game violence is not violence. It's pixels on a screen and digitized sounds coming out of speakers.

 

[Chie]

but what about relating video games to biblical principles? How do video game relate to a passage such as Ephesians 5:11 that states to avoid darkness and expose it, and darkness including murder, impure and sexual things, witchcraft.....of which some video games have elements of.

visual entertainment has took the place of what verbal stories and writing can not give us. And it is true the motive and intent of such visual stimulations can be good or bad, it can have moral and ethical values or it can glorify sin.
If they made a game of charles manson and his disciples, glorifing him and placed you as a disciple in his clan,to go in and kill Sharon Tate and her unborn child then I would be the first to advise christians not to partake in such evil.

I know I have play gta, I wasn't impressed.
But how I love to play metal of honor,lora croft,splintercell,metal gear,halo,just to name a few,the list goes on and on.
I trust God to guide me and convict me and willing to accept it, if need be.
If someone is uncomfortable about playing these games then they might ought to listen what their inner man is saying to them. I will not tell them they are wrong, that is between them and the Lord.

 

[chris777]

Back then there wasn't. Now there is. Christian fundamentalism, for instance, is new.

it is no different than other fundamentalist groups of the past other than it claims christianity over another religion.

Except when they don't.

for example?

The porn part.

because?




why is it not sinful?
why is the imitation of sinful behavior considered harmless?