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Are "certain" video games unholy?

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mont974x4

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annulment is a RC deal and certainly not applicable to all...plus, it isn't in the Bible.


Besides, MM, weren't you called out in another thread a few weeks ago because you admitted to willful fornication?
 
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chris777

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chris777

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chris777

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I would suggest that it should be handled like the meat in 1 Cor. You are certainly free to draw that line for yourself, but not for others. For my part, I won't create an issue for you by playing them in front of you.
Like I was stating in my previous post, Not me, but a child.

How would you explain it to a child?
 
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Digit

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I was insinuating that God is not the author of confusion. That leaves , us, as well as satan, and his minions.
You are saying that confusion is not something which can be genuine. Considering all the people that approached Christ in the Bible and left feeling confused, I would say that confusion is not inherently a result that leans to any side of the spectrum. This is neither here nor there however.

People get all bent out of shape on reasoning and logic, but is The God of the universe becoming flesh and dying for a sinful world that hates him, and his ways, really logical in the sense that all secular logic alludes to?
If you have done this, and it's helped then great. Yet God has never commanded us to do this, and indeed encourages the opposite. He tells us to reason with Him, and to test everything. Hold on to the good and let go of the bad. One of my recent favourite passages revealed this to me. Test everything.

But do you agree that they are representations of what we as christians would identify as sin?
Some are in context of the game and action yes, but me shooting somone in one game, is not the same as me shooting them in another.
I personally believe these things harden our hearts to sin, callousing it and make us more tolerant of it, more comfortable with it if you will.
Yes and I agree, which is why I say we need to search for the reason as to why we find something entertaining so that we can judge it's impact on our character. As some things I find can and do damage our character, and this is what I feel God has warned us away from.

I don't personally feel that copying a story reduces the first storys legitimacy. If anything I find it reassuring. C.S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia was heralded because of the similarities it contained to Christianity, the message of sacrifice and rebirth and salvation. I personally want to see more of these, because just as negative media can impact our character for worse, as I've been saying, so do I believe that positive media can impact it for the better.

There have been many links drawn to American news reports and the violence and general attitude of people in the country, when just a short hop-skip away in Canada, similar news reports are far nicer and tamer, and as such, crime is much lower and the people are less violent. I think one of the recent murders there was actually committed by an American who was a tourist.

These things do have impacts, and just as we can say that some are bad for obvious reasons, so I do believe that others are good and will produce good. I don't personally feel you can accept one and then also say that the other lessens the originals impact and message.

I am not saying I don't see attacks against God in everyday life, yet I certainly don't see attacks in those things which mimmick Christianity in it's message and story. I more see attacks in things where the church is shown as evil, God is shown to be called on yet not answering, so the hero takes matters into their own hands, rife blasphemy and anti-tolerant behaviour and so on.

that is part of the trap I fell into. think about it this way. If you are running around in a first person shooter killing people, is not the intent the same, with or without the blood?
They are two issues. Both of which I feel impact our character. One is exposure to violence and gore, and the other is the motive behind desiring that exposure.

I have been trying to think of a way that I could try and explain it to a child, and I cannot come up with a way of doing it, that makes it seem like it is a good or harmless thing.
As per the ratings guidelines children should not be playing these games, just as children are not allowed to play paintball and airsoft until a certain age. A mature foundation is needed in order to be able to discern these things more clearly. Even we, are 20-30 years of age are having discussions about it.

"it is ok if I run around killing them because it is pretend and you do not see blood" I just cant do it. It reminds me too much of looking on a woman with lust. the intent is the same.
How about, "This is our team, the blue guys, we need to get as many points as possible within the time limit, to do this you have to eliminate the enemy, the red team. When hit, they will disappear and then reappear a short time later back at their base. Watchout for tanks."

Jesus hung out with them, but he did not participate in their deeds.
The end never justifies the means. We don't sin that others may come to Christ. my point was that fellowship was not inherently a good thing.
Playing computer games isn't sinning though. That's the difference, just as playing football, rugby, cricket, paintball and chess are not sins, not are computer games.

We are told not to be unequally yolked with non believers.
Yet sometimes that kills fellowship.
Yes it does. I regretted going to see 300. I found it too violent, and there were parts I truly enjoyed, yet other parts made me ill and I saw no reason to be entertained by it. I apologised to the friends I took with me afterwards and they said its ok, they liked it. I can draw a distinction there, and understand why I don't like it, and why I wouldn't play a game of the same ilk. So in some respects fellowship will be killed. You won't find me playing God of War 2 with my friends, yet you will find me playing Ghost Recon with them, and enjoying the competition and action in the game.

Again, this is my own personal thoughts on it. I've seen a great deal of good come from gaming and wish to encourage that side of it, and move away from the negative trend that some games seem to exploit and use to draw gamers.

Cheers,
Digit
 
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Digit

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Like I was stating in my previous post, Not me, but a child.

How would you explain it to a child?
The explaining it to a child reasoning is rather flawed, as how would you explain sex to a child or Jesus' Crucifixion? Both contain details which are not suitable for a childs mind, maturity and understanding is needed first, before we can explain things better and until then we provide a simple version for those who are receptive. Children of the age you are indicating, shouldn't be playing these games or hearing about these events in detail.

To someone who already has an established knowledge and maturity, explaining these things is effortless.

Digit
 
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MezzaMorta

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my point was that you seemed unconcerned that he was not a christian. sorry I wasn't clearer.

He is from the Muslim side of my family, nothing special about that. Pretty common in Lebanon where the nation is divided basically in half between Christian and Muslim communities and there never really has been any division between the two communities.

But the point was we don't know how much longer we have until judgement, it could happen before I finish this reply.
You just seemed strangely unconcerned with his salvation.

I don’t believe that those who worship God are going to hell just because they do not do so though the one true church.
 
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mont974x4

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Like I was stating in my previous post, Not me, but a child.

How would you explain it to a child?

That is the parents responsibility, unless they are in my care for some reason. I have talked to my kids to make sure that they understand the difference between what is real and what isn't, they know what behavior is acceptible and what isn't, and the issue of not letting things rule over them and becoming idols.

My 3 year old is to young to play such games, but my 8, 12, and 13 year olds are old enough.
 
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Nottingham40

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I think they are, here is my rationale. People, namely younger people, are unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Video Games like TV and Movies introduce a fantasy world. THats fine but our young people just dont have the tools to acknowladge that these constructs are fantasy and not reality. The only way to remedy this is to insulate our younger people from all fantasy; games, books, movies, tv that are determined 'unholy' by a select few pastor or church head men.
 
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mont974x4

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Well, you are free to raise your children as you see fit based on the convictions of your heart, so long as they are biblical.

Myself, I do teach my kids the diference and teach them how to properly handle such things.


Too much insulating and you end up with a rebelious young adult ill-equipped to face the world effectively for Christ.
 
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chris777

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Both of you missed what I was asking, let me try and clarify.

How do you explain to a child, that you are sitting there playing a game, that exhibits, something that we would never do in real life, because we know it is a sin.

for example :daddy if killing is wrong why are you running around doing it in the game.

or the one that personally struck me.
if casting spells is wrong, then should you really be playing this game?

Not their inability to distinguish from right and wrong, or their being too immature, but rather their innate, childishness, that we as Christians out to seek to emulate.

They see things we have forgotten how to.
 
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chris777

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I think I did answer your question. If it isn't good enough for you, well, I don't know what to tell you.
I have been asked why is it right to do something in a game, but not so in real life.
I could not come up with a reply to that, without coming off like a hypocrite.

that was the Gist of my question.

Do you have a reply I could use?
As I couldn't come up with one.
 
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david_x

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I don't think its our problem if people can't diferentiate between playing a game and doing an act in real life.

Heck, I know people that are against the veggie tales.

I guess we have to accept that some people are goning to be anti-social. They will ban the things that can bind us.
 
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