Are Roleplaying Games Sinful?

Bible Highlighter · Feb 21, 2019

royal priest said:
I guess you're right. I don't see what the Bible condemns as sorcery has to do with torching a group of gnolls with a level 4, 8d10 fireball.

The only reason a person does not see these things as sinful is because they are either too deeply involved in roleplaying games, or something similar (like video games, etc.) to see it. My suggestion to such a person is to try and put these things out of their life for a good while and dedicate more time in God's Word and in doing things for Him instead. For the moment we give up the things of this world, it is when we can see them for what they really are.

May God bless you.

Jadis40 · Feb 21, 2019

royal priest said:
I guess you're right. I don't see what the Bible condemns as sorcery has to do with torching a group of gnolls with a level 4, 8d10 fireball.

That's the thing - it doesn't, nor does it have anything to do with using a few mouse and keyboard clicks to cast said fireball at a frost atronach in the Elder Scrolls series. Once I understood that, I had no problem reconciling my Christian faith and belief in Jesus with meeting up with friends to play D&D.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 21, 2019

Foxfyre said:
When I was mentoring some young people several decades or so ago, I was intrigued with some RPG games they were playing--now and then they used my computer and my email service. And because they were using my computer and email they left enough evidence behind for me to figure out what games they were playing and how to access them. I actually enjoy many games so I set up my own character in those games mostly in an investigative capacity but occasionally just enjoyed playing them.

Some were absolutely delightful. Yes you were role playing mythical characters in mythical settings and you had to utilize magic and engage in battles and all sorts of things. But just as books and movies that engage in pure fantasy--all normal people of all ages easily separate fantasy from reality in their minds and hearts--are fun, entertaining, and for the most part express and glorify heroism, compassion, innovation, resourcefulness, and triumph of good over evil--I found those games to be harmless, to engage the person to solve puzzles, problems and master skills, etc., and pretty much okay for kids and adults alike.

And some were not that. All manner of vulgar language, immoral sexual encounters, the worst kinds of depraved fantasy and in more than one case moving from the fantasy of the game into a person's real life resulting in adultery, broken homes, dangerous encounters, and certainly unhealthy for all, most especially the young. I eventually, in another capacity, took some on line training to identify, spot, and report adults preying on children and other vulnerable for nefarious purposes in those games. They were absolutely evil.

Needless to say I pulled the plug on those games with those kids I was mentoring and engaged in some serious counseling with them.

I think as Christians we have to be discerning. I cannot find evil in enjoying medieval fantasy or modern fantasy such as Star Wars, Star Trek and such, that teaches concern and caring for others, encourages innovation, courage, inventiveness, imagination, possibilities, wonder, and most importantly the virtues of good over evil and makes it clear which is which.

But we can also recognize that which does not edify, that does encourage people to sin, to engage in activities that are degrading, harmful, destructive, and just plain wrong. And there is definitely RPG that no Christian should endorse or engage in.

Okay. Magic is just as much condemned in the Bible as sexual immorality. So if you will not view cartoon porn in the form of movies or games, then you should not indulge in endorsing the sin of sorcery in movies and games (Which is also condemned by the Bible).

The Star Wars films promotes a form of magic called the "Force" (Which is more in line with New Age mysticism). In fact, there is even a Jedi church. See this article here. Star Wars has elements of Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Eastern meditation, etc.

Star Trek is no better. It also has it's own church. See this article here. The show is full of New Age godless themes such as telepathic communication, psychic phenomena, atheism, prostitution, feminism, paganism, sexual immorality, telekinesis, witchcraft, mind transference, wiccanism, and many occult themes.

Even the concept of aliens is all a part of the deception, as well.
Some people who were involved in alien encounters were also coincidentally involved in the occult.
People have smelled brimstone in both ghost encounters and alien encounters (Which is a smell associated with "hell"). Christians have cast away the presence of aliens in Jesus's name. The word "owls" can be in reference to demons sometimes in the Bible. A remember a Pastor telling me about this one time, and I did not pay much attention to it. Then, a couple of months later, there was a movie coming out called "The Fourth Kind" that involved alien abductions and strangely owls were seen alongside their involvement with these aliens. The eyes of the owls (black almond shaped eyes) lined up with the eyes of the owls (oddly enough). So aliens are not what they appear to be. They are actually demons or they are hoaxes.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 21, 2019

Jadis40 said:
That's the thing - it doesn't, nor does it have anything to do with using a few mouse and keyboard clicks to cast said fireball at a frost atronach in the Elder Scrolls series. Once I understood that, I had no problem reconciling my Christian faith and belief in Jesus with meeting up with friends to play D&D.

So do you not have a problem with cartoon porn movies seeing that they are just pure fantasy? What makes the sin of sexual immorality any worse than say the sin of witchcraft? Did not God command His people to kill sorcerers in the Old Testament? Why would you want to fill your mind with something sinful that God hates?

Gregory Thompson · Feb 21, 2019

Jason0047 said:
The Bible also says,
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11).

Jesus was saying we had to be converted like a child to enter the Kingdom of God. Meaning, we have to be humble like children can be who are under their parent's authority.

1st Corinthians 13 likens putting away the childish things to a time when only faith hope and love remain. In this age, we'll remain children even if we educate ourselves and mature significantly.

Gregory Thompson · Feb 21, 2019

Jason0047 said:
Are Roleplaying Games Sinful?

I believe they are. Let me explain before you stone me.

#1. Sin can happen in the mind and be regarded just as the equivalent of a physical sin. The fantasy of committing adultery with a woman is considered as the very act of adultery according to Jesus. For He says, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5:28). So the desire to lust after a woman in one's heart (even in fantasy type way) is still the same as adultery. For Jesus says in Matthew 15:19-20, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man." So to have evil thoughts means we can be defiled by such evil thoughts. To hate one's brother is the equivalent of murder (See 1 John 3:15).

#2. So if a person fantasizes about being sorcerer, they are committing sin because the Bible condemns sorcery. Just merely saying it is fantasy does not undo the sin. A person can fantasize about women, but this would be condemned by Jesus in Matthew 5:28-30. Even if they think real sorcery is wrong, the fact that they toy with the idea of the sin of sorcery in some fantasy world does not make it any less sinful.

#3. One of the major reasons to play a role playing game is to escape into a world of fantasy. I know. I used to be something like a Dungeon Master but it was not D&D, but another roleplaying game. The Bible says, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Jesus says pick up your cross, deny yourself and come follow me (See Matthew 16:24-26). So our escape should be in the Bible and in following Jesus and not in a role playing game that satisfies the lusts of the flesh with vain and sinful imaginations.

#4. Can a person play a Bible based roleplaying game and not sin?
I think it would be difficult to do so. The problem I see is that the Dungeon Master in a Bible based roleplaying game would be acting as if they are God in the story. So if your goal was to get somebody saved in the game, the dungeon master would have to step in for God by creating openings and or obstacles for the scenario to take place (Thus taking the position of God). This would not be a problem if they were simply writing a script for a book, movie, or comic book because they are not making such a creation as if it was some kind of game to have fun over for our enjoyment. The battle we fight spiritually should never be treated as some kind of game of enjoyment on our behalf. The purpose of a Christian fantasy book, movie, comic book should be to lead others to Jesus Christ. But if a person is going to play a Bible based role playing game it seems like an escape from doing the real thing. We have to as believes get our hands dirty in reaching lost souls and in helping the poor. This cannot be done in some fantasy world amongst ourselves for pure entertainment with the rolling of some dice. We can spend all our time wishing or fantasizing about reaching the lost, but if we are not actually doing that personally ourselves, we miss the point of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

#5. Fantasy Roleplaying Games are something that is originally of the world. It's purpose is to lead others to escape reality into some fantasy world that can lead to doing sinful things in one's own mind. Such games are generally associated with sorcerers and magic (Which is clearly condemned in the Bible).

So why would any Christian want to associate with something like this?

You may also want to say what people would do instead, since you're advocating repentance. Repentance without a direction to go tends to lead back.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 21, 2019

Michael Collum said:
1st Corinthians 13 likens putting away the childish things to a time when only faith hope and love remain. In this age, we'll remain children even if we educate ourselves and mature significantly.

Not according to Paul. He criticized the Corinthians for still being on the milk of the Word when they should have been on the meat of the Word (i.e. to be able to discern between good and evil).

Jason195 · Feb 21, 2019

First of all, I don’t believe in everything a typical Christian believes in. I’m not judgmental against people. I believe that as long as you’re not hurting a real human being then it’s okay to have some fun.

And second but sorry I’m not giving up my Xbox One S and all the video games I play. Sure most of them are violent (I love FPS games) but honestly I don’t care because I’m not actually hurting a real person. And even though I’m against guns in the real world, in a video game world I have no problem using a sniper rifle or a tank.

Gregory Thompson · Feb 21, 2019

Jason0047 said:
Not according to Paul. He criticized the Corinthians for still being on the milk of the Word when they should have been on the meat of the Word (i.e. to be able to discern between good and evil).

The milk of the word is simply believing what the bible says is true. The meat is applying love.
Furthermore: Paul cannot contradict Jesus.

Apologetic_Warrior · Feb 21, 2019

Jason0047 said:
No. While they are similar, they are not the same thing because the end result or goals are different. In a Christian movie, or play, the goal is to lead others to Christ, or to inspire others to follow the Lord. In a Bible role playing game, the goal is to escape into a fantasy world whereby nobody is being led to Christ, and whereby nobody is really being inspired to follow the Lord. They are just pretending and not actually making any real difference for Christ in the real world.

A Church play is a kind of Bible role playing game, and I wouldn't classify a Church play as evangelistic in nature, and I do not think everything we think, say, and do must be evangelistic. To read the history in the Scriptures and think beyond what is written involves imagination. Reading history outside of Scripture also involves imagination. Of course there is a clear difference between historical imagination and fantasy imagination, most people know the difference, most are capable of making the distinctions between reality and fantasy. So many things we think, say, and do make no real difference for Christ, so many, even when we try to Christianize everything around us, too often it is more about control and selfishness than evangelizing Christ to others. I live in the real world, not a Christian bubble of my own making where I only associate with Christians, taken even further a small group of similar minded close knit friends. So many think they are making a real difference...but it is imagination...God, not man, makes the real difference.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 21, 2019

Michael Collum said:
The milk of the word is simply believing what the bible says is true. The meat is applying love.
Furthermore: Paul cannot contradict Jesus.

But before you said, "In this age, we'll remain children even if we educate ourselves and mature significantly."

This suggests that we will not mature and move on to the meat of the Word in this life.

Gregory Thompson · Feb 21, 2019

Jason0047 said:
But before you said, "In this age, we'll remain children even if we educate ourselves and mature significantly."

This suggests that we will not mature and move on to the meat of the Word in this life.

To no longer be children, the whole church would need to transfigure and display the glory of God for everyone to see it. We can still apply love, and it's still the meat.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 21, 2019

Apologetic_Warrior said:
A Church play is a kind of Bible role playing game, and I wouldn't classify a Church play as evangelistic in nature, and I do not think everything we think, say, and do must be evangelistic. To read the history in the Scriptures and think beyond what is written involves imagination. Reading history outside of Scripture also involves imagination. Of course there is a clear difference between historical imagination and fantasy imagination, most people know the difference, most are capable of making the distinctions between reality and fantasy. So many things we think, say, and do make no real difference for Christ, so many, even when we try to Christianize everything around us, too often it is more about control and selfishness than evangelizing Christ to others. I live in the real world, not a Christian bubble of my own making where I only associate with Christians, taken even further a small group of similar minded close knit friends. So many think they are making a real difference...but it is imagination...God, not man, makes the real difference.

It is similar but not the same thing. The role playing game's goal or ends is to merely to satisfy those involved by dazzling their mind in some fantasy world (Thereby satisfying their lusts and not anything actually spiritual). Even a Bible role playing game would be fret with difficulties in trying to work at serving God's purposes and goals because how can you evangelize the lost with a role playing game session? How can you be inspired to follow Jesus in a role playing game session? Usually the goal of such a thing would be to save the lost in some fantasy setting if the Narrator (or controller of the game) and players are more noble. Even if such were the case, the person who acts like a Dungeon Master in a Bible role playing would have to play the role of God to the other players. Thus he would be like a God to them in this fantasy world (Which is wrong). This is also done for entertainment purposes and not as a means to reach others for Christ or to inspire people to follow the Lord. A Christian movie or play is different because it seeks to evangelize the lost or it seeks to inspire Christians to follow Jesus.

Gregory Thompson · Feb 21, 2019

Oh yeah. those "soul winning" events are so RPG

Bible Highlighter · Feb 21, 2019

Michael Collum said:
To no longer be children, the whole church would need to transfigure and display the glory of God for everyone to see it. We can still apply love, and it's still the meat.

Those who are on meat are no longer children.

"Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (1 Corinthians 14:20).

"hat we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" (Ephesians 4:14).

"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." (Hebrews 5:13).

Bible Highlighter · Feb 21, 2019

Michael Collum said:
Oh yeah. those "soul winning" events are so RPG

My point was that I was discouraging Bible based role playing games. You cannot replace the real deal with something fake.

Gregory Thompson · Feb 21, 2019

Jason0047 said:
Those who are on meat are not longer children.

"Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (1 Corinthians 14:20).

"hat we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" (Ephesians 4:14).

"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." (Hebrews 5:13).

I think the main error here is this theology says Paul is more right than Jesus.

The correct way to interpret the bible is to take both points and harmonize them.

We are to be like little children, and we are to mature.

The putting off of childhood in Chapter 13 is like the taking off of corruptibility and putting on of incorruptibility in Chapter 15.

Gregory Thompson · Feb 21, 2019

Jason0047 said:
My point was that I was discouraging Bible based role playing games. You cannot replace the real deal with something fake.

Yeah, i'm really bad at being disingenuous, it's pretty obvious when I try. But some people are really good at it.

Tone · Feb 21, 2019

Jason0047 said:
But the NT does not teach violence, though. It teaches non-resistance. Hence, the problem. Even if you were to create a Bible based spiritual warfare game whereby you look to save people in the game, the problem the Dungeon Master would run up against is that they would be acting as God in the game in an interactive way towards others. We cannot role play that we are God for the purpose of entertainment alone. Christian movies are different because they seek to lead others to Christ as it's end goal or to inspire people to follow the Lord. A role playing game is just so as to have fun in one's mind alone and it really does not help people or to truly love them.

Ever consider designing edifying roleplay games...maybe you are being called to do so...?

Bible Highlighter · Feb 21, 2019

Michael Collum said:
I think the main error here is this theology says Paul is more right than Jesus.

The correct way to interpret the bible is to take both points and harmonize them.

We are to be like little children, and we are to mature.

The putting off of childhood in Chapter 13 is like the taking off of corruptibility and putting on of incorruptibility in Chapter 15.

So how do you apply this verse to your life?

"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe."
(Hebrews 5:13).

Does this verse not suggest that we should no longer be a babe or child at some point in our walk with the Lord here on this Earth?

Are Roleplaying Games Sinful?

Are Roleplaying Games Sinful?

Yes.

No.

Maybe. It depends.

I don't know.

Other - Please explain.

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