Serving Christ in gaming

[Entropy]

In the thread What games should Christians not play?, amoung others, there's discussions on the morality of playing computer games. I referred to Romans 14 in a post there, verses 17-18 of which says: "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit For he that in this serves the Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men." (Darby)

This verse leads me to ask those who think it's fine for a Christian to play computer games, what does it look like to serve Christ in gaming?

If interested, I posted one possibility here, but I'm interested in other perspectives.

 

[CHR15T05]

Good thread. I think solo gaming is one thing, but when you are playing against real human oponants, either on LAN, or the Net, you are once again "on show" as a Christian. You are once again in an environment where you can make a consiouse choice: Do I live as a visible whitness to the Gospel of Christ, or do I use my anonymity to blend in and go with the crowd?

I personnally fall into the second option at present I think, but I know it is time for change.

So how? Well for a start, the obvoise difereneces can be lived out. No swearing, no use of Porn spray tags, no stopping to look at someone elses porn spray tags, team work and edification rather than just trying to get the best personal score and branding all those that stand in your way as a n00b or h4x0r.

Those are just some very simple ways of being "diferent".

I would also like to see localised Christian clans that openly profess thier faith and put family BEFORE game practice. I woiuld like to see these clans take it seriously and enter competitions, praying before each match (not openly to make a scene, but behind closed doors to ernestly invite God to help them and whitness through them), and winning as a result of thier declaration of faith.

On the other hand, I would also like to see christians, standing strong and openly expressing thier faith, become valued members of NON christian clans, again being successfull in compatition. This will serve as an example to the non-christian members. Let us not isolate ourselves.

As I have moved from the UK to a remote (ish) town in Australia, I currently have 2 circles of friends...

1) The church
2) People I play against in Counter Strike

This new online social group has lead me to realise that when dealing with real people in a virtual world, it is still dealing with REAL people. The conversations are real. The reasons behind conversations and actions are REAL. While I used to meet mates at the pub, I now meet mates in de_dust2 or Aztec. The phrase is "Virtual Reality". Virtual it may be, but reality?... well to a degree, it's that as well.

 

[Grolin]

I play fighting games in the arcades, and yeah, I'm not exactly uber-outgoing about my faith. I don't make a big scene of praying or whatever.

What I do is try to be a good sport, and play my hardest. And to not cuss, not lose my temper (hard!) and stuff.
Maybe people won't immediately say "dude, he's Christian." But the difference slowly dawns on people, I think.

I dunno. I don't feel as if it's a necessity to be blatantly "Christian" but rather to let Christ's work be seen. That Christians are human, too- that relationship really is what matters, not legalism.

Will they recognize the difference? That's up to them, not me.

 

[CHR15T05]

I totally agree. Legalismn is not freedom of choice. The nature of being "Christian" is made real by the fact that we "choose" to.

If it's done out of legalismn, and not heart, then it ulimatley (usualy) turns to either rebellion of hypocrasy (imho of course )

I've also edited my previose post. I dont think that praying to make a point of "Hey look at me, Im a christian and im praying" will get you anywhere. I was more thinking praying BEFORE going/logging on to a match, just as a worship group would pray before a service.

 

[Priest]

Most of my callsigns are Christian related ie Priest. I go out of my way not to get involved in "flaming" or cussing during games. I also open threads about my Christian faith, and debate it with people. Which is extremely hard to do, because I have guidlines, most non believers do not. If you are new to you faith I would not recommend it.

 

[Mike_41786]

I know that when I got on to a game on the internet, I type a christian phrase and if I have my headset on, I sometimes try to discourage people from cussing. Yeah, I get a lot of flak for typing my phrase and either I try to ignore what they are typing or they ignore it...

 

[Kelly]

Speaking of tabletop gaming here, it's an excellent time to witness. What I DON'T mean is giving everyone a NT and telling them they are going to hell before you start rolling your dice....

What I mean is witnessing through example. Most likely your fellow gamers are aware that you are Christian. Play capable, moral and heroic characters in your roleplaying games. Don't cheat or flub in board/card games. Be a good loser and more importantly a good winner. Sooner or later, someone will bring up your faith, don't push it down their throat, but be open to answer questions.

If you are playing w/ Christians, it's a GREAT opportunity for fellowship. Before and after games you have time to talk about each other's problems, how you can help each other. You could even have some bible or intercessory prayer before games.

 

[Bohemian]

I usually act by self-imposed honor code in muliplayer fps.Like: I don't camp, snipe, or use vulture tactics. I also let the person pick up a descent weapon, so they don't have to punch me while I shoot them with my sniper bazooka +2. I hate people who shoot you the second you appear, and you only have a pistol!

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

Actually, I know some Christians who play table top Mage with me an a few of my buddies. They are all Celestial Chorus (the Christian/Priest mages) and try to be very good examples of Christianity in and out of game around the table - they're a great bunch too. Of course, since my char is a Verbena (the Wiccan/Pagan/Witch mages) it's my job to rag on them a bit here and there because our in and out of game ideologies are so different, which gives them a chance to explain and defend their faith (in and out of game as well). We have a lot of fun together and there aren't ever hard feelings because we all wear kid gloves after a point.

 

[Kelly]

[soapbox]To be honest, I don't think there is a way to serve Christ in videogames. I highly doubt you could express any Christlike behavior in a deathmatch. As a gamer myself, it's difficult to say this but they are a complete soak of one's time and in no way advance the faith. I think Jesus would say "toss out your playstations and go outside and do something for your fellow man" based mostly on their use of our time than on any supposed evil found in the games.

As a Christian, there is little or no opportunity for fellowship or witnessing while playing videogames. Maybe in a few years when the interactive aspects are more advanced, but right now the focus is still mainly violence, personal gain and or pride in being victorious over others. [/soapbox]

 

[Dracil]

[soapbox]but right now the focus is still mainly violence, personal gain and or pride in being victorious over others. [/soapbox]

I guess we should dump all sports too, which I wouldn't mind actually. Sports ARE a form of gaming too. Heck, anything with competition will involve personal gain and/or pride in being victorious over others (violence, not necessarily, say in academic competition. But football, boxing, hockey can be pretty violent).

 

[seebs]

I did a Celestial Chorus mage in a mage/vampire/werewolf crossover. He was assigned the task of determining whether or not vampires had souls, and/or could be saved.

 

[Kelly]

I guess we should dump all sports too, which I wouldn't mind actually. Sports ARE a form of gaming too. Heck, anything with competition will involve personal gain and/or pride in being victorious over others (violence, not necessarily, say in academic competition. But football, boxing, hockey can be pretty violent).

No, sports and other event based gatherings allow for opportunity for people to come together. Along with the event there is time for fellowship, etc. Videogaming is pretty much a solo or online multiplayer thing, and with the current level of technology, we are pretty limited in what we can do and how we communicate during games. Secondly, a majority of games focus on combat, most of it is pointless combat (thinking FPS'ers).

Look, I play games too. I did not say "don't play games" the question was does gaming serve Christ. We all need pasttimes to blow off steam and nothing does that better than a good game.

 

[CHR15T05]

No, sports and other event based gatherings allow for opportunity for people to come together. Along with the event there is time for fellowship, etc. Videogaming is pretty much a solo or online multiplayer thing, and with the current level of technology, we are pretty limited in what we can do and how we communicate during games. Secondly, a majority of games focus on combat, most of it is pointless combat (thinking FPS'ers).

Look, I play games too. I did not say "don't play games" the question was does gaming serve Christ. We all need pasttimes to blow off steam and nothing does that better than a good game.

Not got much time to write now but:
LANing. That is people gathered together to play. No diferent from Team sport.

Voice Over Net: People playing on the internet are constantly communicating as if they were on the phone.

 

[Dracil]

Yep. Don't forget that not all computer gaming is limited to just being by yourself in your own room. There's even hotseat gaming.

 

[Kelly]

To quote Ned Flanders " Sounds like someone's strainin' to do some explainin' "


No, seriously, just kidding. I would agree that LAN parties and team sound type activities would definitely have opportunities for more of the good that can come from gaming.

 

[CHR15T05]

To quote Ned Flanders " Sounds like someone's strainin' to do some explainin' "


No, seriously, just kidding. I would agree that LAN parties and team sound type activities would definitely have opportunities for more of the good that can come from gaming.

Lol, sounds like we're starting to read from the same page

That's kind of the point of this thread, talking about Multiplayer gaming.

I would agree with you that it would be VERY hard to whitness to someone when sitting alone playing a sinlge player game, with no communication with anyone while doing so. It would be VERY hard lol.

I think most would agree that the multiplayer, experience is becoming more the norm that the "lone gamer".

 

[Dracil]

Lol, sounds like we're starting to read from the same page

That's kind of the point of this thread, talking about Multiplayer gaming.

I would agree with you that it would be VERY hard to whitness to someone when sitting alone playing a sinlge player game, with no communication with anyone while doing so. It would be VERY hard lol.

I think most would agree that the multiplayer, experience is becoming more the norm that the "lone gamer".

Yep, the same can also be said about watching TV or reading books or any other activity done in solitude.

 

[CHR15T05]

Yep, the same can also be said about watching TV or reading books or any other activity done in solitude.

But going to the toilet? Hmm how can one whitness while going to the toilet?
That's it! I'm not going to be able to sleep at night now lol

 

[RabidYeti]

Well, the way i see it is people won't listen to what you have to say unless you're they're friend. I have many friends in TFC and such that I talk to regularly and have even been to LANS (i17,i18) to meet them. During this time, I tried to create a friendship with them and be on my best behavour for God (which is hard, as anyone who has been to an i series will know). People will be more open to you're opinions and suggestions and beliefs when you're they're friend, and online gaming is a means to this.

I don't really play that much anymore, but it's still nice to talk to my friends occasionally