Video Game - Sin ?!

[Zoleee]

Hello!
I've been struggling with anxiety in my past years, but now I feel blessed, I live as a christian, and I like it, I feel much better, I don't really have panic attacks.

In the past I had a lot of panic attacks.

The only thing what bothers me, is feeling sinful. I don't really know why, but when I play video games, or watch movies or having fun and doing these things in my freetime I feel sinful, I'm always afraid that I'm sinning, and I need an advice, because I don't really know what to do.

I don't play or watch violent things, I prefer puzzle games, but still feeling that I shouldn't play, and I don't know why.

It doesn't affect my faith, I still love God, it's just having fun in my freetime. (I'm not addicted or anything, in the past when I didn't feel sinful I played like 1 hour every day.) I just don't really feel that it's a sinful thing, and I don't know why I'm feeling bad.

Any advices? Thank you God bless.

 

[Bingo Q Flamingo]

It's not a sin to have a hobby or merely enjoy yourself in a modest way. Those feelings aren't from God but rather just residual anxiety...I think everyone is cautious from time to time about what they feel is a sin or not, and those of us with anxiety are easily more so. We all have moments like that, but you obviously recognize that your activities are harmless: they're not instilling any negative thought, they're not an addiction, they're not an idol and your heart is still firmly in God. Try to take a step back and observe those aspects of your hobbies and hopefully you'll feel better about yourself.

 

[Zoleee]

Thank you so much for your answer. I feel better now and I'll try it!

 

[Press On]

Hi Zolee,

Seeing as you don't have an addiction, I would say it's a time of relaxation for you, like when I play my guitar or fly my RC aircraft. We all need that. As long as your video games / movies don't have a theme which dishonors God (i.e. sexual or demonic, very graphic violence, ect.). Don't know much about video games; I'm of the Pac Man / pinball generation. Just my thoughts. God Bless.

 

[Mostly Angel]

i dont think its really a sin, i stay away from sex games though because they make me more depressed

 

[Zoleee]

Thank you all!

God Bless!

 

[Dari0]

I struggled with this too, just keep it healthy, and make sure it doesnt come before God

cheers

 

[blwhitney]

I was reading my Bible and this Psalm came up and made me think of you. Here it is in The Message (which is the version I read just to read, not for study).

Psalm 127
1-2If God doesn’t build the house,
the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?
3-5Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;
you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.

--------------
God enjoys giving you rest.

 

[Zoleee]

Thank you, I feel better and better and God Bless for your advices!

 

[grandvizier1006]

Video games? Sinful? Of course not!

Unless you become addicted to them or you let a particularly gory/disturbing one take over your thinking and love it so that it becomes idolatry. Both my brother and I have had our fair share of entertainment idols--not celebrities but shows or video games and even books sometimes. Just don't let anything that isn't Christ-centric cloud your thinking and you'll be fine.

 

[Zoleee]

Thank you Grandvizier!

 

[Gracybelle]

Hi I see this from the view of a Mom - because I have 2 great kids with anxiety. They come to me with their thoughts - they are persistent, stuck in a loop in their minds. They usually find it not to be true - but it's there - the thought makes them doubt themselves, feel guilty. Or it might be something that couldn't happen in a million years - but they're scared to death.

Their anxiety comes with other disorders among them -OCD. Medicine has been a blessing - in their cases.

Sometimes we can tell ourselves - that's just me, thinking too much. I also know, sometimes my PTSD is more than I can talk myself out of; God loves you and me - on good and bad days - playing games, and when we sin. He loves us, gently convicts and forgives us [Our Father does not accuse and use guilt on His children]. Now, if only I could remember that...

 

[Gracybelle]

Just remembered something When our kids were overwhelmed by anxiety, we'd have them play games. It was the combination of having to concentrate on the game and chat with their friends - the compulsive thoughts would lose it's hold. Not 100% of the time...

I think one of the biggest defeats of our enemy, is when you're alone with your suffering; Then someone says (or types), "I know what you mean, that happened to me, too"