Are Roleplaying Games Sinful?

[bèlla]

Perhaps a New Testament biblical example will give me some understanding on this issue.

I was a single parent. Healed from two incurable diseases who left the workforce at 35. My daughter is wrapping up her time at 28. Did I mention I'm a minority and I believe in headship? I once had someone tell me that I have averted every statistic that was levied against me. I looked her in the eye and smiled. Failure was never an option.

It just so happened I was reared in a godly family. It just so happened they emphasized ladyship and etiquette without feminism. It just so happened I had priests who were willing to instruct me one-on-one. I just so happened I have never known racism. It just so happened I attended a school with 1,100 girls and less than 100 minorities. It just so happened a kind HR person brought me into wealth management. It just so happened it was the avenue to bring me home to address my purpose. It just so happened I enjoyed dressing dolls. It just so happened I loved furnishing dollhouses. Do you understand?

God built this. I am welded to Him. I have forsaken everything for Him. My career. My friends. The man I loved. All to Him. Authenticity matters. Putting your money on the line is important when you're dealing with people with a lot of zeros behind their name.

Supposition is meaningless. I'm called to a flock who has everything they need but God. You can't shame them into the kingdom. You can't demonstrate your way is better if you're slaving for an overlord. You've got to speak their language and love them in spite of their failings.

You can't envy them or covet their wealth. Or condemn them for having it.

 

[Andrew77]

You are assuming that there is only one means to reach the lost and it is by joining in on the popular cultural things of the world to fit in with them so you can talk to them about Christ. But the Bible says,

"Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you" (1 Peter 4:4).

A Christian can reach the lost by forums, books, movies, comics, tracts, and by speaking on a street corner. There is no need to... "If you cannot beat em, then join them" kind of thinking taught in the Scriptures.



But most Amish do not feel the call of the great commission to go out into the world and to preach the gospel unto all nations.



Because we are living in the last days. Nobody wants to follow the Lord and pick up their cross and deny themselves anymore. But as it was in the times of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man.



No. John says love not the world, and neither the things of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in them.



Friend, if they stop following Christ, it is not because you did not entice them with the things of the world enough, it is because they do not want to follow the light and they want the things of this world instead. For what on Earth does 2 Timothy 4:10 even mean to you?

It says:

"For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,..." (2 Timothy 4:10).

Yet, you are saying that we should show that we love this world by loving it's movies and sports so as to help people follow Christ. Sorry, that is not anywhere taught in the Bible.



Jesus said narrow is the way that leads unto life and FEW be there that finds it. Just because you see growth in a church does not mean anything. There are many religions that have big amount of attendees. That does not mean that they are following the way, the truth, and the life (Who is Jesus Christ). Do you think Jesus would watch Lion King, or enjoy the superbowl? Think man.

So nothing you said, contradicted anything I said.

None of the scriptures you posted, were relevant to my statements.

For example "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you" (1 Peter 4:4).

What does that have to do with anything? Being culturally relevant, means that people do not speak evil of you? Huh? That does not follow.

Friend, if they stop following Christ, it is not because you did not entice them with the things of the world enough, it is because they do not want to follow the light and they want the things of this world instead. For what on Earth does 2 Timothy 4:10 even mean to you?

No, they didn't even follow at all, because they wrote off that church as a bunch of backward crazy people.

They did exactly what you say here that they should. They had no idea what is going on in the world around them, and thus they had no influence.

And while you claim that being culturally relevant is bad, the church I am now at, has way more influence to the world around them, and they are reaching people with Jesus Christ, because when pagans show up, we actually know what is going on in the world. We had one preacher a few months back, who was talking about Fortnite, and another the referenced a popular movie. And the church is growing, and people are being saved, and baptized.

So which do you want? People being saved, in a culturally relevant church? Or people ignoring a dying church, that is completely disconnected from the culture? Because I have yet to see a church yet that practiced what you advocate, and is having any impact for G-d.

As for 2 Timothy 4:10.... again the verse has nothing to do with what I'm writing here.

Does playing a game, mean I'm in love with the world, and forsaking Christ? Of course not. That's bonkers thinking.

I know a pastor right now, named Chip Ingram. Well known pastor. He loved basketball. He played basketball, watched basketball.... huge into basketball. He started a men's group reading through the Bible, with pagans. They played basketball, and then read a chapter in the Bible after the game. He reached dozens of people for Christ.

Chip Ingram must be in love with the world, and forsaking Christ? No.

And by the way, if you are going to listen to the Apostle Paul, then how about Acts 17:23, where Paul was taking a tour of all the idols and evil pagan places of worship, and then even using those cultural references in a sermon outreach to those pagans!

When he said he was inspecting all the altars and objects of worship, and then talking about the altar to the unknown G-d... that was all Paul being involved in the cultural around him. He was culturally relevant. Which is exactly why he had an impact on the people of that culture.

But if we follow what you are saying here... then Paul fell in love with the pagan world.... and that was wrong.

No. You can be involved in parts of this culture, without "falling in love with the world". These are not mutually exclusive.

Now obviously not all of it. You can't be involved in porn, even though it is part of the culture, because porn is inherently sinful. But Football is not. Video games are not. Movies are not. Are there bad movies? Yes. But movies themselves are not inherently sinful. Nor are many other things.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

So nothing you said, contradicted anything I said.

None of the scriptures you posted, were relevant to my statements.

For example "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you" (1 Peter 4:4).

What does that have to do with anything? Being culturally relevant, means that people do not speak evil of you? Huh? That does not follow.

Friend, if they stop following Christ, it is not because you did not entice them with the things of the world enough, it is because they do not want to follow the light and they want the things of this world instead. For what on Earth does 2 Timothy 4:10 even mean to you?

No, they didn't even follow at all, because they wrote off that church as a bunch of backward crazy people.

They did exactly what you say here that they should. They had no idea what is going on in the world around them, and thus they had no influence.

And while you claim that being culturally relevant is bad, the church I am now at, has way more influence to the world around them, and they are reaching people with Jesus Christ, because when pagans show up, we actually know what is going on in the world. We had one preacher a few months back, who was talking about Fortnite, and another the referenced a popular movie. And the church is growing, and people are being saved, and baptized.

So which do you want? People being saved, in a culturally relevant church? Or people ignoring a dying church, that is completely disconnected from the culture? Because I have yet to see a church yet that practiced what you advocate, and is having any impact for G-d.

As for 2 Timothy 4:10.... again the verse has nothing to do with what I'm writing here.

Does playing a game, mean I'm in love with the world, and forsaking Christ? Of course not. That's bonkers thinking.

I know a pastor right now, named Chip Ingram. Well known pastor. He loved basketball. He played basketball, watched basketball.... huge into basketball. He started a men's group reading through the Bible, with pagans. They played basketball, and then read a chapter in the Bible after the game. He reached dozens of people for Christ.

Chip Ingram must be in love with the world, and forsaking Christ? No.

And by the way, if you are going to listen to the Apostle Paul, then how about Acts 17:23, where Paul was taking a tour of all the idols and evil pagan places of worship, and then even using those cultural references in a sermon outreach to those pagans!

When he said he was inspecting all the altars and objects of worship, and then talking about the altar to the unknown G-d... that was all Paul being involved in the cultural around him. He was culturally relevant. Which is exactly why he had an impact on the people of that culture.

But if we follow what you are saying here... then Paul fell in love with the pagan world.... and that was wrong.

No. You can be involved in parts of this culture, without "falling in love with the world". These are not mutually exclusive.

Now obviously not all of it. You can't be involved in porn, even though it is part of the culture, because porn is inherently sinful. But Football is not. Video games are not. Movies are not. Are there bad movies? Yes. But movies themselves are not inherently sinful. Nor are many other things.

There is really no point to go back and forth with you on this if you do not see it the first time with Scripture. You will see what you want to see to justify what you want to do (despite what God's Word says).

So I think it is best we agree to disagree respectfully in love.

In any event, may God's love shine upon you.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I was a single parent. Healed from two incurable diseases who left the workforce at 35. My daughter is wrapping up her time at 28. Did I mention I'm a minority and I believe in headship? I once had someone tell me that I have averted every statistic that was levied against me. I looked her in the eye and smiled. Failure was never an option.

It just so happened I was reared in a godly family. It just so happened they emphasized ladyship and etiquette without feminism. It just so happened I had priests who were willing to instruct me one-on-one. I just so happened I have never known racism. It just so happened I attended a school with 1,100 girls and less than 100 minorities. It just so happened a kind HR person brought me into wealth management. It just so happened it was the avenue to bring me home to address my purpose. It just so happened I enjoyed dressing dolls. It just so happened I loved furnishing dollhouses. Do you understand?

God built this. I am welded to Him. I have forsaken everything for Him. My career. My friends. The man I loved. All to Him. Authenticity matters. Putting your money on the line is important when you're dealing with people with a lot of zeros behind their name.

Supposition is meaningless. I'm called to a flock who has everything they need but God. You can't shame them into the kingdom. You can't demonstrate your way is better if you're slaving for an overlord. You've got to speak their language and love them in spite of their failings.

You can't envy them or covet their wealth. Or condemn them for having it.

Jesus says,
"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." (Matthew 10:14).

 

[Andrew77]

There is really no point to go back and forth with you on this if you do not see it the first time with Scripture. You will see what you want to see to justify what you want to do (despite what God's Word says).

So I think it is best we agree to disagree respectfully in love.

In any event, may God's love shine upon you.

Yeah, and obviously if you are not going to listen to the apostle Paul, after you yourself cited him.... then this is pointless.

Best to you.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

1Jo 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

The word for perfect also means mature.

I dunno about the keeping commandments bit, (i.e. under the law) but if I continue in Love, the inward cleaning makes the outside clean also.

Since the cultivation of love through maturity results in us being bold on the day of judgment, I'll focus on that. We mature through faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The righteous are not only born again by Faith, but live by faith. The trust of God is like breathing to the new creation.

When I speak of the commandments, I am not talking about the 613 laws within the Law of Moses that was a part of the Old Covenant given to Israel. I am talking about the commands given to us by Jesus Christ and His followers under the New Covenant. There is a difference between the two.

 

[bèlla]

Jesus says,
"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." (Matthew 10:14).

That's easy for you to say. You're quoting scripture. I've look evil straight in the eye. I will do what's necessary to accomplish my mission. Playing it safe behind a keyboard isn't my forte.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Yeah, and obviously if you are not going to listen to the apostle Paul, after you yourself cited him.... then this is pointless.

Best to you.

Wisdom is justified of her children.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

That's easy for you to say. You're quoting scripture. I've look evil straight in the eye. I will do what's necessary to accomplish my mission. Playing it safe behind a keyboard isn't my forte.

My authority is in God's Word and not in my own path or way. Experience is not my measuring stick alone. It is the Bible. I will not do whatever it takes to have my own way or my own mission. There is only one way, and that is the way of Christ. His way is spelled out for us in the Bible. We each have stepping stones of growth to make, but are we seeking our own way for the Lord, or are we seeking the Lord's way? I don't believe God calls us to be in a den of sin. He calls us into paths of righteousness for His name sake. He calls us to preach to the lost, and then move on if they don't accept our message. He calls us to feed the sheep. To help the poor, and to worship God.

 

[NeedyFollower]

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?

Paul said to follow him as he follows Christ ....I wonder how our brothers in the faith ...Paul , Peter , Barnabas , etc. would be "redeeming the time for the days are evil . " I mean it is a valid question. What activities would these grown men who professed Christ give themselves to if they lived today ? How did they spend their time then ? What plays , in between persecutions and sufferings, did they take their families to see ? After their solemn gatherings , prayer vigils and communion ...who were the sporting teams that excited Peter and Paul and the rest of the congregants ..Do you suppose they pulled for the same team or maybe made side bets over golf ? Teach the young men to be sober minded ...grave and serious ...All of these exhortations from the bible ...theses guys sounded serious . Role playing and games ? No , brother ..It was life and/or eternal death for the early apostles . But not for Demas ..for Demas has forsaken us having loved this present world .

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

Nah, better luck next time slick.

If this is how you feel though, no RPGs for you then.

Romans 14

 

[SaintCody777]

This appeals to me since I am now playing 2 Zelda games. So on top of Scripture, I also used this page as a guide towards whether or not the Zelda games might be harmful for me.
Religious debates over the Harry Potter series - Wikipedia
The thing that makes books and movies like JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and CS Lewis' works harmless and even beneficial for a Christian is that all the magic and spells are confined to their own fictional worlds with its own laws. This can also be said for the Zelda games. Even though the creator of the Zelda games is an unbeliever from Japan, believe it or not, he put a lot of Christian themes and elements into the Zelda games. In fact, Christianity was originally intended to be the religion of the Zelda universe. Even though the Zelda games since A Link to the Past the Past have confirmed that the religion of this universe is the 3 Golden Goddesses, they have created the world in a similar way to the literal YEC. The Goddeses are based off the trinity and their reign is confined to their own fictional world. And Christian elements and themes are still largely present in the Zelda games.

This is a stark contrast to Harry Potter where JK Rowling, who attends the Church of Scotland, put Christian themes only at the very last minute in the Deathly Hallows. Also Harry Potter takes place in the real world, which does make a difference because the books and movies makes it seem that Wicca is the true religion of our world. It's sad and embarrassing how an unbeliever can have more Godly imaginations than a professing Christian in England.
While it might seem hypocritical on the surface, Narnia, the Lord of the Rings, and even The Legend of Zelda games are dominated by Christian elements and a lot the magic and spirits are confined to their own worlds.

 

[Artra]

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?

Well, when I was a gamer my favorite games were RPGs. Not necessarily D&D but video games with a huge emphasis on moral choice. Content wise I don't see how RPGs are different from any other form of entertainment, but giving the player choice opens up new possibilities to show how bad or selfish actions can destroy a world. It can show the dangerous consequences of sin in a way no other media really can.

Undertale comes to mind. It's not a Christian game, but the main gameplay mechanic does reflect and call back to how the Bible tells us to treat those who want to destroy us. You can choose to kill the monsters that stand in your way or go through mental hurdles becoming their friends, and the game either becomes more bleaker and ghoulish the more monstrous you become, or cheerful and upbeat the more monsters you choose to befriend, and the latter is treated as the desirable outcome.

(If you choose to play it there is an LGBT couple that is pushed which is part of why it's not exactly a Christian game)

Should a Christian fully following Christ invest time in these games? No. It is time that could be better spent, but can a game following Christian values help pull people towards the Faith? Absolutely. It's just that the game industry and tabletop industry are loaded with sinful escapism to sell that it's very rare to find that.

(I'd also recommend games like Papers Please, This War Of Mine and Spec Ops The Line if you're invested into mature games right now and want to know what I mean by moral choice).

 

[Foxfyre]

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.

I respect your beliefs in this matter even though I probably won't be sharing them. Yes, sorcery and magic inspired by demons and for their purposes is evil and should be completely avoided. I simply cannot put fantasy and fiction that promotes kindness over cruelty, love over hatred, goodness over evil in the same category. And I trust our gift to discern spirits to inform us of which is which.

I just can't imagine that the story of Cinderella and her fairy godmother ever harmed a single child and it has reinforced positive values in millions of them.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

When I speak of the commandments, I am not talking about the 613 laws within the Law of Moses that was a part of the Old Covenant given to Israel. I am talking about the commands given to us by Jesus Christ and His followers under the New Covenant. There is a difference between the two.

The law of liberty isn't a commandment, it is a nature that is living within us.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

How far are you willing to go in your condemnation of roleplaying? I assume it should also extend outside of the arena of tabletop gaming to videogaming as a whole but why stop there and not include the literature? Like reading a story about Drizzt do'urden? Would that be considered wrong? What about outside the realm of fantasy to anything non-Christian? The ancient classics? The Philosophers? The modern classics? Movies? Video games? Music? If there's a single element we disagree with is it forbidden?

Your principals are so broad as to forbid each and every one of these. I will bring up C.S Lewis but not for his Chronicles but for his last book, Till we have faces. It has a pagan setting where the gods are clearly present, yet we can clearly interpret the Christian symbolism within the text itself. Would this text be immoral to read?

All well and good if you personally don't want to engage fantasy role playing and there are forms of media out there that can be rightfully criticized but it should be for the messages they convey, not the use of magic as an element within the story.

 

[Starpuppy]

My friends are Christians (Who seek to follow the Lord).

what about those who are not Christians are they not your friends?

I do so with love, dignity, and respect, and I strive to tell them about the love of Jesus Christ under the leading of the Spirit.

What if they asked you to join them for a drink or boardgames? Would you join them?[/QUOTE]

 

[2PhiloVoid]

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?

Because it could be fun?

But really, I think there is more than one consideration about whether playing any game is ethically wrong or permissible for a Christian, such as whether the RPG is sexual or practically occult in essence. D&D, for instance, can be played simply as a groups of good guys taking on some bad monsters, perhaps even with some ethical lessons installed within the gameplay as it moves along.

 

[dms1972]

If we were to throw out the entire genre of role playing games as being sinful then that would include a game based on Pilgrims Progress (is there one?) or some of the Narnia books. I think its better to evaluate individual games on content.

So can we look at a couple of particular games?

One I have played is called Oblivion, it is in the Elder scrolls series. Its been around for a good while now.

In it you play a character who you define at the start by choosing various attributes including some things like star sign.

There is a main plot/quest in which you have to find the emperor's son and pass on his amulet and get him to a safe place etc..., as the land has been invaded by demonlike beings - , and there is a cult that has opened up gates to oblivion (a hell like realm). As you play you must enter this realm of oblivion on several occasions, in order to close the gates.

Along with the main plot there are literally hundreds of side quests, that you can take up or pass on. These sometimes involve helping people in various ways, for instance in one location the folks have been made invisible by a local wizard and you have to find him and kill him, to break the spell. Other times you have to find someone who has gone missing. There is a great variety in these quests, and when asked by a character you can decline to help.

Then there is a trading element, you can buy stuff and sell it, or you can find artifacts in local ruins and collect loot and sell it. If you steal from a proprietor, they shout and call for guards, nearly every time you leave their premises a guard will apprehend you - you then can pay a fine, or serve your time, or resist arrest and fight the guard - not a good idea as more guards usually come and you end up dead.

Then there is a Faction membership element, the main ones being the Fighters Guild, and Mages Guild. You get quests associated these. Their is also a thieves guild and a more sinister dark brotherhood.

If you murder someone (if a NPC hasn't attacked you first then any killing is counted as a murder) the dark brotherhood come and visit and demand you to carry out assignments (murders) for them.

There is a religion element in the game, it is polytheistic and involves nine 'divines', who you can pray to for blessings, or engage in pilgrimages to their shrines etc. There are chapels in each city dedicated to one of the nine divines. Its a works based religion. There is also a more occultic religion in the game.

Magic spells and items and potions can be used (or not) you can avoid that element but not entirely, as you usually need some sort of restoration spell to keep your health up in battles.

There is quite a bit of lore in the game, lots of books with background info to the land you are in, which you can read or ignore.

Oh and one last thing you can become infected with vampirism, which leads to difficulties being out in daylight, and other NPCs shun you. There is a lengthy side quest by which you gather ingredients for a woman who is a herbalist or something and then she gives you a cure for the vampirism. While a vampire you can feed on NPCs while they sleep. Another couple of character in the game are vampires, one is in a coma because she won't feed on others and if you complete the vampire cure quest it releases her also, and she dies an natural death.


I think that's about it as far as Oblivion is concerned.



Another game, I played a demo of years ago, and the series has now been rebooted is DOOM. I haven't played this but I have watched online gameplay from it.

In Doom, you are space marine, a real tough hombre, and you are on Mars I think, were a lot of strange and sinister stuff has started to happen. As the story progresses you find out that a energy project has gone wrong. It turns out that due to an energy crisis on earth, scientists have tried to harness energy from Hell, and in the course of things all hell breaks loose and demons are released who have taken over most employees at the base.

Its a fairly linear game (compared to the sandbox style of Oblivion) predominated by killing demons and possessed individuals and collecting weapons, ammo and first aid kits (if there is more to it please correct me). There are various ways of killing the enemy, you can use a gun, or chainsaw, or your fists. You get what are called glory-kills if you kill someone at close quarters (the animations are very graphic and gory). So its pretty much technology and weapons - the arm of the flesh versus the devil. That's all I can say about it, I am not sure how the story progresses or how the problem is resolved. As I say I have only watched it online.

Any opinions on these two games?

 

[Kenny'sID]

Some of us don't give the story of the RPG a second thought, we just like the challenge of the kill...perfectly innocent.