are video games a sin?

[seaking2]

Starting to think they are.
A. Most games about killing stuff
U may say its fake, but porns fake too, and its a sin because it idolized a sin, like adultery, for entertainment, video game does it with murder.

B. Studies showing they make people more violent, I cab vouch as I an suffering from gamng addiction and tell Me to take out the trash when I am about to level, see what happens lol

C. Online competition all bout putting others down. So much cursing and trash talk on there, can it be good for the soul ?

D. Just YouTube gamer rage, I wouldn't post this kinda vids on cf

E. Scinificall proven to release certain pleasure chemicals, and I experience even, u just get addicted and crave the game like a ciggarete

I'm not hating on gamers, as even I am one,
Just been thinking this tonight

Sent from my VM670 using CF

 

[Revived]

Here's a Christian perspective on gaming if you're interested in reading:

Should a Christian play video games?

 

[SplendidTree]

I am touchy with this. I have run things by my pastor in counseling and his take is that as long as it is not an idol and the content is not inappropriate, it isn't necessarily bad.

I honestly play World of Warcraft but in moderation when I do play. Sometimes I am convicted if I do it too much, which has not been in quite awhile BUT if I get things done first and make time for the Lord, I think it is fine.

For me, I have noticed playing in small amounts of time helps me to appreciate it more and have fun. Also this is coming from someone who hasn't watched television in half of a year or more lol Maybe my situation is different?


I truly think anything can be sin if it is not in moderation. If you play for hours and hours and spend more time on games than with God, then yeah that is definitely not a good thing.

 

[Woven]

I'm not a gamer, but I just wanted to say that I don't think there is a universal "yes" or "no" answer to your question. I think what doesn't affect one person may affect another person very badly. I believe that God loves us to have fun and enjoy ourselves, and for everybody that looks different, but we need to ask ourselves what the fruit of our behavior is. What are the fruits of your gaming? Those questions on the link Derrick posted are good to ask yourself.

I think that if we are walking in step with the Holy Spirit that He will bring conviction where it's needed, and then we need to be obedient to those promptings.

Just as an example of this, I used to have a Facebook account. Although I wouldn't stay on for very long at a time, 5 or 10 minutes here and there all added up to a lot of wasted time and as a result I was neglecting things in my life that were more important. I felt very strongly that the Holy Spirit was prompting me to deactivate my account, which I did. That doesn't mean I think Facebook is sinful or bad, but for me to be on there at the moment would be sin, because I would be disobedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I hope I'm making sense, it sounds right in my head

 

[Winter]

I have a confession to make .... I'm a video-game girl geek.

I think its all about balance. If playing games - and this means any kind of game - distracts you to the point where you are not paying attention to the world around you, including God, then you have to cut down or walk away for awhile. YOu have to be certain you're not ignoring God, your loved ones, or your responsibilities.

Second, I think certain types of games are just plain evil. Excessive violence in a video game can affect folks with aggressive or depressive behaviors. I'm talking like Assassin's Creed type-stuff. Games like Dragon Age, Fable, and World of Warcraft aren't as bad. Especially when the game has one fighting for good.

If its RPG always set your character to be a good person. Make good choices, and always fight to protect the world around you.

My rule is: no killing animals or innocent people.

So again, everything in balance: the time you put into the game -and- the kind of game it is.

I don't think God gets angry if we play video games, so long as they don't become our priority in life and we forget what's important.

Just don't play games for hours and hours on end. That's not good either.

 

[aflower4God]

I think that everyone here gave great advice.
I am a freecell and a solitaire fan myself.
((((((((((((((BIG HUGS))))))))))))))))))

 

[cflittlestar]

There are many kinds of video games, not just the violence type.
Nothing is healthy when you are addicted to it and when it's affect the balance of your life.

 

[Perhaps Today]

Video games in and of themselves aren't a sin. Though if they become the most prominent thing in your life, then it would be a sin, but playing in moderation is fine. Some games though probably should be avoided at all costs.

 

[derek W L]

Just don't play games for hours and hours on end. That's not good either.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh HELP

 

[derek W L]

,..,,./

 

[drjean]

Video games in and of themselves are not sinful. SOME video games are terribly sinful and bad though, and while it's difficult to explain all those types, it's one of those "you know it when you see it" experiences.

Any game that uses "people" as targets, for instance, is wrong. But shooting evil invaders probably isn't. I say probably because what is the language being used in the process, what is the screen prompt promoting etc. You say that these things are "fake" but the brain can't tell the difference. And as a side note to your porn being fake, that isn't so... those are generally real people doing those acts and being filmed. But even so, if it's animated, it's sinful and not efficacious to be viewing such material.

There are many online game sites that offer clean games to play, that are fun and exciting, and games for all ages....the ads are clean too. (I wouldn't want to visit and support a site with ads that are for unnecessary things.) Likewise, I would hope a Christian wouldn't be spending their money on video games that you would feel guilty about playing should Jesus be standing there watching you play (and He is, btw.)

Playing video games, computer games, etc. is a good distraction for some people. The military has also found that such gaming increases the hand-eye coordination, assists with making quick good decisions and other skills that are necessary for certain military positions.

The last point I would make is how a person views the activity. Anything that is controlling a person isn't good for them. Anything that is intrusive and compelling, overtaking your thoughts making you dwell upon the game when you are needing to be focussed on something else, is not good. Yes, some people are addicted, but some who think they are addicted might just be noticing a symptom of a bigger issue, and they actually NEED to use the gaming as a distraction from worse thoughts.

 

[plumsink]

As others said, it really is more a matter of how you are doing them, not what they are in themselves. Are reading books wrong, watching TV? It's all really points on the same spectrum. Television can be ultra violent these days.

I have to confess that when I have had a bad day, nothing hits the spot like firing up some Counter-Strike and shooting off some rounds on the AK.

I don't play the violent games nearly as much as I used to though, used to play Grand Theft Auto a lot. That is a very violent game. It gets on you after awhile, makes you wonder if simulating killing police and innocent bystanders is the best use of your time or particularly good for your mental health.

Peace

 

[strelok0017]

I think that games like GTA are definitely to be avoided. God has put in my heart that I should avoid all games. I wouldn't call all of them sinful though. I'm sure that some conservative brother might condemn me for this but for example, game called World in Conflict I would definitely not consider sinful. It's a war real time strategy and it's, at least when I played it, I really enjoyed it.

Or what about Company of Heroes? It's as sinful as any other World War 2 documentary. As I said before, I'm probably wrong because the Bible tells us (in fact commands) not to love the world or things that are in the world (1 John 2:15). This actually becomes a problem for all video games. I will not condemn anyone for playing but I would encourage you guys to pray about it and ask God for guidance.

 

[plumsink]

You could say that chess is just sublimated violence, but people also say it is good for your logical thinking habits. First-person shooters can be good for coordination and spacial reasoning. It all depends on whether it is bad for the individual, though I would admit a game like GTA probably isn't going to have any particularly uplifting effects.