Games a christian shouldn't play???

No such thing if you ask me, but hey I'm a pagan so what do I know? I've only been playing video games most of my life. A lot of the time the people who will say that such and such game is Satanic or 'will let demons into you' (grrr, please) are people who are in their middle age who missed most of the video-gamer generation's games and systems. Of course, there are exceptions, but i really feel that only people who actually know about/ play video games are qualified to know the content and what effect is has.

I'm playing a game now, Ring of Red. It's a mech game for the PSII and I've been playing it kinda alot so I've had a dream or two about it. (Long hours of desinating armies and troops, fighting, and moving accross Japan will do that do you) A Charismatic Christian might say that I have been invaded by the demons that accessed me through the game. Well there's nothing Satanic in the game. You kill people, yes, but not on a personal level it's all armies moving about and mech fighting eachother. Since they don't know the game content... they really would have a hard time giving an opinon, don't you think?

There aren't any rated-"A" (i.e. Adult) videogames available in North America. In other words, the ESRP (the committee that rates games, you'll see 'E' for everyone and 'M' for mature on the cover of certain games) hasn't seen a game so vulgar and sexually explicit that it has been deemed an "A" title.

Anyway, I don't Christians should be overly-cautious as to what games they should or shouldn't play. Sure, some seem to display violence and gore; but I think every gamer needs to be responsible and understand that games, like movies, are fictitious and completely detached from reality. I'm not going to go out and jack cars and shoot cops with an assault rifle because I saw it occur in a videogame. Common sense and responsibility is required, that's all.

Over the years, I've (accidentally) seen a few arcade games that were blatently pornographic, but apart from obvious cases like this, you have to decide as an individual whether you should be playing the game or not. Same thing goes for movies, music, etc. Something that might cause one person to stumble may not have the same effect on another person. You just have to use your own judgement.

The bible is full of passages that condemn witch craft, sorcery and pretty much magic in general. If God hates this so much, is it right to play video games loaded with it?

God said not to kill (murder) yet some games thrive on cop killing and cold blooded murder. How could a Christian have “fun” playing such a game?

I think the list of games is too long.


James 4:7 Subject yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

I think you shouldn't play a game if you feel it will harm your faith. That's it. This is clearly a Christian liberty topic. You know your heart; others don't.

Well said Seebs.

I think there are a ton of games out there that Christians should never ever play!
In fact I believe the vast majority of games, should never be played!

Why? Becuase most games suck, and it would be a sin just to waste money on them!

Hey guys. I think it really has to do with your faith. I'm an avid gamer and play all sorts of games, shooters, RTS, simulation, etc. I've even owned few titles like GTA:III and Postal2. IMHO, it's a game. I play it for recreation and that's it. It doesn't rule my life (have a wife to do that ) and I'm not obsessed with them. I certainly don't commit any of the acts portrayed in the games, nor do I worship any of the idols.

Granted there's games I wouldn't let my daughter play, e.g. GTA:III or Postal2 untill she's reached an age where it's more appropriate. At the same time, I don't play any games with gratuitous violence when she's around. But that is my belief on the topic.

I know of several games that people (non-Christians or Christians) should NOT play: Max Payne 2, Grand Theft Auto, etc. I do NOT play games that have excessive gore. I tend to stay in the Real-Time Strategy genre, but I do like FPS, like Unreal Tournament (I SHUT OFF THE VIOLENCE THOUGH!), etc. I would really really like to try Battlefield 1942, but I have yet to get cable.

I've even owned few titles like GTA:III and Postal2. IMHO, it's a game.

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But! That game has prostitutes in it, you can kill them, take their money, and you play as the bad guy, killing cops, dealing drugs. I think if you imitate these games you are having some sort of desire to do these things.

I play RTS Games, because, I love the art, the buildings, units (especially Rise of Nations). I play Unreal Tournament because you have to use strategy with teams, in CTF, etc.

That's just MY opinion though
Robby

KnightRobby said:

I think if you imitate these games you are having some sort of desire to do these things.

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Well, isn't this just fun? You know, 30 years ago it would've been Elvis. Or maybe the beatles... In the 1920's, it was the car. Yes, the car is sacreligious....

If Christians Werent allowed to play games the god would think are a sin, then pretty much all we would have is Tetris (spelling?) and Tic Tac Toe, i mean most games you have powers (sin!) magic is bad (er..thats what my preacher says i dont mean to offend any pagans or anything!) and games like gta you shoot people (BANG BANG! Yay Blood flowling down the streets!) Sin!
So like 90% of the games out there are not for Christians...Even though i play games like "devil may cry" and "Halo" both games are rated M...and if i was forced to play only games God would play...Oooh lets play Tic Tac Toe!

~Jt (again i say i dont mean to offend anyone)

okatu_forever said:

If Christians Werent allowed to play games the god would think are a sin, then pretty much all we would have is Tetris (spelling?) and Tic Tac Toe, i mean most games you have powers (sin!) magic is bad (er..thats what my preacher says i dont mean to offend any pagans or anything!) and games like gta you shoot people (BANG BANG! Yay Blood flowling down the streets!) Sin!
So like 90% of the games out there are not for Christians...Even though i play games like "devil may cry" and "Halo" both games are rated M...and if i was forced to play only games God would play...Oooh lets play Tic Tac Toe!

~Jt (again i say i dont mean to offend anyone)

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Well, there's more games than that that everyone can agree with it. Take Harvest Moon, or Sim Tower. What can you disagree with in those games? (I almost put Shenmue on the list but then I remember, oh yes, you beat up a whole bunch of people. But for some strange reason it isn't the major part of the game.)

i know about those games, i just had to name sum well-known games...my favorite game would be Dance Dance Revolution.....

But! That game has prostitutes in it, you can kill them, take their money, and you play as the bad guy, killing cops, dealing drugs. I think if you imitate these games you are having some sort of desire to do these things.

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That it does, and I know all little tips about the game. Get the hooker in the car, get some health, then kill her and get your money back. Me personally, I'm not the type of gamer to go out picking up prostitutes. Though I'd be lying if I told you that I never went on rampages with the game. However that's where the line is drawn. In real life, I have no desire to cause mass destruction and slaughter innocent people. Nor do I have the desire to pick up a prostitute.

I play RTS Games, because, I love the art, the buildings, units (especially Rise of Nations). I play Unreal Tournament because you have to use strategy with teams, in CTF, etc.

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If you like RoN, you should try out the Cossacks and American Conquest series. They're very good games, highly difficult, but definitely something I'd recommend to any RTS gamer. I don't play UT, use to play UT2003. I prefer the tactical shooters, RvS and Ghost Recon. I leave the blood alone (something that's lacking a bit in RvS) as I really don't pay attention to it. Kind of hard to examine the tango you just shot when you're taking heavy fire.

On a side note - I haven't played GTA or Postal for several months. To me, the gratuitous violence just doesn't interest me. I don't if it's maturing spiritually, having a 10-month old who's already rattling off a few words and I really don't need her picking up the language from those games. Or, it could be a little of both. I do like RTS games though. Just something about launching a successful attack on an enemy and flanking him from just about all sides.

Peace - K'pelli

@MoonlessNight

My wife likes the SIM type of games. She likes to be in controll of things. To me, they just don't interest me that much. I prefer a good, RTS war game.

I look at playing bad games like any other sin. If you try to use the arguement "it's just for fun" well...I personally don't think God will okay premarital sex because it's fun. But it's just like anything else. If you're a Christian, and you pray about it, and God tells you it's bad, and you still do it, it doesn't send you to hell. We should try not to sin, but sometimes it's hard not to. That's the whole point of Christianity. I personally don't think of violent games as bad, as long as they aren't senseless violence. Games like Half-Life, Battlefield, Starcraft; they're all bloody, but they're more or less war oriented. They're not really immoral. But I think it's kinda obvious that games like Sacrifice and GTA are bad. Even if it's just a game, what you're simulating you're doing for entertainment. A lot of the time I still play bad games though because it's hard not to. Usually I'll know if something's bad or not, even if I try to deny it. It's just whether I choose to still play or not.

What's funny is that in these debates, often those that reject these games quote scripture as their guide for their decision concerning the rejection of these games and you never see any references to scripture by supporters of these games to back up their “feeling”.

Why should I toss out what scripture clearly teaches because someone has some “feeling” that these games are just peachy for people to play with? You can go ahead and think that I just cant handle such things as you can but I choose not to throw out a stumbling block to my brothers and sisters for the corruption of their hearts and minds.

As for saying something like 'than all games are no good then' well thats a big fat crock! Yet again another argument based on “feeling” and not of any scriptural basis. I'd much prefer to trust scripture than someones heart on this subject for the heart is a corrupted thing indeed. If you base your life on what your heart teaches then you are in for a rough ride.




(Don't trust feelings) (Mark 7:21-22, Darby)For from within, out of the heart of men, go forth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
thefts, covetousness, wickednesses, deceit, licentiousness, a wicked eye, injurious language, haughtiness, folly;

(God hates such things so much...) (Genesis 6:13, Darby)And God said to Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is full of violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
(Genesis 6:13, Darby)

(Though you may feel Privileged, what about those around you who see what you are doing? And can you say it really has not effected you anyway?) (I Corinthians 8:9-13, Darby)9 But see lest anywise this your right to eat itself be a stumbling-block to the weak.
10 For if any one see thee, who hast knowledge, sitting at table in an idol-house, shall not his conscience, he being weak, be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to the idol?
11 and the weak one , the brother for whose sake Christ died, will perish through thy knowledge.
12 Now, thus sinning against the brethren, and wounding their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore if meat be a fall-trap to my brother, I will eat no flesh for ever, that I may not be a fall-trap to my brother.