The ethics of Christians playing MMORPGs such as Final Fantasy XIV.

Titus 1:15
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

First, this is an area of the form where people who are not Christian will respond. Like myself.

That said, I use to play MMOs for a while until other things in my life took priority.

So first thing is that MMOs are addictive to many that have time to burn. So I would remind people to not do MMOs if they can't take the time or limit themselves.

That said, if you are the type of Christian that can just see it as fiction (which to me it is) then go for it. My Christian wife has way more years in MMOs than me, and it hasn't changed her belief.

Sounds like the old meat offered to idols debate.

I stay away from MMORPGS for a different reason: They're addictive and many people have ruined their lives playing them.

DaveHTexas said:

For those not familiar, an MMORPG is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. There are plenty of variants of this concept such as the Final Fantasy Franchise, as well as World of Warcraft etc...

They are typically set in an obviously fictional world with many obviously fictional ancient greek / roman ish gods and goddesses that represent various aspects of good and evil, magic users, and battles of mortals vs. psuedo gods (primals) etc...

I have friends that are in the no way ever camp, and others that are in the no harm knowing it is complete fiction camp.

What is the perspective here on the matter?

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I believe it comes down to the individual. If a person's conscience does not condemn them, as they play, I think it is fine.

I know that these games contain a magical element, but the way I see it, is most of these games are just like fairy tales. Cinderella as an example is a book that contains magic, but it has wide acceptance because it is just a story. The same applies to computer games. Most are just stories.

The bible says that "rebellion is the same as the sin of witchcraft", most people who play games with magic are not in rebellion to God, they are just having fun. As such I don't believe it is partaking in sin.

However I did once inquire of the LORD if I should buy a game called "Divinity Original Sin II", because I knew it contained stuff about demonology. He told me that I should not buy it. So there are times when games with magic should be avoided. Especially, when they glorify demons.

The biggest problem with computer games, which I do play by the way, is that they take up time, which would be better spent in prayer. With playing games I don't think it is so much an issue of it being good or evil, it is does it take over our lives and choke out prayer.

Strathos said:

I stay away from MMORPGS for a different reason: They're addictive and many people have ruined their lives playing them.

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This would make for a very interesting documentary. Ill have to do some youtube searches to see if their already is one

DaveHTexas said:

For those not familiar, an MMORPG is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. There are plenty of variants of this concept such as the Final Fantasy Franchise, as well as World of Warcraft etc...

They are typically set in an obviously fictional world with many obviously fictional ancient greek / roman ish gods and goddesses that represent various aspects of good and evil, magic users, and battles of mortals vs. psuedo gods (primals) etc...

I have friends that are in the no way ever camp, and others that are in the no harm knowing it is complete fiction camp.

What is the perspective here on the matter?

Click to expand...

The answer is the same for playing single-player games of the same content, plus whatever interactions you get from the other players.

For me, it's best I don't play because playing for me was an addiction. I played WOW for a very long time and my relationship with God suffered tremendously.

However, others can play for a couple of hours here and there and it not take away from their spiritual pursuits. I don't see anything wrong with the make believe aspect of video games but sometimes the camaraderie isn't edifying.

"Sitting is the new smoking".