Can a God-fearing Christian Be a Gamer in Good Conscience?
Here is a Gen X Christian question if ever there was one. Each generation has its issues, but this is one for mine. Having lived throughout the entire era of RPG’s and video games, I remember how, over the years, Dungeons & Dragons was at first a curiosity, then dangerous, then banned and burned, then for losers, and then, after my generation grew up and got real jobs, acceptable—except among Christians where it has remained a point of division and contention. Why? For those unfamiliar, we might point the finger at unstable individuals who struggle to distinguish between fantasy and reality, well-intentioned but inaccurate warnings from sources like Chick Publications, and general ignorance automatically linking role-playing games, and thus all who play them, to witchcraft, Satan worship, and demonic influences. Similarly, we could talk about how fear and ignorance have attempted to connect video games to mass shootings and suicides, thus adding fuel to the fires of debate. Interestingly, ease of access to guns and the right to bear arms aren’t typically demonized by the very people most often blaming violence and all manner of evils on games.
We might point the finger and be done, but surely that would be an oversimplification of the issues surrounding one of the driving forces of the American economy and global transfer of wealth today. It’s no secret that video games alone can generate massive income for those well-positioned to profit; thus games and, therefore, gamers have gained a good deal more respect in popular culture. And let’s face it, unless gamers use games to prepare to carry out acts of terror, there are much worse things out there they could be into. The Internet has taught most Americans between the ages of 10 and 70 that much. But what about the Christian? Is it okay for a Christian to be a gamer? Why wouldn’t it be? Well, let’s just consider it.
Is it wrong to play games? Not necessarily. Children learn about the world, themselves, and each other through play. This is normal and, quite often, good. But I’m no longer a child, and the Bible says something about putting away childish things, doesn’t it? Sort of, yes, but that is Paul comparing the ending of tongues and prophecies when perfection comes to the cessation of childish ways (in thought, speech, and rationale) upon reaching adulthood. What about adults playing games then? Paul talks momentarily about athletes competing in games for a crown that perishes to make a point about how we are to act in similar fashion to that of an athlete, striving instead to gain an eternal crown. Paul says nothing negative here about either athletes or athletic events apart from their glory being of a type that fades. Okay, so Scripture doesn’t speak directly against it.
So if games themselves aren’t a problem, what might be? Let’s look at a few Scriptures which help me as a Christian form my own answer to that question. I do this to show you my process as a model for others to emulate. I do not tell anyone whether they should or should not play a particular game or type of game. I only share my process as a Christian seeking God’s will from Scripture and prayer. You do you in Christ.
God’s command to the Christian is to love. Love fulfills the Law. First, love God with all that you are, think, feel, and do. Love your family: Husbands love your wives, wives submit to your husbands, and children respect and honor your parents. Love God’s family: Serve and submit to each other in Christ. Love your neighbors—treat them as you would want to be treated if you had their needs. Love your enemies—pray for them; bless and do not curse. Therefore, the answer to every question for the Christian grows from a foundation built upon love:
1. How does the game help or hinder my expression of love to all?
2. How does the game affect my walk with Christ and my relationship with God?
3. How does my playing the game affect my relationship with other people?
4. How does my playing the game affect other Christians?
5. How does my playing the game affect other human beings?
6. How does my playing the game affect my family?
7. How does my playing the game affect me?
Going beyond these core questions, we can find a few verses in the Bible to help us see even more clearly.
Never Again!?
In 1 Corinthians 8:13, Paul talks about never eating meat again if it would cause a brother to stumble into sin. He says that for him it wouldn’t be a sin, but for another it might be. In that case, it would be better to abstain altogether than cause another to fall (1 Corinthians 8: 1-13). Sure, he’s talking about something else altogether, but the same ideas hold true. I ought to be careful not to present any stumbling block through my freedom that might cause another Christian’s downfall. Did Paul go totally vegan after writing those words? I doubt that’s what he meant, though it might be argued that he did. His point, however, was merely that we must be careful how our actions affect others.
Christ with a Prostitute?!
In 1 Corinthians 6:15, Paul speaks some uncomfortable truth directed at those engaged in actions unbecoming of Christians. The logic goes this way: The Christian’s body is a member of Christ Himself. If I join myself to a prostitute, I am uniting the body of Christ to a prostitute. Likewise, whatever we do, we do in the presence of Christ Himself in the midst of the assembly, for He has seated us with Him in the heavens and we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Moreover, in whatever we do, as representatives of Christ, our actions speak of Him. Would Christ really spend His time hacking people apart in virtual reality, among the other things some people do, rather than seek and save the lost? What do your actions speak of the One you claim to love? Though we are not under the Law, I cannot help but wonder if part of the reason the psalmist says, “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes” isn’t because we cause God to look upon sin when we do, since He is supposed to dwell within us, and this could hinder our relationship with Him.
The Way of Kings!?
In Proverbs 31, the Word says, “Let [the one who is perishing or heavy-hearted] drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” But that is not for kings! We are all priests and kings, or a kingdom of priests, or perhaps even a priesthood of kings, in Christ Jesus. Timothy was told to take a little wine for his stomach. Jesus changed water into wine for the joyful celebration of a wedding. I’m sorry if you think this is grape juice; it isn’t. Alcohol is not sinful. The way alcohol is used can be, but it greatly depends upon how much, who, and why. What did Jesus say about the servant who spends his time partying and beating his fellow servants (this directly addresses abusive husbands and fathers BTW)? He says He will come when He isn’t expected, cut that wicked servant down, and toss him amongst the hypocrites.
What does any of this have to do with gaming, games, and gamers? After many years experiencing my share of failings and seeing others fail, games can be like a drug used to escape the miseries of this life. With my life shattered after the failure and loss of my previous marriage, I sought refuge for a time in imaginary worlds. And, like the drunk who awakens one day and leaves the stupor behind, I learned the problems don’t go away or fix themselves when one hides in forgotten realms; they only get worse.
How does playing the game affect you, your walk with God, and your relationship with others? If everything else takes a backseat to the game, you’re in over your head. You need to get out while you can. God can help you with that. Christ loves you, but He will not wait forever. A day of reckoning comes, and who is able to stand? Only those written in His book. But will you be a king? Will you pass through the fires naked as the day you were born? Or will you awaken sundered among the pretenders? Sleeper awaken! If this is your struggle, feel free to only read my other blog (named “blog” on the nav bar on every page of this site). If it isn’t your struggle, take care that it never becomes yours. You might be strong today, but tomorrow tragedy may find you weak. Do not sink into that mire to escape your pain. If it isn’t fun, edifying, glorifying to God, and useful for building up the church and reaching the lost, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it at all.
Idle and Disruptive?!
In 2 Thessalonians 3: 6, we learn that we ought to stay away from Christians who are idle and disruptive. I recently wrote a blog entry on this passage, so I won’t go into all of that here. As many in the gaming community say, real life comes first. If you persistently spend time in a game that you ought to spend in useful pursuits, you need to shift your priorities. If you have a clear conscience after having done all you ought to do to sustain yourself and love others, games can make a perfectly fine hobby or relaxation tool. Take stock of your life. If Jesus showed up unexpectedly today, would you feel good about the way you’re spending your time? If not, why?
Your actions say everything about your priorities. If you do one thing while saying you ought to do another, you’re deceiving yourself. You’re certainly not deceiving God. You might be sinning against Him, but you aren’t deceiving Him. Ensure your life is in alignment with your priorities, which means you do the things you believe you really should. If something is out of alignment, you need to shift your priorities with God’s help. Your priorities are where you invest the most (or where your treasure is, there your heart may be found).
Now then, after all is said and done, you’ve worked, you’ve prayed, you’ve loved, you’ve worshiped in spirit and in truth, by all means, take a little time to relax and refresh your mind.
Players or Gamers!?
In Revelation 21: 8, we learn that many will have a place in the lake of fire. Among them will be the cowards and liars. Does this mean that no Christian has ever been a coward or lied about something? I don’t believe that is what it means. Many fear many things. I’m not sure anyone never lies about anything—either directly or by omission. Do you always tell others how they really look in that outfit? Do you always speak up regardless of how you might look or sound? Are you a coward and a liar then and doomed to burn? Or does this refer to someone whose life is defined by cowardice and/or lying? Rather, I think we need caution that our lives as Christians not be defined by sin. Do we never succumb to temptation? We do, and when we do, we repent and get up, determined in Christ to walk and not fall. Do we never fall again? So long as we live in this world, we will struggle with sin. But woe to the Christian who gives up and dwells ever in a state of sinning.
Therefore we ought to proceed with great care when we decide to allow something apart from Christ to define our lives. Am I a gamer? Sure. That I am. I am also a sinner, saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. I look to Christ to help me, sustain me, and defend me. And when I fall, I get up, brush off the dirt, pray for forgiveness, reparation, and restoration, and then I walk on with Him once more.
Final Thoughts
Consider all this in light of this truth: One day you will stand before Him. Would you hand Him back what He gave you having merely kept it safe? Would you pass through the fires at great loss, all that you had having burned up? Or would you strive as one races to win a crown eternal? It is not wrong to play games. But, unless you use it to further the kingdom by edifying and ministering to your brothers and sisters or make opportunity of it to reach out to the lost, you must ask yourself if it’s worth your time, talents, and energy. If it isn’t, why play at all?
Pray, seek His face, and ask His will for your time. Then you do you in Christ.
God bless.
P.S. I did not spend much time talking about content of the games we play, but I intend to address that part of this topic in a future post.