"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"By their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16a
Once again I turn to my dictionary as we reach the half-way point in our series. Kindness is, "the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate." I don't know about you all, but after last week's post and now this one, I think I'm going to carry a dictionary around with me just to make life a little more clear.
There's a saying that you've probably heard or maybe read on some motivational poster with a kitten on it. "If you want a friend, be a friend." Cheesy, but true. This means spending time hanging out, doing things together, and generally just having fun together. This applies to the video game world as well as the real world. Treat whoever you're playing with as a friend and things are likely go a lot smoother in general.
Generosity is one of those things that many people consider to be dependent on their financial situation. They feel that they can only be generous if all of their needs and wants are taken care of first. Not only is this a selfish attitude, but it's just plain false. You can be generous with just about anything, from time to compliments - even in giving someone the benefit of the doubt when they appear to have done you wrong. Sure, you can give other players all the gold and loot you get, but you can just as easily be generous in sharing your tricks for making that gold, or the best method for defeating the boss that drops that loot.
Finally, what is being considerate? The root word is "consider" and that pretty much sums it up. Consider how your words and actions will impact those around you. Consider how someone else might be feeling, especially if you know they are going through some hard times. Consider the tone of voice you use when talking to others - especially in games where your primary interactions with other players is through voice chat.
Consistently being considerate of others is not always easy, but it may well be the key to demonstrating the fruit of kindness, because it naturally leads to generosity and friendship.
How can you demonstrate kindness in the games you play? Do you think that being friendly, generous, and considerate adds up to kindness? Can you give specific examples of acts of kindness in video games?
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Fruit: Goodness
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"By their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16a
According to my dictionary, the first definition of goodness is, "the quality of being good". Helpful, right? Makes me wonder who never told them that you can't use a word in its own definition. Thankfully, the second definition is actually much better, and provides a bit of insight that I hadn't considered before: "The beneficial or nourishing element of food."
Since we're not talking about food here, let's focus on the "beneficial and nourishing" part. Wow! I don't know why exactly, but that gives me a whole different perspective on goodness. This seems fairly straightforward when applied to real life. I need to make sure that whatever I'm doing, it's for the benefit of others. I also need to be sure it's nourishing them, which could be as simple as actually feeding someone, or perhaps feeding their soul and spirit instead.
So let's apply this to how we behave in games, shall we?
Once again cooperative games seem to be an ideal place for us to demonstrate this fruit in our lives. We can play to benefit the other player, letting them have the health packs instead of greedily grabbing them for ourselves. We can help defend them from opponents rather than running away to save ourselves.
Notice how these examples require us to put ourselves aside? That's not to say that we can't benefit from helping someone else, just that we are not our own priority. In fact, if we're all working for the benefit of someone else, we'll be taken care of just like the other guy and won't have to worry about ourselves at all.
Does this definition of goodness as "beneficial and nourishing" help you understand it better? What other ways can you think of to demonstrate goodness in games? How can you apply this to the way that you play?
"By their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16a
According to my dictionary, the first definition of goodness is, "the quality of being good". Helpful, right? Makes me wonder who never told them that you can't use a word in its own definition. Thankfully, the second definition is actually much better, and provides a bit of insight that I hadn't considered before: "The beneficial or nourishing element of food."
Since we're not talking about food here, let's focus on the "beneficial and nourishing" part. Wow! I don't know why exactly, but that gives me a whole different perspective on goodness. This seems fairly straightforward when applied to real life. I need to make sure that whatever I'm doing, it's for the benefit of others. I also need to be sure it's nourishing them, which could be as simple as actually feeding someone, or perhaps feeding their soul and spirit instead.
So let's apply this to how we behave in games, shall we?
Once again cooperative games seem to be an ideal place for us to demonstrate this fruit in our lives. We can play to benefit the other player, letting them have the health packs instead of greedily grabbing them for ourselves. We can help defend them from opponents rather than running away to save ourselves.
Notice how these examples require us to put ourselves aside? That's not to say that we can't benefit from helping someone else, just that we are not our own priority. In fact, if we're all working for the benefit of someone else, we'll be taken care of just like the other guy and won't have to worry about ourselves at all.
Does this definition of goodness as "beneficial and nourishing" help you understand it better? What other ways can you think of to demonstrate goodness in games? How can you apply this to the way that you play?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Schedule Change
There's been a little difficulty lately in getting the regular posts out on Wednesday. I've been able to stick with publishing something weekly, but the Wednesday deadline has slipped. I'm wondering what you would think about making it later in the week, like Friday for example. Between work and other things, I'm thinking this may be easier for me to stick to.
The real question is, when are you most likely to read? What day of the week is easiest for you to check out a blog such as this one on a regular basis? Get back to me, I'd like to know.
The real question is, when are you most likely to read? What day of the week is easiest for you to check out a blog such as this one on a regular basis? Get back to me, I'd like to know.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Fruit: Gentleness
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"By their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16a
This has probably been the most difficult post to write so far in this series. Gentleness seems like it would be a pretty straightforward topic, right? I don't think it would take a lot of convincing to get you to agree that gentleness has its place, just like all the other fruit of the Spirit. We need gentleness in our dealings with other people so that when we recognize their fragility, we don't crush them. We need it so that we can blunt the hard, sharp edges of our personalities and not live constantly in conflict with those around us.
So what's the difficulty? Well, how do you apply that concept to gamers? Certainly we gamers need to express gentleness with the people we interact with, but within a game, the entire point is most often intentional conflict with others. It's obvious when you're playing the latest shooter, with the goal being to dominate your fellow gamers. And in racing games, where you're trying to out-perform the guy in the next car. But even in a game like Tetris, the player is in conflict with the clock, trying to clear as many lines as possible as quickly as possible. With this in mind, are there any games that don't have conflict on some level as the central activity?
Co-operative games - or modes within games - seem to be the most natural fit for gentleness. Players united against a dungeon boss in an MMO, or working together to solve a puzzle in Portal 2, or trying to survive in a round of Firefight are not in conflict with one another. But there is still the conflict against the game. The boss, the puzzle, the wave after wave of enemies. Gamers are still in conflict with these elements, even while working together to overcome them. And I don't know about you, but I can't easily be all sweetness and light with my friends while simultaneously trying to destroy a computer-controlled opponent bent on our destruction.
This is where Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 comes in, I think. You'll probably be more familiar with the shortened version (which is really just verse 1), "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens".
So maybe I won't be known for the fruit of gentleness in the heat of battle, but there are times - maybe when you're sitting in a game lobby, waiting for things to start, or after things have ended and you're looking at stats - when we can be gentle with our fellow gamers. We can take it easy on them if they did poorly, rather than berate them. We can gently encourage each other to greater success, rather than harshly threaten.
How can you express gentleness with other gamers? Do you think you can do it all the time? Do you have any stories to share about gentleness?
"By their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16a
This has probably been the most difficult post to write so far in this series. Gentleness seems like it would be a pretty straightforward topic, right? I don't think it would take a lot of convincing to get you to agree that gentleness has its place, just like all the other fruit of the Spirit. We need gentleness in our dealings with other people so that when we recognize their fragility, we don't crush them. We need it so that we can blunt the hard, sharp edges of our personalities and not live constantly in conflict with those around us.
So what's the difficulty? Well, how do you apply that concept to gamers? Certainly we gamers need to express gentleness with the people we interact with, but within a game, the entire point is most often intentional conflict with others. It's obvious when you're playing the latest shooter, with the goal being to dominate your fellow gamers. And in racing games, where you're trying to out-perform the guy in the next car. But even in a game like Tetris, the player is in conflict with the clock, trying to clear as many lines as possible as quickly as possible. With this in mind, are there any games that don't have conflict on some level as the central activity?
Co-operative games - or modes within games - seem to be the most natural fit for gentleness. Players united against a dungeon boss in an MMO, or working together to solve a puzzle in Portal 2, or trying to survive in a round of Firefight are not in conflict with one another. But there is still the conflict against the game. The boss, the puzzle, the wave after wave of enemies. Gamers are still in conflict with these elements, even while working together to overcome them. And I don't know about you, but I can't easily be all sweetness and light with my friends while simultaneously trying to destroy a computer-controlled opponent bent on our destruction.
This is where Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 comes in, I think. You'll probably be more familiar with the shortened version (which is really just verse 1), "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens".
So maybe I won't be known for the fruit of gentleness in the heat of battle, but there are times - maybe when you're sitting in a game lobby, waiting for things to start, or after things have ended and you're looking at stats - when we can be gentle with our fellow gamers. We can take it easy on them if they did poorly, rather than berate them. We can gently encourage each other to greater success, rather than harshly threaten.
How can you express gentleness with other gamers? Do you think you can do it all the time? Do you have any stories to share about gentleness?
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Fruit: Joy
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"By their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16a
I should have put up a notice of some kind, but between being sick and busy at the same time, I didn't get around to it. So, sorry for the unannounced two-week break. I'm back, and ready to continue the series on the Fruit of the Spirit.
Joy is one of the harder concepts on this list - not because it's something so foreign to us, but because there are so many misconceptions about it. So let's clarify things a little to figure out what exactly joy is.
Joy is not based on an emotion. It is not dependent on your circumstances. James tells us to consider it joy when we face trials. Phillipians tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. It seems a bit counter intuitive, based on our own understanding of what joy is, but there we have it: joy is a choice, just like every other fruit of the Spirit.
Joy is not about being happy, even. It's an outlook on life that says, "No matter my circumstances, no matter how I feel, I'm going to find the good in things and be joyful about it." Which is, I know, a terrible thing to do, using a word in its own definition. So here's another one, made up off the top of my head: Joy is the intentional, ever-present attitude of gladness that revels in life and thanks God for it all.
What does that look like in relation to gaming culture? That's a very good question. Maybe it's marveling at the artistic talent the artists display in rendering your favorite game world, maybe it's found in the time you spend with other gamers, encouraging one another to be glad for things the way they are. The very fact that we live in a time and circumstance where we can take part in such a hobby as video games is certainly something to be joyful about, but you can also just as easily be joyful that you are simply alive at all.
Take a look around you with the intention to be joyful. I bet you'll find a lot more than you think.
"By their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16a
I should have put up a notice of some kind, but between being sick and busy at the same time, I didn't get around to it. So, sorry for the unannounced two-week break. I'm back, and ready to continue the series on the Fruit of the Spirit.
Joy is one of the harder concepts on this list - not because it's something so foreign to us, but because there are so many misconceptions about it. So let's clarify things a little to figure out what exactly joy is.
Joy is not based on an emotion. It is not dependent on your circumstances. James tells us to consider it joy when we face trials. Phillipians tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. It seems a bit counter intuitive, based on our own understanding of what joy is, but there we have it: joy is a choice, just like every other fruit of the Spirit.
Joy is not about being happy, even. It's an outlook on life that says, "No matter my circumstances, no matter how I feel, I'm going to find the good in things and be joyful about it." Which is, I know, a terrible thing to do, using a word in its own definition. So here's another one, made up off the top of my head: Joy is the intentional, ever-present attitude of gladness that revels in life and thanks God for it all.
What does that look like in relation to gaming culture? That's a very good question. Maybe it's marveling at the artistic talent the artists display in rendering your favorite game world, maybe it's found in the time you spend with other gamers, encouraging one another to be glad for things the way they are. The very fact that we live in a time and circumstance where we can take part in such a hobby as video games is certainly something to be joyful about, but you can also just as easily be joyful that you are simply alive at all.
Take a look around you with the intention to be joyful. I bet you'll find a lot more than you think.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Fruit: Patience
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"By their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16a
There's a song that you kids who went to Sunday school probably learned that essentially recites the fruits of the Spirit. It's a mnemonic device designed to help you remember the things that, as a Christian, we are supposed to be producing in ourselves. I've touched on some of these before, but not in such a direct way. I feel like this is a good time for a series though, and a good time to remind ourselves what we need to be producing. I'm not going to be doing these in order, because that would be too predictable. And because I haven't thought too much about the other posts yet.
Two recent events have reminded me just how valuable patience is, and for different reasons. It's easy to forget because in our society today we're conditioned to be aggressive, grabbing what we want as quickly as we can. Gamers are conditioned in the same way, with many challenges being about solving a puzzle in a limited amount of time, or shooting before the other guy does. There are fights in World of Warcraft that are all about being faster than the boss, and fighting games in general have such a fast pace that in order to compete you have to have lightning reflexes. Speed runs are seen as a demonstration of skill. It seems like everything is based around being the fastest.
That doesn't always work though. For example, when dealing with an ingrown fingernail recently I went to town, trying to aggressively take care of it. My thought process was, "Get this over and done with as quickly as possible, then move on." I didn't do myself any favors by rushing, however. I went to see the doctor yesterday and discovered that, had I simply been patient and a bit more careful, the pain and damage I inflicted upon my finger could likely have been avoided. A little patience would have won the day.
The saying, "Good things come to those who wait" is one that's pretty universally recognized, right? Even if we don't have a choice in the waiting, our attitude and perspective about it can make a world of difference.
Star Wars: The Old Republic was officially announced October 21st, 2008 - over three years ago. I've been looking forward to this game since then. To be honest, the excitement has been ramping up over the last few days as players are beginning to get early access to the game. While everyone who's been looking forward to this game has been forced to be patient, waiting on Bioware to release it, not everyone's waited in the same way. Some fans have been anxiously devouring every rumor and whisper about the game, throwing the full force of their emotions into it. People have gotten upset because they had to wait, or took a look at the leaked materials because they just couldn't wait. Their impatience has potentially ruined the game for them. I'm not one of those people. While I might enjoy learning some more about the game pre-launch, and enjoyed playing the beta for a little while, I'm content to wait until it's released. I have early access, but I haven't played yet because I want to take my time, not rush through it. I'm going to enjoy the game at my own pace.
Patience is quickly becoming a thing of the past, sadly. One of the most notable pieces of evidence could easily be Black Friday, where people are in such a rush to be first in getting a deal that other people suffered for it. Here's a list of the tragic things that have happened due to a lack of patience.
How can we cultivate a lifestyle of patience? What do we need to change in our lives in order to produce this fruit of the Spirit?
There's an old joke that says, "Don't pray for patience. God will make you wait." It's funny, but it's true. The more we are forced to wait - for a game, for a deal, for a spouse, whatever - the more experience we will have with being patient. The more you wait, the more you can accept waiting. Just remember that your attitude in the process of waiting is key. Don't be like the Walmart shoppers who waited in line, only to go berserk and trample someone to death once the waiting was over.
Now, I'm not suggesting that we simply wait forever for something. Patience can often be used as an excuse to cover up fear. "I'm just waiting for the right One from God." Is that legitimate patience waiting for a spouse, or is it fear of being rejected? "I'm waiting until the economy improves." Is that wisdom, waiting for a more financially stable period to pursue a new career, or is it fear of failure? There are two words in ancient Greek that were used to describe time. Chronos is what we most often think of, referring to sequential time. This moment, then the next, and the next, and so on. Kairos is the one we don't often hear, but is possibly more relevant to our lives. Kairos refers to the right or opportune moment. Don't let God's kairos pass you by because you think you are being patient.
What does patience look like in the games we play? Considering that games are most often built around accomplishing something quickly, that's tough to say. Maybe it means waiting to figure out the mechanics of a boss fight before sending your character in. Maybe it means holding off on that sniper shot for another few seconds. Just remember that, as in real life, you can't wait forever or nothing will get done.
What do you think of patience? Are you a patient person? If not, can you be? What does that look like? Share a story of being patient below.
"By their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16a
There's a song that you kids who went to Sunday school probably learned that essentially recites the fruits of the Spirit. It's a mnemonic device designed to help you remember the things that, as a Christian, we are supposed to be producing in ourselves. I've touched on some of these before, but not in such a direct way. I feel like this is a good time for a series though, and a good time to remind ourselves what we need to be producing. I'm not going to be doing these in order, because that would be too predictable. And because I haven't thought too much about the other posts yet.
Two recent events have reminded me just how valuable patience is, and for different reasons. It's easy to forget because in our society today we're conditioned to be aggressive, grabbing what we want as quickly as we can. Gamers are conditioned in the same way, with many challenges being about solving a puzzle in a limited amount of time, or shooting before the other guy does. There are fights in World of Warcraft that are all about being faster than the boss, and fighting games in general have such a fast pace that in order to compete you have to have lightning reflexes. Speed runs are seen as a demonstration of skill. It seems like everything is based around being the fastest.
 |
| They've made a whole series of mediocre movies built around being fast. |
The saying, "Good things come to those who wait" is one that's pretty universally recognized, right? Even if we don't have a choice in the waiting, our attitude and perspective about it can make a world of difference.
Star Wars: The Old Republic was officially announced October 21st, 2008 - over three years ago. I've been looking forward to this game since then. To be honest, the excitement has been ramping up over the last few days as players are beginning to get early access to the game. While everyone who's been looking forward to this game has been forced to be patient, waiting on Bioware to release it, not everyone's waited in the same way. Some fans have been anxiously devouring every rumor and whisper about the game, throwing the full force of their emotions into it. People have gotten upset because they had to wait, or took a look at the leaked materials because they just couldn't wait. Their impatience has potentially ruined the game for them. I'm not one of those people. While I might enjoy learning some more about the game pre-launch, and enjoyed playing the beta for a little while, I'm content to wait until it's released. I have early access, but I haven't played yet because I want to take my time, not rush through it. I'm going to enjoy the game at my own pace.
Patience is quickly becoming a thing of the past, sadly. One of the most notable pieces of evidence could easily be Black Friday, where people are in such a rush to be first in getting a deal that other people suffered for it. Here's a list of the tragic things that have happened due to a lack of patience.
How can we cultivate a lifestyle of patience? What do we need to change in our lives in order to produce this fruit of the Spirit?
There's an old joke that says, "Don't pray for patience. God will make you wait." It's funny, but it's true. The more we are forced to wait - for a game, for a deal, for a spouse, whatever - the more experience we will have with being patient. The more you wait, the more you can accept waiting. Just remember that your attitude in the process of waiting is key. Don't be like the Walmart shoppers who waited in line, only to go berserk and trample someone to death once the waiting was over.
Now, I'm not suggesting that we simply wait forever for something. Patience can often be used as an excuse to cover up fear. "I'm just waiting for the right One from God." Is that legitimate patience waiting for a spouse, or is it fear of being rejected? "I'm waiting until the economy improves." Is that wisdom, waiting for a more financially stable period to pursue a new career, or is it fear of failure? There are two words in ancient Greek that were used to describe time. Chronos is what we most often think of, referring to sequential time. This moment, then the next, and the next, and so on. Kairos is the one we don't often hear, but is possibly more relevant to our lives. Kairos refers to the right or opportune moment. Don't let God's kairos pass you by because you think you are being patient.
What does patience look like in the games we play? Considering that games are most often built around accomplishing something quickly, that's tough to say. Maybe it means waiting to figure out the mechanics of a boss fight before sending your character in. Maybe it means holding off on that sniper shot for another few seconds. Just remember that, as in real life, you can't wait forever or nothing will get done.
What do you think of patience? Are you a patient person? If not, can you be? What does that look like? Share a story of being patient below.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Do Games Effect Your Reality?
I don't think it'd be news to anyone here that every game has a worldview. Almost two years ago, Soma posted a blog about it. It's an interesting read, and I suggest you go check it out. My question today, quite helpfully provided by my brother, is do video games effect your worldview?
Many games, in an effort to avoid controversy, will not directly address the worldview they provide. The worldview is communicated through gameplay alone. For example, the worldview presented in Call of Duty is that violence is an acceptable response to violence - perhaps even the only response, as the player dies if they don't kill the other guy first. Roleplaying games tend to be more open-ended in how they allow players to interact with the game world, but developers still want to provide a specific experience, and so some things are hard-coded in. Demons spawned from another realm in Oblivion, for example, will always try to kill you. The player may be able to sneak by them, or avoid violence and flee altogether, but the existence of a hostile, evil force presents the worldview that there are truly bad things in the world; that not everything is relative, as some modern philosophers would have you believe.
The Christian worldview is - generally - that good and evil exist, and they are at odds with one another. God is good, the sins of this world (and Satan) are evil. We are separated from God by the sin that is in the world, but Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to bridge the gap between us, and allow us to have relationship with God if we will believe in Him. There are a lot of other details that cloud things up, with different denominations claiming different things, but that's the core of it.
How do video games effect that perception of reality? More specifically, how do the worldviews found in the various games you play effect it? There are things that are going to be incompatible by their very nature. For example, Assassin's Creed posits that God doesn't exist, and that the miracles performed in the Bible are the result of advanced technology. Clearly that doesn't fit. Then there are games like Diablo which - actually re-enforcing some of the Christian worldview - pits Heaven and Hell at war with one another.
There are three things that we should bear in mind as Christians that will, I think, help us not to become overwhelmed and confused by the many different worldviews we are exposed to as gamers.
First, and most importantly, we need to know what we believe and why. The Bible needs to be our source on this, not the latest popular Christian book or what some pastor somewhere said. Not that those can't be informational and valuable resources, but if it's not backed up by Scripture, it's worthless.
Second, we need to be aware of what we're taking in. This applies not only to games, but any kind of media; books, movies, and television can all have a worldview that is contradictory to our Christian faith. If we're aware of it, we can better prevent it from leading us astray. Don't forget Paul's advice in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to "take captive every thought".
Third, we need to make sure we're spending time in the Word to continually build up our faith. Don't just take it for granted: even the strongest foundation can be ruined if not maintained over time. Spend time with your Christian brothers and sisters, encouraging one another to a stronger and deeper faith. Be iron sharpening iron.
It's okay to pull things from game worlds or other world views, and to adapt and change your worldview as time goes on and you mature in your faith. That's natural. Just don't blindly fumble about, accepting everything you see as truth because it sounds smart or right. Check it out against Scripture before claiming it as your own.
Do video games effect your world view? Is that for better, or worse? What do you do to control that?
Many games, in an effort to avoid controversy, will not directly address the worldview they provide. The worldview is communicated through gameplay alone. For example, the worldview presented in Call of Duty is that violence is an acceptable response to violence - perhaps even the only response, as the player dies if they don't kill the other guy first. Roleplaying games tend to be more open-ended in how they allow players to interact with the game world, but developers still want to provide a specific experience, and so some things are hard-coded in. Demons spawned from another realm in Oblivion, for example, will always try to kill you. The player may be able to sneak by them, or avoid violence and flee altogether, but the existence of a hostile, evil force presents the worldview that there are truly bad things in the world; that not everything is relative, as some modern philosophers would have you believe.
The Christian worldview is - generally - that good and evil exist, and they are at odds with one another. God is good, the sins of this world (and Satan) are evil. We are separated from God by the sin that is in the world, but Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to bridge the gap between us, and allow us to have relationship with God if we will believe in Him. There are a lot of other details that cloud things up, with different denominations claiming different things, but that's the core of it.
How do video games effect that perception of reality? More specifically, how do the worldviews found in the various games you play effect it? There are things that are going to be incompatible by their very nature. For example, Assassin's Creed posits that God doesn't exist, and that the miracles performed in the Bible are the result of advanced technology. Clearly that doesn't fit. Then there are games like Diablo which - actually re-enforcing some of the Christian worldview - pits Heaven and Hell at war with one another.
 |
| Don't take this as the Gospel though. |
First, and most importantly, we need to know what we believe and why. The Bible needs to be our source on this, not the latest popular Christian book or what some pastor somewhere said. Not that those can't be informational and valuable resources, but if it's not backed up by Scripture, it's worthless.
Second, we need to be aware of what we're taking in. This applies not only to games, but any kind of media; books, movies, and television can all have a worldview that is contradictory to our Christian faith. If we're aware of it, we can better prevent it from leading us astray. Don't forget Paul's advice in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to "take captive every thought".
Third, we need to make sure we're spending time in the Word to continually build up our faith. Don't just take it for granted: even the strongest foundation can be ruined if not maintained over time. Spend time with your Christian brothers and sisters, encouraging one another to a stronger and deeper faith. Be iron sharpening iron.
It's okay to pull things from game worlds or other world views, and to adapt and change your worldview as time goes on and you mature in your faith. That's natural. Just don't blindly fumble about, accepting everything you see as truth because it sounds smart or right. Check it out against Scripture before claiming it as your own.
Do video games effect your world view? Is that for better, or worse? What do you do to control that?
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