After a long day at work or school, many have hobbies that they like to turn to in order to unwind and relax after their hard work. One of these methods of relaxation comes in the form of video games, which can be played on nearly any platform these days, from televisions to handheld consoles to even our cell phones.
But long gone are the days where all video games consisted of were a couple of white bars bouncing a tiny ball back and forth. Now, video games are so much more complex, with elaborate storylines, character designs, settings, and so much more. Not only that, but the genres all vary, too, and nowadays, browsing through the games aisle at your store of choice may not be too different than your DVD aisle. As such, the wide variety of games out there do present some risks, much like any form of media out there today. So, should we as Christians even mess with them?
How are we supposed to handle video games? If they’re risky, should we stay away from them completely? Of course not. There are many clean games out there; all it takes is a little research to find and discern which ones you feel are appropriate for your family and align with what you believe in and stand for. But beyond that, how else should we go about video games?
They need to be handled like any form of media out there.
At their core, video games are simply recreation. They’re a means for us to have fun, whether on our own or with family members. But they also need to be handled with care. In situations where we’re playing games with others, we need to maintain a Christlike attitude as we interact with both the game and those we are playing with. Therefore, we need to make sure we glorify God, even – and especially – as we play these games (1 Corinthians 10:31).
They need to be examined deeper.
But wait, Savannah, you’re saying to me, these are just games…why do we need to examine them deeper? We need to examine the games we play deeper because like any type of media, they can actually affect our minds as well as our hearts.
So, if we do need to take a closer look, how do we do so? We should first look at the game itself at its surface. What does it entail? Who are the characters? What is needed to win or beat the game? Then, ask the following questions: How do the characters act? What do they say? How do they treat the “good guys” as well as the “bad guys”? And – here’s the biggest one – is there an obvious rift between good and evil?
Moral ambiguity has become somewhat of a trend these days in modern media, and it feels rare to find something with concrete good and evil sides. While there are exceptions to this rule based on the genre of the game (for example, sports games), there is something to be said about standing by a character who stands for good, because at the end of the day, that’s exactly what we as Christians should be doing every single day in real life (Joshua 24:15). Even though we may not actually swing swords or fight monsters, we are standing for what we believe in (Ephesians 6:10-18). So, that being said, do we need to side with a hero who is selfish, arrogant, or hurts innocent people – intentionally or not? It’s definitely something to consider.
Finally, they shouldn’t get in the way of our relationship with God.
Like anything else in our lives, video games take up some amount of time. The key is managing that time; we shouldn’t spend every single moment of our spare time playing games when there’s so much we can be doing to serve and encourage those around us, whether in our own homes or beyond. In our busy schedules – and especially in our downtime – we need to make that time to have conversations with God and grow that relationship with Him. If we’re not, then we’re staying with just “milk”, not “solid food”, and we’re not progressing as we should (Hebrews 5:13-14).
But on a smaller scale, think about time management as far as God’s will for your life is concerned. As I’ve mentioned before, there’s nothing inherently wrong with actually playing video games. However, there comes a point where you need to take responsibility and follow the path God has set before you. From personal experience, I was disappointed in my college years when my girl friends and I were unable to get to know some of the guys our own age with the intent to see if they could be potential future spouses when all they would do is play video games in their dorm rooms and wind up staying extra years in school – or leave – due to their lack of responsibility in their studies. Now, there were some exceptions, but this definitely felt like the case when I was in college. That being said, please, please don’t let any kind of recreation – not just games – keep you from fully fulfilling God’s role for you in His will for your life.
So, all this being said, pay attention to how you play games, what those games entail, and how those games fit into your life. Pray for His help in discerning the latter, and make a point to spend time with Him first and foremost. At the end of the day, you’ll be glad you did.
By Savannah Cottrell
