Thursday, November 14, 2013

Demonic Video Games Influence

By Evangelist Stephen Piersall, God’s Preservation Ministry, sfprs.org/   

You can really relate to your own age when you can remember Intellivision, Atari 2600, Commodore computers, and 1981 when Donkey Kong hit the arcades. What in the world, did we do as kids before that? We played outside; Bike riding (had a Varoom motor, and streamers), Hula Hoops, Croquet, ball sports, Tonka toys, Tag, Hide & Seek, Kick the Can, Hop Scotch, tree climbing, etc. SIGH!!!
As kids, we went outside to play after doing your homework “first.” We relied on our imaginations and limitless energy to be active. Mom said, “You kids go outside and play!” We were gone until we heard our name to come home for supper then back outside again until the street lights came on. SIGH!!!

With regular visits with our grandchildren, we started to see a trend and nipped it in the bud real quick. They would start to argue as we approach our apartment on who gets the laptop, Kindle, and putting the TV on Disney or some dumb sponge with other weird-looking characters. We could have pizzas delivered every hour, and we could go away for the weekend and they would not know it. I am one of those “bad” grandfathers, when I take the two pugs out the kids come with me, and funny how I find it possible to find the long way around the neighborhood. Hey! We have to find time to get on our own electronic devices too LOL!

Keep in mind this blog is not just toward your children, but for you, adults too. After finances, the #2 items for arguments in marriages are the fact that at least one is now home from work rooted on the couch with energy drinks, wearing headphones talking to their friends they are playing video games with. It does not work at our house, as when yours truly am on the computer playing some music, or online training course, wife Karen’s voice is loud enough that I get the hint if I sit here too long. LOL

Video games can easily cause people of all ages to become fixated to the point of obsession. That and the content of many are the two primary dangers. Some say it is just the times we live in, but when you factor in the devil’s motives in finding ways to keep us away from God. The combining of culture and technology we see is making it easier for him to win his battles. No doubt, that much of the content in these games is diabolically disposed. That is certainly true for all other media like the Internet, movies, and TV.

Video games are highly interactive, and many are about killings, zombies, robbery, high-speed chases away from law enforcement, etc. The greater engaging the game, the further deeply we are drawn. We might understand this is just a game, and in the reality of life is meaningless. What about the many who do not recognize that fact? It can begin to affect our behavior, and it starts to control us, and becomes an addiction. Whatever in life comes our way where we waste away time, energy, focus, and emotions it dominates us and everything else, and dare say becomes “cult” like or very close to "worshiping." 

God gave us Free Will, and every Christian should know that life is full of trials and tribulations, and we are accountable for our choices in life. While we can agree, the content in some of these games is troubling; the obsessive behavior they are prone to generate is even more of a danger. If anything else besides Jesus Christ comes to have the top place in our life, in our hearts, that is where we run into trouble. Once we genuinely put Jesus Christ, first in our lives everything else that raises itself up against the truth of the Word of God, and our spiritual growth increases, evil is defeated. These choices have to come from inside, and those who take that road all the way to the end are few (Matt.7:14). However, if we are only willing to have just a little faith, small as a grain of sand or a mustard seed, our merciful God will be there to help us with every forward step we choose to take. 
Researchers have been able to link tempestuous criminals and bloodthirsty video games, which in turn these studies have shown that those young people to get into trouble at school and likely to bully other students are also most likely to play even more violent video games.

We always need to be careful what we are letting into our brains, and need to be especially wary when participating in activities that cause us to act contrary to God's principles. God has saved us and called us to a holy life (2 Timothy 1:9). Let us; therefore, out of love for God and gratefulness for Christ's saving work, follow the wise words of Paul:

 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

1 comment:

Jennifer Auld said...

Great article. Well said. The level of violence in some of these games is shocking