Hi, this is Dustin with Hope Through Prophecy.
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Are video games just harmless fun, or has our nation lost it’s mind?
In response to recent tragic mass shootings, President Trump has identified video games
as a contributing factor.
Is the president over-reacting?
Are video games really that big of a deal?
Should Christians play video games?
Before we answer these questions, let us consider some key principles.
The mind is the center of moral decision making.
The mind is the headquarters of our entire life.
It is with the mind that we choose to follow or reject God, and our mind is responsible
for all of our life decisions.
Therefore, it is absolutely essential that we protect and nurture our mind at all costs.
The mind controls the whole person.
Our entire body, and all the activities it does – good or evil - are controlled by
the mind.
To gain control of the mind is to gain control of the whole person.
The mind of youth is under attack.
A multitude of influences are competing for the mind of young people today.
Worldly powers realize that the mind is the seat of one’s decision making and actions.
Therefore, We must critically analyze popular activities and their effect on the mind.
We would be foolish to assume that the mass media, and other worldly entities, have the
best interest of our youth at heart.
We should also realize that just because everyone else is doing it, does not make it safe.
The Bible tells us that the path to life is narrow, and few there be that find it.
We must be critical consumers, and test all of our activities by the principles of God’s
Word.
There’s no doubt that gaming is widespread in today’s society.
I’m at the mall right now, in Texas, close to where I live.
I notice that they have these video games right in the center isle of the mall - just
open for kids, for anyone, to jump on an play.
This particular game is called Halo.
For those of you who are familiar with Halo, it’s a very violent game, a very popular
game.
But you’ll notice that this game is just open – open for children, anyone to just
sit down.
This has really become prevalent – these violent video games just being a major part
of our culture.
So, we must understand the effects of gaming on the mind.
What does the research say about how video games affect the brain?
Dr. Vincent Matthew, along with his Indiana University colleagues, conducted research
showing that youth who played violent video games had several observable characteristics.
One was reduced concentration and attention.
This is a great concern for young people, who need to have strong attention and concentration
to succeed in school and to learn and understand the Bible.
The study also showed that these youth had decreased emotional involvement.
This can directly affect how young people relate to their parents and to others.
God created us to be emotional beings, and to relate to each other in a warm and loving
way.
We should avoid anything that would harm our ability to do this.
As a school teacher for 9 years, I can testify that all of these characteristics were clearly
observable in many of my students.
Dr. Matthew also observed that children who played violent video games had less inhibition
of impulses.
As Christians, we are striving to control our impulses, with God’s help, so that we
can be in harmony with His requirements.
It is simply not wise to allow activities in our lives that would weaken our self-control.
Consider this eye-opening video clip, that shows how video games are used to train soldiers.
Now, do I believe that video games our fully to blame for the violence in today’s society,
or that anyone who plays video games will commit crimes?
Of course not – there are many complex factors that lead to this.
But the research shows a clear correlation between violent gaming and undesirable thought
patterns
and behavior.
The American Psychiatric Association provides us with additional insights into the affects
of gaming.
They reveal that gaming can even lead to addiction, and that certain gamers who had their video
games taken away experienced some of the same withdrawal symptoms as drug addicts.
I imagine there are parents watching who can attest to this fact.
Dr. Dunckley’s research showed that gaming Overstimulates and damages the frontal lobe
of brain.
This happens because the brain identifies what it perceives to be dangerous situations
in these video games, and activates the body’s fight or flight systems.
What then happens is blood is drawn away from the frontal lobe toward the lower areas of
the brain that are needed for survival.
This damage to the frontal lobe is especially critical for Christians, because the frontal
lobe is the part of the brain where we make our moral decisions.
Damage to this area can potentially lead to us separating from God and missing out on
eternity.
In addition, video games have the affect of distancing us from reality.
They take us to a fantasy world, and weaken our desire to study the Bible and to deal
with the realities of life.
So, what does the Bible say about video games?
Does it give us principles and guidelines that are relevant to this topic?
We read in Philippians 4:8 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.
Friends, this is the standard, the litmus test that we should apply to all of our activities.
Unfortunately, the majority of video games do not pass this Bible test.
A great number of video games are filled with violence, sex, or other harmful content, and
are thus in direct violation of this principle.
David says I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes…
David makes a covenant with God that he will not allow his mind to be defiled by willfully
observing sin.
We must do the same friends.
We must guard the avenues of our soul, which includes our mind, so that we don’t sin
against God.
Again, as we consider the majority of video games, which contain numerous sinful scenes,
we see they are in direct conflict with the Bible’s teachings.
Jesus tells us that The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single,
thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full
of darkness.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full
of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
This verse reveals to us that what we take into our mind changes us.
If we allow good and wholesome things into our mind, it will help us to live a wholesome
life, and if we allow evil into our minds, it will influence us to live a wicked life.
The Bible tells us that The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked
and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
God is not pleased with those who love violence.
Many of the video games that our youth participate in promote a love for violence.
We should learn to hate the things that God hates, including violence.
Scripture also reveals that As every man hath received the gift, even
so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
This verse reveals that we are stewards of the gifts that God has given to us, and we
are to use those gifts to minister to others.
A common problem with video games is the great amount of time they often take up.
We are responsible to God for the gifts He has given to us, and we will be held accountable
for how we use the precious time He has entrusted to us in this short life.
Growing up, the early part of my own childhood involved hours of being outside playing sports
with my friends in the neighborhood, and my father.
However, a change happened when video games began to get more and more popular.
I began to spend countless hours entrenched in these games.
When I moved into my first apartment, I realized that video games would cause me to waste time,
and to miss out on many of the goals I wanted to accomplish, and the plan that God has for
my life.
So, I made the decision not to have a video game system in my home, and I am thankful
that I have maintained this decision ever since.
So, what is the conclusion?
Should Christians play video games?
I believe, based on the principles from the Bible and the abundance of modern research,
that video games should be avoided.
This would be the safest course for the Christian to take.
However, there may me some rare situations where Christians can play a video game, and
maintain a clear conscious.
Perhaps if the game does not violate Christian principles, and you limit your time on that
game, it could be acceptable.
But again, I believe that, generally speaking, it is best to avoid video games altogether.
It is better to not have gaming consoles in our homes that could cause us to sin by wasting
time or defiling our mind.
The Bible tells us But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
The things that we must absolutely avoid include: Violent video games
Games with sexual content Games with new age or occult content
Games with vulgar language Spending excessive time on games and
Spending excessive money on games Maybe you are convicted by God to give up
video games.
It is very important to replace all that spare time with something wholesome.
I encourage you to spend more time in prayer, reading your Bible, and being involved with
church activities, such as Bible studies and helping others.
This next verse gives us a powerful principle that relates to our choice of activities:
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Friend, if it is your desire to put God first in all areas of your life, including your
activities and thoughts, just write in the comment section below:
Lord, I put you first in my life.
Praise God for your commitment!
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will help you to stand strong in these last days.
And remember friends, keep your eyes on Jesus, the author, and finisher, of our faith!