VIDEO GAMES

Beads of sweat form on your brow as you grip the gun. Your heart is beating out of your chest as you creep through this virtual world. You are in control. Law—what law? Go ahead, steal a car, shoot innocent bystanders…

Crouching on a rooftop, you patiently wait, not making a move. Suddenly, there is movement—the enemy. He comes into the crosshairs of your rifle’s scope. You pull the trigger, his neck explodes and blood splatters on the street…

As the general of your army, you are the commander—the conqueror! Tremendous power lies at your fingertips. At your command, tanks will enter a city, killing whatever, and whoever, is in sight. Commandos will stealthily sneak in and blow something—or somebody—to pieces. The enemy doesn’t stand a chance…

Real?—Almost. “Thrilling”? “Heart throbbing”? “Captivating”? “Addictive”?—YES!

The video game industry is exploding. People of all ages are enjoying them, whether on a computer, game console, or the Internet.

Everyone is talking about them. Notice these recent headlines: “Top Activity for National Goof-Off Day: Playing Video Games!”, “Video games, not TV responsible for obesity in kids…”, “Video Games Approved For Teens Often Contain Sex And Violence, Study Concludes,” “Violent video games are training children to kill,” “Are video games breeding killers?”, “Video games ‘increase aggression,’” “Electronic Nightmares: Sex and Violence Invade Your Game Console,” “Child’s Play? – Grand Theft Auto III Provides Video Gamers With a Virtual World of Extreme Violence,” “Boy grabs knife after dad unplugs video game.”

Video games—a teenager’s paradise. Or are they?

Why is society so wrapped up in them? What do studies and research show? Why are people so enthralled by them, spending countless hours in front of a screen?

Most importantly, what is God’s perspective on this form of “entertainment”?

Rampant in Society

As mentioned, the video game industry is booming. Recent statistics show that annual video game sales in the U.S., including hardware, software and accessories, are $10 billion dollars! It has been said that enough video games are sold every year to put at least two in every household. Over 90% of U.S. children play video games.

Then there is the Internet, which is revolutionizing the “gaming” experience. Online gaming is bringing video games to a new level, one in which the game is played entirely on the Web. Today, Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) are the “in” thing. People of all ages enter a virtual world in which their characters go on quests, build experience and strength, gain material goods, etc. It’s a life teens can enter, and do whatever they want—and with today’s technology, it seems and feels very real.

You can even take this virtual character that you have created and sell it on the Internet for hundreds of real dollars, or sell equipment that you have acquired while playing the game. Many who get involved in these games play all day, every day. One person commented on how he became addicted to it, playing it all the time except when he was working. Before he knew it, a few months had passed. He realized what his life was becoming and had enough self-control to stop. However, unlike this person, many do not notice how addicted they are, often playing “24/7” for a whole year!

Describing these virtual worlds, one article mentioned that these “games…allow players who loved the first game/movie to continue their adventure by participating with other people from around the globe. Much like a parallel dimension, massively multiplayer online role-playing games are 3-D worlds where anything is possible” (Anchorage Daily News).

As technology advances, the games people play become even more realistic. People love reality television. Why? Because they are able to vicariously live through real people and real-life incidents. And so it is with video games today. Youth are able to leave their world behind and enter a whole different “real” world!

Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan had this to say: “I recently learned something quite interesting about video games. Many young people have developed incredible hand, eye and brain coordination in playing these games. The Air Force believes these kids will be our outstanding pilots should they fly our jets.”

Many military organizations use video-game-like simulations. Yet the implications of Mr. Reagan’s statement are serious. Not only are children learning how to fly, they are learning how to kill. One young person, who had never shot a gun in his life, was able to shoot moving targets the first time he ever held a real gun. Why? Because he was very good at the “shoot-‘em-up” video games.

One review describes a very popular game in the following way: “The premise and plot are fleshed out to a fully realized story line against the backdrop of a 3D world that literally lives and breathes around you” (emphasis ours).

Regarding the lawlessness and violence encouraged in this game, the same reviewer goes on to write, “...if you want to get anything done in the game, you are going to have to get your hands dirty, inflict some pain, or stop a vehicle, yank out the driver, and take off before the police catch you.”

One teenager said, “It is as close as you can get to killing someone without being arrested or really killing someone” (ABC News). The same article goes on to state that a 13-year-old “says the games do provide a release. ‘When I get mad I just play these and get all my angry thoughts out of my head,’ [boy] says. But these boys also admit that the line between fantasy and reality is not always clear. ‘My palms get sweaty and I get like nervous if I’m about to do something hard in the video game...I get an adrenaline rush,’ [boy] acknowledges.”

The Effects

This addiction leads to many problems. For one, it plays an enormous role in the obesity plaguing youth today. Young people are spending ever-increasing time playing video games and are, as a result, becoming overweight, causing many other health problems.

Teen violence is another grave effect of video games. The game review cited earlier also states, “The game will let you attack anyone if you get close enough to them, using your fists, blunt instruments, or an array of firearms (including an Uzi that can be used while driving). But to really get the full effect of the game’s seemingly endless possibilities, you can cause some mayhem of your own, indulge in many of the game’s side missions, or just go on a virtual crime spree.”

Astonishing!

Is it any surprise that studies show that violent games are increasing aggressive behavior? In fact, because these games are interactive, engaging the player, many believe that they may be more harmful than violent movies or television.

As one military psychologist has said, “...just as the army is conditioning people to kill, we are indiscriminately doing the same thing to our children, but without the safeguards.”

“Yet what about the ratings?” many may ask. “Aren’t they there to protect teenagers from experiencing these types of video games?” There are ratings in place, but they are not enforced!

Further, the ratings often inaccurately explain and describe the amount of violence, sex, etc., found within a game. Researchers have discovered that many video games considered suitable for teenagers are simply not suitable for them.

Many games rated “Mature” (deemed appropriate for children 17 and older) include actions far too graphic for Ambassador Youth to describe: “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret” (Eph. 5:12). Yet a teenager of any age can buy this type of game because the ratings are for informational purposes only—and are not enforced.

What is behind this thrill—this hunger—for video games? Is it just a harmless form of entertainment? Or is something far more basic driving this growing trend?

Human Nature

The apostle Paul told the Romans, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God...there is none that does good, no, not one...Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:10-18).

Ignorant of this scripture, many wonder why there are so many wars and murders. And the question could be asked: Why do teenagers enjoy these violent games?

The Bible asks and answers a similar question. Notice: “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts” (Jms. 4:1-3).

Human nature is violent. And what better way to fuel the fire than to be violent with seemingly-real video games?

Without God’s Holy Spirit, teenagers easily fall into the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). Video games simply magnify many of these works, conditioning youth to think that this is normal and acceptable. Teenagers in God’s Church must do everything in their power to avoid those things that fuel their carnality—which include almost every video game on the market today.

When Jesus Christ delivered the Sermon on the Mount, He magnified the Law, amplifying the Ten Commandments. (Take time to read Matthew 5:21-48.) For example, the Sixth Commandment states, “Thou shalt not kill” (Deut. 5:19), but Christ said that even one who “is angry with his brother without a cause” is guilty of breaking this commandment.

In a similar way, being violent or promiscuous, or engaging in any other wrong form of behavior through a video game is breaking God’s Law. Most video games are full of wrong attitudes, violent acts and sexual perversions and, therefore, from God’s perspective, they are not “just a game.” Rather, they are sinful, and should never be played—especially by youth who are set apart from the world as ambassadors for God’s way of life.

Are All Video Games Bad?

Does this mean that every video game is bad? The themes of most popular games go against God’s Way on many different levels, but do all of them?

Some games are educational. As computers become more popular, programmers are finding more creative ways to teach. There are games that can increase your intelligence and expand your mind. There are also some games that are not specifically educational but may be found to be entertaining, without any sex, violence or other wrong behavior. With parental permission, these games can be played.

Before you play a game, ask yourself if there is anything blatantly—or subtly—wrong with it. Be aware that your carnal nature will cause you to think a game is “not that bad,” when, in fact, it is! In other words, you will easily be able to deceive yourself (Jer. 17:9). If you feel even slightly uncomfortable with a game, do not play it.

While playing an educational or entertaining game is fine to do on rare occasions, you must be sure that it does not become your life—you must remain balanced. The teen who wants to please God must strive to be “temperate [margin: moderate] in all things” (1 Cor. 9:25). While playing a game for a couple of hours a week may be an opportunity to educate and entertain yourself, playing it for hours on end every night is unbalanced.

Many video games are simply deplorable. Some may be fine to play. You must always frame this subject against the backdrop of David’s wisdom found in Psalm 101:2-3: “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way...I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”