Many believers wonder can Christians play video games? It depends. There are no Bible verses that say we can’t play video games. Of course the Bible was written way before gaming systems, but it still leaves us with biblical principles to follow. Before we start, in my honest opinion we play way too much video games. Video games take people’s lives.
I’ve heard numerous stories of people who play all day, rather than getting a job and working hard.
We need more biblical men in Christianity. We need more men that will go out, preach the gospel, save lives, and die to self.
We need more manly young men who will stop wasting their life and do the things that older Christians can’t do.
Quote
“Most men, indeed, play at religion as they play at games. Religion itself being of all games the one most universally played.” – A. W. Tozer
If the game is filled with cursing, lasciviousness, etc. we should not play it. The most popular games are so sinful and filled with all types of evil. Will playing games like Grand Theft Auto bring you closer to God? Of course not. Many of the games you probably love to play God hates. The devil has to reach people somehow and sometimes it’s through video games.
Luke 11:34-36 “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light. But when it’s evil, your body is full of darkness. Therefore, be careful that the light in you isn’t darkness. Now if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 “but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.”
Psalm 97:10 “Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”
1 Peter 5:8 “Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
Will video games become an idol and an addiction in your life? When I was younger before I was saved my god was video games. I would come home from school and start playing Madden, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, etc. I would come home from church and start playing all day. It was my god and I was addicted to it just like many Americans today. Many people camp all night for the new release of PS4′s, Xbox’s, etc. But they would never do that for God. Many people especially our kids are not exercising because all they do is spend 10 or more hours a day playing video games. Don’t deceive yourself, it does take you away from your relationship with God and it takes away from His glory.
1 Corinthians 6:12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything.”
Exodus 20:3 “Do not have other gods besides Me.”
Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”
Does it cause you to stumble? The things you watch and participate in does influence you. You might say when I play a violent game it doesn’t affect me. You might not see it, but who says it isn’t affecting you? You might not act it out in the same way, but it can lead to thinking sinful thoughts, bad dreams, corruptness of speech when you become angry, etc. It will always affect you in some way.
Proverbs 6:27 “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?”
Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.”
Is your conscience telling you that the game you’re interested in playing is wrong?
Romans 14:23 “But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”
In the end times.
2 Timothy 3:4 “They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.”
Reminder
2 Corinthians 6:14 “Stop becoming unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness?”
Advice from Scripture.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—keep thinking about these things.”
Colossians 3:2 “Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.”
Ephesians 5:15-16 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
In conclusion do I believe that playing video games with your friends is wrong? No, but we have to use discernment. We must pray to the Lord for wisdom and listen to His response, not our own response. Use biblical principles. If the game you want to play is sinful and it promotes evil, leave it alone. While I don’t believe playing video games is a sin, I do believe that there are way better things that a Christian should be doing in their spare time. Things such as getting to know God better through prayer and in His Word.
