Computer Games

From Reverend Stephen Wollett: I appreciate what you are attempting with your website, you obviously have very good intentions. I also would like to point out that the path to hell is paved with good intentions. I do not say this to criticize you in anyway, I really believe you are doing good work. Just a thought.

I am a Minister that was raised christian and have always had the sense to listen to the good words of the lord. I have studied the Bible as well as the works of many biblical scholars in my 37 years. I have also been a role player since I was eight years old.

I find you use of scripture to demonize a harmless game rather preposterous. Please show me actual quotes from the bible, please refer to version, and other sources that support your claims. I have scoured my library trying to find things that would support your arguments and have found not one. Perhaps if I take quotes out of the good book that refer to other things and superimpose them over rpg or fictional books. I just don't know.

I would point out to you that there is no sin in fantasy. If there was we would all be going to the lake of fire. There is sin in pride and in false testimony. Please research your answers carefully. Thank-you.

From Katie: (The first part of her letter is on The Matrix page) Role playing games are not "evil" or "occult" or anything like that. I play Magic: the Gathering. In fact, I love it. But it's not because it gives me power. It's because of the strategy. You could just as well say chess, checkers, Monopoly, Risk or other games are occult and evil. It's never the power that leads people to play, it's the fun of the game. And if fun is evil, then the religion itself is flawed.

From Shawn: I like games especially business simulators and they have a new game called Capitalism II its where you buy a a farm and have cows and create beef etc... The game is a management type game.. I saw this being reviewed by _____ but in the game the person had reviewed the game by actually playing it and showing screenshots. The reviewer took on game name 'Satan Industries' and I was upset at this, that even a good game that doesn't have any thing to do with evil has to be subjected to this. So I wrote to them.

Here is the letter and their answer: "Evil Begets Evil. I was a little let down by the 'Satan Industries' portion of the screenshots and personal choice in names. If you wanted to play a bad guy, couldn't you name it Capone or something like that. Not every customer or gamer is a satanist or someone that likes to see that name glorified. Thank you."

Here is their letter to me: "Oh. Well isn't that just a thing. I didn't even see that before. For your pleasure and edification, we've flogged Jason and told him not to make any more deals with "you know who". That and we threw him into the pool of holy water we have collecting on the bathroom floor. Dan"

This is really typical of how the industry is: what started out with pong has progressed to a industry that does things that are against God. Jason, the one that was using that name in the game was the Editor in Chief of the magazine. So when the top person is doing it what hope is there to point out what is wrong? Whether it's television or computer games or video games, I think its really a downward spiral. I am finding myself going back to old games or tv shows not effected by this spiral.

My main reason is that no one seems to be demanding good games. Even the magazines and reviewers are praising the evil games and then making the few good games that are bad as well.

Well i was reading that you updated the computer area and this made me think of what happens when a little voice stands up against this industry. They probably make fun of the little guy.

From Chip Burns: I am 18 years old. i am a christian of the baptist demonination. i read your webpage on the dangers of role playing games. i play both magic:the gathering and pokemon role playing game. i personally love playing the games and i feel it has no influence on my decisions/judgement.

now as for my belief of magic, i believe that young children should not be playing the game because it is too complicated for them to play. pokemon is very easy to play as ive even seen grown adults around 40+ years old playing the game with their children. parents like that 40+ who spend time with their children playing pokemon, or any other game with their children should be commended. more parents need to be involved and
understand the true nature of pokemon or magic. i would be glad to discuss this further with you if you desire.

From Tristan: I want to make sure I have this straight. You believe that people who perform magick are using demonic powers. You also believe that these powers are not inherent in the person but rather supplied by demonic entities (although the person maybe deluded into thinking that they are the source of the magickal effect). You believe in the power of prayer to effect change (heal, bless etc. etc.) but this power is not inherent in the individual but comes through the Spirit of God from Jesus.

So, in essence, the only difference between magick and prayer is the source of power. Any metaphysical effect that is not sought from Jesus through the Holy Spirit is, defacto, of Satanic origin. Have I got that right? Because I think a lot of your readers are a bit confused over this issue.

Which is an excellent verse to quote. However, I believe that it is referring to the disposition of the soul. In other words, from the biblical perspective, occultism of any type is a broken cistern because it must lead to condemnation (after death).

Yes, but it refers to far more than the "disposition of the soul." By Jeremiah's time, God had proven His love for His people by meeting all kinds of needs, physical as well as emotional and spiritual. During Israel's forty years in the wilderness under Moses leadership, God provided food, water, shelter and everything else needed by over 2 million people. In the centuries that followed, He did miracle after miracle to prove His love and bring victory and peace to kings who chose to put their faith in Him rather than make alliances with Egypt, Syria or other powerful nations.

One of the problems then, as now, is that leaders tend to seek practical human help rather than turn to God. I suppose part of the reason is that when we succeed (even with God's help), we tend to give more credit to ourselves than to God. In the next battle, we may rely less on God and more on our own clever strategies. At least that's what happened to the kings of Israel and Judah, even to "good" rulers.

However, my query is about the difference between magick and prayer in this world (not the afterlife). From what you've said, so far, Jesus sends the power of prayer to Christians through the Holy Spirit and Satan sends the power of all other mystic practices through demons to everyone else. Different entities, essentially the same *structure*. Have I got that right?

No, the structure -- if I understand correctly what you mean by that word (perhaps you could define it) -- is also different. See The Nature and Tactics of Satan. It's not easy to explain it, since God's ways are not readily understood apart from the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. We are dealing with something that is far bigger that our human experience and understanding. So I need to pray and seek God's answer to your question. Meanwhile, please read about Tracy in the first section of Chapter 4 in A Twist of Faith. Then consider these Scriptures.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God....For 'who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 16

Why can we be so confident? Because God tells us in Galatians 2:20 and elsewhere that He lives in us! Until I was 30 years old, I was far to shy and introverted to even consider writing or speaking. But when God changed my heart and filled me with His life, He showed me that with Him, "nothing is impossible" -- as long as it is according to His will.

From Tristan (4th letter): I'm still not certain we are talking about the same thing so I will try to use a metaphor to get my point across. Imagine, if you will, two circuits. Both circuits consist of a power source, wire and a lightbulb. The structure of the circuits is essentially the same (power source - wire - lightbulb).

Now one might argue that they are not the same because one circuit has a more powerful power supply, or a more reliable power supply, or even a variable power supply. You also might argue that one circuit has well insulated silver wires, in comparison with the other circuit which has poorly insulated nickel wires. You may even be able to argue that the lightbulbs themselves are different or even that one power source is merely a subset of the other greater power source. But all that aside, the basic structure is the same (power source - wire - lightbulb).

Now, in case it is not painfully obvious, God or Satan is the power source, the Holy spirit or demons are the wiring and humans are the lightbulb. Is my structural metaphor accurate as regards the similarity of the "structure" of magick and prayer? If not can you elucidate me (and your readers) on the differences? Once again, structurally, not qualitatively.

That's what I thought you meant by "structure," Tristan. And, no, prayer and magic -- or rather, God's power and Satan's power -- are neither parallel nor comparable. God created all things and is the source of all power. He alone is the world's power source -- whether people acknowledge His might or not. His power is at work in the world accomplishing His will and ultimate purposes whether we pray or not. His "structure" includes

His omniscience -- complete knowledge of all people, all history, all things past, present and future (which Satan does not share).

His delegated power and authority (delegated to angels, even a fallen angel such as Satan)

His legal system (justice, rewards and punishment, grace and mercy)

His promises which must be fulfilled

His protection and personal guidance and care for His people (here our prayers are especially significant)

His sovereign power and oversight, which makes even Satan accountable to our Lord and King for all the trouble he causes in the physical and spiritual world. In other words, Satan cannot touch or torment those who are in God's care without God's permission. See Job 1:1-12 and 2:1-7.

This section on Job shows that God's purpose is often hidden to the people it affects. Job had no idea that God would use him to demonstrate persevering faith in excruciating circumstances, but God saw in Job's heart what it takes to triumph. So the sovereign God of the universe allowed Satan to torment His servant for a season. The key verse is Job 1:9-10: "So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?"

God, who sees our hearts and knows all plans, warned His people to guard against the power to do evil which Satan had been delegated: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith...." 1 Peter 5:8

Keep in mind, God hasn't chosen to explain to us all that He knows and does. We don't have an absolute understanding of what God is doing behind the scenes or how He uses Satan to fulfill His purposes. Many things will be hidden from us until we see Jesus face to face. But Scriptures such as Proverbs 3:4 ("The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.") give us clues that help us grasp the reason for evil, the purpose for suffering, and the justice and mercy involved in God's disciplines.

I know this response might seem ambiguous and incomplete. Hopefully we can do a chart that more clearly presents the differences.

From Slim Shady: Goodness. You people are REALLY sick. In all my life, I have never seen a more humorous attempt to brainwash people. I cannot even fathom how you even watch television, what with all the "occult messages" and sorts. Your beliefs are sick and ridiculous, and you should be ashamed of yourselves....

Now, I don't care for pokemon or Harry potter, but for the reason that I think it is stupid and retarded. I do, however, hold star wars in the highest regards. Attacking George Lucas' opus is a low blow. Its a crying shame that he made all this money from something unholy, isn't it? Doesn't it make you sick? Boy, I hope so, cause that means you feel the way I felt when
I looked at your stupid website. Im so very glad that there are people like you in the world, so I can say to myself, "thank you God, for making me a NORMAL person."

In either case, I could sit here all day and make you feel stupid, but im not going to. Im too busy watching star wars, and playing video games that teach me to go out and shoot up the local shopping mall. (and also drinking away my paycheck). This is the first website that made me spit my koolaid out from laughing so hard. Thank you for making my evening ever so funny!!! If my habits are going to send me to hell, then I will be happy to go. See ya there!!!

I thought hating someone for their beliefs was not Christian! I hope you people don't have access to guns and explosives. Because you are the type of people that blow up abortion clinics and hold kids hostage. my girlfriend had an abortion last year. Best decision we've ever made. We live together, and we are NOT married. How does that make you feel?)

From Bill Nichols: I've always found that you have some of the most informative articles on some of the games and cartoons that my boys used to watch, like Pokemon and Dragonball....