M Rated Games?

Saved By Grace said:

So if I play video games. My eternal salvation is at stake? Again, your theory doesn't make any sense. The only time eternal salvation is at stake is if you don't accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and believe that he died on the cross and confess our sins.

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Believe God. He says:

Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
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.

because

Proverbs 23:7a (KJV)
For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he...

Psalm 101

1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

What it comes down to and this was mentioned by Lysander is what is sin for some isn't sin for all.

I can drink alcohol (if I do at most it's a wine cooler) because I am not an alcoholic, yet drinking alcohol is sin to someone who does it to get drunk.

I have shown where playing video games can actually further the Kingdom. Is furthering God's Kingdom sin? This is one way I can contribute to furthering His Kingdom, especially since I have never been good at striking up conversation with people I do not know when we're face to face. Going door-to-door? Yeah, not something I do. So I use a different medium for reaching the lost. There is no sin in that.

Saved By Grace said:

So if I play video games. My eternal salvation is at stake? Again, your theory doesn't make any sense. The only time eternal salvation is at stake is if you don't accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and believe that he died on the cross and confess our sins.

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You got make Him LORD first. If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ NLT)
Now what does LORD mean? It means we give Him complete ownership of our lives.
I'm not telling you to give up video games or you're gonna burn. I'm challenging you to think about complete ownership of your life to Jesus and what that really means.
It sounds like you are managing your time well and I pray you continue. You would be surprised just how many marriages have ended in divorce as a result of video games. Marriage may be the furthest thing in your mind now but they may change.

I didn't answer the question, my apologies. My answer is always no.

Tell you what: tell me what is "Holy" about each one of the games you play and I will say go ahead and keep on playing them.

Brother_Mike_V said:

Tell you what: tell me what is "Holy" about each one of the games you play and I will say go ahead and keep on playing them.

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We don't play games because they are holy (none are), we play them because they are fun.

I know you want us to be Holy, and God does too, but are you yourself keeping these Holy standards?

gonefishing said:

I didn't answer the question, my apologies. My answer is always no.

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And my answer is this.

Romans 14:22-23
The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Cosmicwaffle said:

And my answer is this.

Romans 14:22-23
The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

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I was being respectful and answering the question that was asked. It's obvious you have strong feelings about this. I'm not going to sway your opinion, and you won't sway mine. I'm simply participating in the discussion.

Cosmicwaffle said:

We don't play games because they are holy (none are), we play them because they are fun.

I know you want us to be Holy, and God does too, but are you yourself keeping these Holy standards?

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I get it-I DO! I like(d) video games too. So it's not like I am someone without any experience preaching at you about 'how evil video games are' (which they can be).

The problem I have is that you see no problem in them. So if Christ were sitting next you; would you turn to Him and hand him a controller and a headset; log Him into the 'team chat' and start a killing spree? You are going to tell me that the language used and graphics would be 'a-okay' with Christ?

You are only fooling yourself. I don't care if you play games-just quit lying to your own self about it for means of justification. Be honest- you know it ain't "Holy". I never said (or will say) that a truly saved Child of God would loose their salvation over playing video games (no matter how wicked they are). Just be honest with yourself.

That's when real repentance starts to work: quit lying to your self and bring it before God-you aren't fooling Him in the least.

God ALLOWS you to be as Holy or unholy as you desire to be in your walk with Him. It's about HIM, not you...

Brother_Mike_V said:

I get it-I DO! I like(d) video games too. So it's not like I am someone without any experience preaching at you about 'how evil video games are' (which they can be).

The problem I have is that you see no problem in them. So if Christ were sitting next you; would turn to Him and hand him a controller and a headset; log Him into the 'team chat' and start a killing spree? You are going to tell me that the language used and graphics would be 'a-okay' with Christ?

You are only fooling yourself. I don't care if you play games-just quit lying to your own self about it for means of justification. Be honest- you know it ain't "Holy". I never said (or will say) that a truly saved Child of God would loose their salvation over playing video games (no matter how wicked they are). Just be honest with yourself.

That's when real repentance starts to work: quit lying to your self and bring it before God-you aren't fooling Him in the least.

God ALLOWS you to be as Holy or unholy as you desire to be in your walk with Him. It's about HIM, not you...

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Haha Brother... I have already admitted multiple times that games contain sinful concepts, but I just don't let them affect me. The post you quoted I said "Holy (none are)".

I am not justifying the things inside video games, I am saying that I, as a Christian, do not feel sinful playing them for mere entertainment.

I've got a challenge for you; why don't give God 10 minutes of intense sincere Bible reading and study for every hour of video games you play? Is that too much to ask?

Cosmicwaffle said:

I am saying that I, as a Christian, do not feel sinful playing them for mere entertainment.

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Well God bless you Cosmic...

Brother_Mike_V said:

I've got a challenge for you; why don't give God 10 minutes of intense sincere Bible reading and study for every hour of video games you play? Is that too much to ask?

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Who says I don't? I spend a lot of my time engrossed in the gospel and what it means to be a Christian.

Cosmicwaffle said:

Who says I don't? I spend a lot of my time engrossed in the gospel and what it means to be a Christian.

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So that means you are already up for the next challenge? How about now dedicating equal time devoted to God in the Scriptures as much as you play video games?

Then the next challenge would be to dedicate that same amount of time to serving in some sort of ministry...if your up to being all 'Godly' and stuff.

Sounds to me you are comfortable where you are at in your growth with Christ. Which is a dangerous place to be. So God Bless you Brother. Work out your own salvation between you and the LORD.

Heavenly Father; Great Merciful Loving God:

Thank you LORD for all that you have done for me; Father I ask that you will hear this prayer for the sake of my Brethren in Christ; that You would give them eyes and ears of wisdom, peace, love, truth and grace. I pray that you would open their hearts to understand that we do not have some inherent right to enjoy the wicked things of this world; erroneously justifying sin because You paid the price to abolish our sin. That we would not sin so grace can abound. Father forgive us for foolishly thinking that our joy comes from the things of this world; help us LORD to focus on the joy you promised us in Jesus Christ-the Heavenly things given and yet to come: that our Joy comes from following, learning and serving you as agents of Heaven here on This Earth. Soften the hearts of my Brethren that they would be willing to become full time servants of Christ and redeem their time wisely. Again, thank you Father; may Your Will be done in our lives-not our own selfish desires. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray:

Amen.

Saved By Grace said:

I really want to know, do you spend as much time with your daily activities as you do with the Lord? Because that would be hypocritical. You could lie to me and say you do but that is for God to deal with. Not me.

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I agree: we are ALL hypocrites.