Confessions of a Former Gamer

Some people's childhood memories consist of many hours spent outdoors, running around on playgrounds, through parks, playing softball, or sliding on make-shift "Slip-n-slides" made of trash bags and a water hose.

My childhood memories consist mostly of cartoons and video games, one adolescent passion fueling the other.

I was an early adopter before I even knew what an early adopter was. I was the first kid on my block to have a Commodore VIC-20, followed by the hallowed Commodore 64. The fantasy and sci-fi novels I read as a preteen were the impetus for my desire to immerse myself in fantasy and sci-fi games. I was a veteran of RPGs before the term went mainstream. With each major breakthrough in first-person shooters (Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Duke Nukem, Quake, Unreal, Counter-Strike, etc.), I would save up and upgrade to a new CPU, GPU, or motherboard.

“The fantasy and sci-fi novels I read as a preteen were the impetus for my desire to immerse myself in fantasy and sci-fi games.”

My friends and I would lug our 386s, 486s, or (if we were rich and lucky), our Pentiums to each others' houses, along with our 30-pound CRT monitors (a challenge for nerds to carry), just so that we could have LAN parties. I even hosted my own BBS (a precursor to the internet) in order to trade games with my friends. Mind you, this was decades before The Big Bang Theory made nerd-culture look cool. There were many moments I would watch an episode of that show and feel that it was based on my life.

Enough flashing of my credentials. Suffice it to say that I grew up as a proud, card-carrying member of the Uber-Nerd and Hardcore Gamer Club.

Leaving Gaming Behind

I have nothing but fond feelings for my childhood memories. These feelings are part of what makes the temptation to go back to that life so persistent. But, as the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things." [CSB] As the Lord called me to ministry, He also called me to leave behind certain things of this world, games being one of them.

I do still play the occasional game here and there, but my conviction is that as believers move on toward maturity, we need to go through a process of having our joys and our desires transformed by the Holy Spirit to be more Christ-like and Christ-centered (Ps. 37:4; Matt. 6:19-20; Phil. 3:8). I've also come to believe that spiritual maturity entails a greater focus on our purpose and mission, and a greater portion of our time devoted to the good work of God's kingdom. I believe this is true for all believers, not only those called to vocational ministry (Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 2:9).

“As the Lord called me to ministry, He also called me to leave behind certain things of this world, games being one of them.”

I know that games are not harmful or evil in themselves, but I am also aware of the destructive potential of games. For that reason, I strive to live and preach this message to my (mostly) brothers and (some) sisters in the faith, so that they may be found in Christ and not be ashamed at His coming (Phil. 3:9; 1 John 2:28).

The Dangers of Gaming

I've heard all the arguments and rationalizations gamers use to justify their addiction. I've used many of them myself. It is often argued that games can be a good way to reach nonbelievers, to build fellowship with others, to improve memory and hand-eye coordination, and that it is a relatively harmless way to destress and relax compared to the triumvirate of drugs, sex, and alcohol.

I've also heard the more philosophically-minded argue that games serve as vehicles of truth and beauty, and that through games, we can learn about redemption and heroism, honor and sacrifice, and good versus evil.

These arguments are true in theory, but fall short in reality. As with Communism, which looks good on paper, human nature ensures that the good potential of games is far outweighed by their potential for destruction.

“As with Communism, which looks good on paper, human nature ensures that the good potential of games is far outweighed by their potential for destruction.”

Can games be used for evangelism? Yes, they can. But for every one believer who evangelizes to a non-believer through a game, there are 99 believers who play games only for themselves or with other Christians.

Can games be used to build Christ-centered fellowship? Yes, they can. But for every Christ-centered session of Super Smash Bros., Overwatch, or Among Us, there are 99 sessions in which Christ is neither mentioned nor thought about.

Do games improve hand-eye coordination? Perhaps. But there are far better ways of improving hand-eye coordination, if that is your goal, and at any rate, the physical costs of playing hours upon hours of games (bad eyes, weak muscles, weight gain, carpal tunnel syndrome) far outweigh the physical benefits.

As for beneficial ways to destress and relax, games are far from harmless, but have been shown to be highly addictive, having the same detrimental, dopamine-based effects on the brain as illicit drugs.

But by far, the most destructive consequence of habitual gaming is how it neutralizes believers from being faithful and fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ.

“By far, the most destructive consequence of habitual gaming is how it neutralizes believers from being faithful and fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ.”

CS Lewis, in The Screwtape Letters, has the senior devil Screwtape declare, "A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all – and more amusing." The late Rev. Adrian Rogers also said, "If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy." Video games have this exact effect on Christians; because of their alluring and addicting nature, they take up so much of our time and focus that we are rendered useless for the kingdom-building purposes of God.

Conclusion

I know this all too well from experience. I have spent far too many hours immersed in the World of Warcraft than I'd like to admit. It was my way of escaping the worries and stresses of this world, my way of living out my heroic fantasies and gaining reward and recognition for my good deeds. Through games, I found counterfeit joy, counterfeit fulfillment, counterfeit intimacy with others, and a counterfeit sense of personal growth and accomplishment.

I can't change my past, nor do I think God would want me to if I could. But I can change the way I live for Christ in the present and the future. Games have their place and their good uses, but like most things, they must be enjoyed in moderation, and their addictive and potentially destructive nature must be acknowledged and reckoned with.