I know this has been a subject that has probably
been discussed a million times (or not).  I have tried my best to see if a
thread like this exists already, but there's just too many to go through.
So mods, please, if you feel this has been done and dusted, close this
thread by all means.  I won't be offended. Promise

This question is of course actually directed at the Christians on this forum.
Would love to read your thoughts on this.  It's a question that I
have been thinking about a lot.  I have quite a bit to say about this, but  before
I do, I would like to hear a couple of opinions first if you don't mind

im not a christian but how does it hender them from playing games?

Alright, here comes one of my infamous overly exhautive answers, so be prepared. Grab some popcorn and refreshments before starting this.

You have been warned

Ok, I can see a few points here that you could be getting at, so I'll address them.
First off, the time issue: Is it wrong to pour so much time into such a trivial and ultimately pointless thing? My answer? No. As long as you are not compromising your spiritual life or duties, and you are not getting your priorities mixed up (such as gaming all of your spare time away while ignoring the wife and kids).

The content of modern games: I brought this up months ago. It feels like Christians or anyone else opposed to certain things, are being pushed out of the gaming world. Try shopping for a game that contains no swearing, nudity, or worse in it. It's hard to find. I actually failed to find a single game that looked remotely interesting to me, that also had none of those things. My answer to that issue? I think conservative gamers just have to really be careful. Play a game and if it begins to make you uncomfortable with the content you encounter, put it down.

I hope this answered the intended question. If not, then please explain, as I'd like to join this discussion.

Does being christian and watching movies, reading books or comics or maybe listening to music mix?

I guess it depends on what you play and I don't have much to add what Erinn wrote. Just don't play a game that makes you feel uncomfortable. This though could be applied to everybody of any denomination. Would be sad I think if christians would not game.

Now that I think of it, gambling was prohibited in the bible but by gambling I think it meant only if you play for money. These little games of "earn vizz by..." I would think is excluded also.

I think that as long it is not affecting your faith, your spiritual walk & coming before God; it's not a problem. God has nothing against entertainment & fun.

I think that gaming is fine. I do not think, however, that it should take a high priority in our lives. If God is not the center, then something's messed up in our priorities. Anyway...

Gaming's fine, so long as God doesn't leave the top slot. XD

Gaming is ultimately an entertainment. It is something that you do to relax and have fun. There is nothing wrong with rest, like how God rested on the seventh day. The problem comes when it takes too much time in your life and you lose focus in your walk with God as well as your purpose in this world. This goes for anything else, like work, or having meals...anything that is in and of itself not a bad thing should be careful of being part of too much of your life.

Erinn also spoke well concerning the content of the games that we play. We need to be careful of what we are playing.

I think I'll speak plainly on this one.
Does a chess player have to renounce his faith?
No.
Any fool that says a game makes a poor person of faith needs to be schooled on what faith is.
Does a football player or basketball player or any other respected game player get the same question posed?
The answer is No.

The reality is that a video game is less respected.
Same goes for the player.

Regardless of the massive amounts of cash spent and skill involved in merely playing.
People still regard Video games with the same respect as comic books.

Sad as it may be.
It is.

Just deal with it and move on.
Granted.
Religious people are hard to ignore when they are stupid. But that happens. It is the result of blind Faith and a fear of the new.

Music Fans have endured this for many centuries.
I call it "the curse of youth."
Every Generation goes through it.
Part of Life.

Good Luck To All.
I'm done. Stick a fork in me.
Peace.

orionfoxgibson : I think the question is not focused on how high in regard gaming is and comparing it to things like sports. I think the question is in regards to the increasing morally objective content modern games have nowadays. Is it okay to play graphic and violent games when you have faith in a religion that looks down on content like that? This is a completely different question than football, basketball, or chess. 

rcarter2 :
What are you talking about exactly?
The kid asked for a response. I gave it to him.

Did I break a rule?
I fail to see what needs your attention.
Then again...I really do not care what you think.

Morals are not taught by videogames.
Facts can be covered but morals are best taught by the living.
"Nest Pas.?"

Good Luck To All.
Peace.

orionfoxgibson : No need to be rude about it. Geez. I was just letting you know so you could get a chance to give your opinion over the actual topic of the thread. What is up with your attitude?

Eirinn : I really liked your answer! 

It is as if it's impossible to find game that is both mature, and clean.
That's why I like Franchises like Zelda and Star Wars, but even these aren't perfect.
We conservative Christians need to get out there in the market and make some REAL games instead of leaving it to the devil
like we almost did in Hollywood.

Just never put video games before real life. They are of little value in the long run, but they can be welcome blessings.

Sword legion : Thank you! And I have been thinking the exact same thing. We need to produce some quality games with either Christian themes, or at least Christian friendly themes. Well said.

I had this long winded story I wanted to share, I might still go off on a tangent , but I'll just stick to replying to the comments made.

mister sandman: "im not a christian but how does it hender them from playing games?" It doesn't.  Let me make it clear - I have nothing against games or playing them.  From a Christian point of view, there are some decent ones out there, but unfortunately, these are few and far between.

Eirinn: "First off, the time issue: Is it wrong to pour so much time into such a trivial and ultimately pointless thing? My answer? No. As long as you are not compromising your spiritual life or duties, and you are not getting your priorities mixed up (such as gaming all of your spare time away while ignoring the wife and kids)." You hit the nail on the head here.  I'm specifically referring now to online gaming.  This was basically the story of my life for a couple of years.  My addiction to online gaming messed things up quite a bit.  I didn't want to admit it at first, but it is highly addictive.  That's where the danger lies.

Eirinn: "The content of modern games: I brought this up months ago. It feels like Christians or anyone else opposed to certain things, are being pushed out of the gaming world." Sad, but true.  I feel I have quite a bit of insight on the matter.  I have been playing games probably since I was 5 years old.  I've done the whole online thing, belonged to a clan, competed online of course and at LANs (FPS exclusively like the Call of Duty series and Battlefield) and so on and so forth.  I've seen what it does to the kids -  it "steals" your time.  Keeping you away from what's really important.

For the record - I wasn't really looking for an answer to my question.  I already know the answer from my personal experience with gaming.   I was merely interested in other Christians opinions on the matter , but you Eirinn have done a good job summing it up.

Brigand: "Does being christian and watching movies, reading books or comics or maybe listening to music mix?" Of course it includes those things as well.   If you truly follow in the footsteps of Christ, this is what we, as Christians, are called to strive for as it is taught in the Bible in Romans 12:1-2 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Keeping that in mind, it has to reflect on the things that we watch, play, listen to, read etc.

orionfoxgibson: "Any fool that says a game makes a poor person of faith needs to be schooled on what faith is." I'm just curious.  What "faith" are you referring to here?

orionfoxgibson: "Religious people are hard to ignore when they are stupid. But that happens. It is the result of blind Faith and a fear of the new." I am so thankful that I don't practice a religion

Mods, forgive me for all the quotes.  I'm not sure how the process works to "summon" a  moderator to ignore my word count when quoting.  So, please ignore the word count in all the quotes

Eirinn : Thanks!, I'm hacking Zelda 1, making sure that it is both mature and clean. 

SoL@R :

And this is only my answer to your answer to the quote of my post.

But it continues:  For by the grace given me
I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than
you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in
accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3

Not all of us have to act or be like a hermit monks but we can use our own judgement and do accordingly with the faith and reason given to us. I doubt the Romans 12 says we should deprive ourselves of anything, just to keep God  and faith in mind and have solidarity instead of trying to be too righteous over others.

SoL@R :

Brigand : ?"Not all of us have to act or be like a hermit monks but we can use our own judgement and do accordingly with the faith and reason given to us. I doubt the Romans 12 says we should deprive ourselves of anything, just to keep God and faith in mind and have solidarity instead of trying to be too righteous over others."
Ouch! It was not my intention at all to appear "holier than thou" with my comment or any of my comments. If this is the case, I sincerely apologise. In fact, I despise "bible bashers". If this is the way I come across and if I push people away from Christ by the comments I make, I'd rather not make another single post or thread. There was only one person that walked on this earth that was holy, perfect, completely without sin - Jesus Christ. We as Christians must strive to follow in His footsteps. In fact that is what the word "Christian" means, to be "Christ like". Yes of course it is difficult and not possible if you are trying to do it in your own strength by following a set of rules and regulations and living like a hermit monk in order to "achieve" this. Only by the strength God gives us and by His mercy and grace and faith in Jesus Christ are we able to walk in obedience to Him and are we able to face the things the world throws at us.?
You are 100% right, Romans 12 (or the bible for that matter) doesn't teach that we should deprive ourselves of anything, but it does teach the following (Romans 12 again!) "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:2. If you have truly given your life to Christ and accept Him as your Saviour and Lord of your life, He will change your heart and your mind and will make you a new creation: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17. You will want to seek that which is righteous, true, holy, acceptable to Him. Not because you HAVE to, because you WANT to. Like I said in an earlier post. I have absolutely no problem with games, but yes, gaming is just one of the many things in this world Christians are challenged with and as was mentioned before, we should absolutely check what we are playing, watching, reading.

SoL@R :

Did not meant to sound like I would accuse you of anything. I was just thinking about how the context of the quote might change if you continue reading and was just thinking out loud. It was not aimed directly at you or anyone else personally. I hope you can understand this and forgive me if I sounded too harsh.

As for what you addressed on this post, it is all good and true but on some of my previous posts I have talked about my skeptical view of people being  able to follow what is "acceptable and perfect will of god" and I wish not to repeat it here since it is the topic for it. But I might have a hope in my heart to say that you will all know in yours what you know is right and what is wrong and what you can accept and what not. But it is a challenge for sure.