Memories of a Former Gamer

As a teenager, I played a lot of video games both at home and in public places. At 14 I bought an Atari Video Pinball console. A year later I saved up my money to purchase an Atari 2600. While in high school I spent close to half my paychecks into coin-operated games. This was back in the days of “Space Invaders” when aliens simply disappeared when you shot them. The games weren’t as graphic as they are now.

In the mid-1980s I decided to cut back on video games. Aside from wanting to focus on a music career, many of the newer games required you to spend more money just to get good at them. Nevertheless, there were times when I put chunks of change into “Dr. Mario”, “Klax”, and “Tetris.” I also enjoyed playing games like “John Madden Football” and “Sonic the Hedgehog” when with someone who had a Nintendo or similar system at home. 

I was never a fan of violent games. In 1993 while briefly working for a video game dealer, I was shocked to see blood splattering from the characters on the recently released “Mortal Kombat II.” Since then video game graphics have become so realistic, it’s like being part of a Hollywood movie.

In recent years, many mass shootings have been perpetrated by gamers. Constant viewing of murders on TV and movies desensitizes one of the sanctity of human life. Violent video games can add to that since the player himself initiates the killings. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” What we meditate on the most can eventually come to pass in real life.

Nowadays, I seldom play video games. I do occasional stints of FreeCell on a friend’s PC. On my iPad, I have a Sudoku app that is played maybe once a day. Despite constantly receiving game requests from Facebook friends, I turn them all down. Instead, I prefer doing more productive things like winning souls. Eternity is not like a game where one can push the reset button and start over. We only have one life available to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. 

As Leonard Ravenhill often asked, “Are the things you living for worth Christ dying for?”

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” - Colossians 3:2

Holy Addiction

Years ago a friend of mine wore a T-shirt that read “Addicted to Space Invaders.” For a while I was addicted to video games. One of my favorites was “Dr. Mario.” I would spend up to $10/day on that game. This was when most video games still cost only a quarter to play.

One dictionary defines addiction as “relinquishing ourselves to the control of something or someone else.” Addictions usually don’t happen immediately. Alcoholics often start with just one drink. If they don’t know how to “hold their liquor”, they gradually drink more and more until they cannot control themselves. 

Everybody gets addicted to something. Some may choose drugs, pornography, gambling, food, sports, TV, or playing computer games for hours. I’ve heard people declare they have a caffeine addiction. While I often drink coffee, I will occasionally go without it for days to prove to myself that I’m not addicted to the stuff.

Another kind of addiction can be the latest ride at the amusement park. Many people look for an activity to give them an adrenaline rush. Proverbs 21:17 in the Message Bible reads, “You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.” 

Once I heard a pastor point out how people can make themselves hungry for anything. Before he went into the ministry, this man developed an addiction to cribbage while serving in the U. S. Air Force. Initially he didn’t have an interest in the card game but soon was playing it regularly with his military buddies.

On the other hand, people can become addicted to spiritual things. 1 Corinthians 16:15 (KJV) says, “Ye know the house of Stephanas...and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” Carman wrote and recorded a song about being “Addicted to Jesus.”  Another minister I know stated on his web site, “We admit that we have an uncontrollable, holy addiction...the garbage dumps and the slums of the third world!” Getting high on God results in godly behavior. 

1 Timothy 3:3 in the Darby Translation warns against being “addicted to contention.” 2 Timothy 3:4 in the Message Bible says that in the last days people will be “addicted to lust, and allergic to God.” People can also get addicted to gossip and bitterness. 

What are you addicted to?

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:21

Thinking About Drinking

Shortly after giving my life to the Lord twenty-two years ago, I became convinced it’s best to totally abstain from alcoholic beverages. However, a minister I know recently posted a YouTube video claiming it’s okay for Christians to drink booze in moderation. Initially, I was reluctant to watch this video knowing this minister uses fermented wine while serving communion. Nevertheless, I decided to give the video a fair viewing and became a bit troubled when I heard him quote Deuteronomy 14:26 (KJV)…

“And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.”

This verse appears to contradict other Scriptures warning against the consumption of intoxicating drink. As I did more research on the subject, I came across a two-part video series by Perry Stone called “A Little Toddy for the Body.” One thing Perry points out is the wine drunk in Biblical times was often diluted with water. It had far less alcohol content than most of the wine manufactured today.

The famous inventor Thomas Edison (who never even professed to be a Christian) stated, “To put alcohol into the human body is like putting sand in the bearings of an engine. I am a total abstainer from alcoholic liquor. I always thought I had a better use for my head.” 

Personally, I think it’s irresponsible for any minister to encourage believers (especially those young in the Lord) to have an occasional drink of liquor. Moderate drinking still results in moderate intoxication that can impair a person’s judgment and influence them to sin. For some, it has led to devastating consequences. 

Four years ago at an ApologetiX concert in Maryland, I heard a young man share his testimony. Nathan Jones had once gone to a party where he drank just one beer. While driving home that night, Nathan blacked out and discovered the next day he had caused a car accident that killed a middle-aged Christian couple. Although the couple's family members forgave Nathan and pleaded with the authorities for mercy on his behalf, he still spent a couple years in prison.

During my missionary travels, I sometimes stayed with believers who had beer or wine in the house. Usually, I didn’t say anything about that unless they asked or offered me a drink. As for my household, I don’t want alcohol in any part of it. Ephesians 4:27 tells us to give no place to the devil. One does not have to be an alcoholic to have alcohol ruin his life and those closest to him.

If a believer never starts drinking in the first place, then he will never have a problem with drinking.

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” -   1 Corinthians 10:23-24

What’s Your Crutch?

While he was governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura made this statement; “Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people's business.” In the New Oxford American Dictionary, one of the definitions of crutch is “a thing used for support or reassurance.” An example cited by the dictionary is “they use the Internet as a crutch for their loneliness.”

Everybody has a crutch. For some it is cigarettes. How many of you know people who cannot go a short period of time without smoking? During winter, I’ve seen workers willing to brave freezing temperatures outside just so they can smoke on their breaks.

For other people, their crutch is alcohol. Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx once told Hit Parader magazine, “The thing that inspires me the most is my bottle of Jack Daniels. It's my best friend in the world. Ol' Jack will never let you down. He's always there when you need him.”

Many individuals look to the government as a crutch. They think having a certain politician in office or a particular law passed will solve their problems.

What’s your crutch?

Non-believers may think believing in God is a crutch for weak people who cannot make it on their own. But the Lord doesn’t want His people to be weak-minded at all. Ephesians 6:10 commands us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

King David certainly wasn’t a coward. He was a mighty warrior who defeated the giant Goliath and later became king of Israel. But even with all his armies and weapons, David repeatedly humbled himself and sought the Lord for direction. The strongest person on earth is infinitely weaker than God.

The best crutch for people to lean on is not a church, denomination, or minister but in the person of Jesus Christ.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” - Psalm 46:1