September 12: Video Games Day

 

September 12:  Video Games Day

We are all familiar with brands like Xbox, Nintendo and PlayStation.  But did you know that the first video game was invented in 1950?  Called Bertie The Brain, this 13-foot-tall computer allowed participants to play tic-tac-toe against an artificial intelligence. Let the games begin!

Since then, gaming has become a worldwide sensation.  75% of US households have a gaming system, and 65% of households play video games daily.  Gaming is most popular among men, ages 35-44.  While the jury is still out on the impact that all this gaming has on our society, most agree that while there are mental (problem-solving and memory) and physical (eye-hand coordination) benefits, the potential harm (unhealthy lifestyles and increased aggression) is also very real. 

All of which begs the question:  How should followers of Jesus Christ respond to the world of gaming and, well, The World?  Christ coined a popular phrase:  “Be in the world, but not of the world.”  The actual words are recorded in John 17:14-19.  What is interesting is that Jesus does not appear to be teaching the popular and punchy sentiment that often goes with the phrase (which Jesus never actually said)  “Be in the world, but not of the world.”  

Jesus is not praying for His disciples to keep from being tarnished by “the world,” e.g. video gaming.  Not being “of” the world is where Jesus starts, NOT where he ends.  The work He has in mind is not finished if we just circle the wagons, have Bible studies and sing worship songs (none of which is wrong, in and of itself).  Jesus’ vision for the implications of His words is clear:  “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (Verse 18). Without question, we are not to become so conformed to this world that anyone who observes us would never imagine we are Kingdom citizens.  Instead, we are being “sent” into the very world we are not to be “of.” 

Our job?  To act as subversives.  To undermine the world system, to defeat and then plunder the enemies of sin, Satan and self.  We are sent to destroy arguments and strongholds, sent to redeem and reconcile, sent to herald the coming of the True King, who rules perfectly in Heaven and will do the same here on earth…someday.  Jesus Christ will not rest until every knew bows and every tongue confesses that He is Lord. 

Our mission is to join Him in that great redemptive effort.  Keep your gaming system.  Use it, for good.  Steward your time wisely.  And don’t for a second think that if you decry gaming and vilify those who play, that somehow you are being “not of the world.”  Heed the call to go into the very world that hates us and use every means possible (even video games) to glorify The Father.  This is no game.  The stakes could not be higher.  Go.