Comments on: Grow up already

By: GabeTaviano.com | Technology meets Eternity » Blog Archive » Radical stewardship and video games

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:19:03 +0000

[...] to the email he sent over. Some of you might remember my previous posts, Grow Up Already and Two Retired Video Gamers, from earlier this year. My addiction to playing video games was real, [...]

By: Confessions of a Video Game Shopaholic — Eternal Revolution

Confessions of a Video Game Shopaholic — Eternal Revolution — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:48:54 +0000

[...] (aka GodsMac) has done several articles on his testimony as a retired [...]

By: Gabe Taviano

Gabe Taviano — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:48:17 +0000

The college years are very unique when it comes to this. They're right between the "waste as much time as I want" high school times and the "uh oh…..I now have responsibility" years ahead.

By: Gabe Taviano

Gabe Taviano — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:46:51 +0000

Thanks for the link Dwight. Distraction is a good word. That's where the rubber meets the road, when our minds don't realize they've been changed and we've lost focus. I don't believe 1 Cor 10:31 has tons of room for distraction.

By: Gabe Taviano

Gabe Taviano — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:42:37 +0000

If I went back to the days when I was addicted to gaming and took a poll of what was a priority in my life at that point, God might have been a 3 or 4. You'd think gaming would be down around 2 or 3 on the list if God weren't, but I'm sure those that still struggle with it would prove otherwise if they were completely transparent. What has you, has your worship. Sometimes that's not bad stuff. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it's good stuff that turns out bad, and sometimes bad that turns out good.

Playing video games alone is not a sin. There are something, when done alone, are a sin. Idolatry is a sin, there's no way getting around that. I'll make it more clear by sharing maybe a few more handfuls of verses that cover that. You are right, keeping things in moderation is where the struggle happens. Not being able to moderate something does lead to idolatry. Entertainment, just because it is a fun thing and you can do it with others at times, doesn't make it clear of being able to be worshipped. Thanks for responding, Jesse.

By: Jesse J. Anderson

Jesse J. Anderson — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:47:57 +0000

I'm not sure I understand this modern trend of calling anything and everything a form of idolatry.

Idolatry: worship of idols

Worship: to show reverence and adoration for (a deity)
Idol: an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship

Okay… what now? How twisted have our traditions and christianese gotten to the point where if we enjoy doing something, somehow that is considered idolatry? There is neither worship nor an idol in this situation.

Video games is not a representation of a god to anyone I know. No one thinks that video games have some superhuman spiritual power over anything in the universe. They are entertainment, plain and simple. To that end, no one is showing reverance towards video games.

People may play video games more often than they should, which can take away time from God, their families, and other life priorities. But just the same can be said for alcohol, television, movies, twitter, books, email, board games, knitting, drawing… basically anything. Sin comes when we are not able to keep these things in moderation.

But that is NOT idolatry.

By: Gabe Taviano

Gabe Taviano — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:27:08 +0000

Wow. That's pretty intense. Wish I would have made the decision a few years earlier like that. Hopefully your friend doesn't find this blog, lol. Games are definitely fun, but something that's fun can at the same time tear us down for sure.

By: Daniel Basham

Daniel Basham — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:43:36 +0000

This is ironic that you post this today. Last week one of my good friends bought an XBOX360 off ebay. He brought it over the other day and I (who would never consider playing video games because it was such a waste of time) got a little jealous. All of a sudden I wanted one…so that I could minister with it of course. You know, have the students over to play. Yeah right. The last thing I need is another distraction to take my time. Video games are fine, if you can keep it to a casual hobby. I'm just not sure I could. Madden '09 is pretty fun!! Anyway…all this to say, I'm not getting one. I know Stephanie is happy about that!! She always told me one of the things she loved so much about me is that I didn't play video games I'll please her and steer clear of this potential idol.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:45:04 +0000

no, i feel real good at 39. i do 10x's what I did in my 20's as far as productivity and multi-management. God's been good across the board. But 40 seems like a big one, but it' really just another day. People like to raze.

By: Gabe Taviano

Gabe Taviano — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:29:06 +0000

Not sure I follow. Perhaps you're a geezer gamer like I was going to be? You're not a part of this club are you? http://www.geezergamers.com I actually signed up, but was only 26 at the time, lol.