Gaming: The Alternative

Creation. Fall. Redemption. These are the great themes of humanity.  No, you won’t see these three themes given much status by  AP, CNN, USA Today, Fox News or for that matter, Rush Limbaugh. These are however, God’s themes. Creation speaks of the majestic plan and purpose of God for planet Earth. Then came the fall and all of mankind was plunged into darkness and pursuit of the glory of self rather than the glory of God. The stunning creature that was man, the creature that Psalm 8 speaks of, began to use his powerful  attributes in self-worship.  What has followed in human history has not been pretty. But, God in his mercy did not leave man in futile, evil darkness. He sent his son to bring both a new life and the newness of life, His Son Jesus brings the hope of redemption to sin-darkened minds and pursuits. 

Too  many Christians live in conformity to the world, that is we live as the fall were all that mattered. Conformity to the world means at least these two points. The first point is that conformity to the world means to attempt to change the impact of the fall without the vision of creation for what things could have been.  The second point is that conformity to the world means the attempt to change the impact of the fall apart from the redemptive power of Christ.  So, progress is measured by changes in behavior, not a growing love for Jesus Christ and his ways. This is what the world does – it manipulates behavior so that the impact of the fall will be less troublesome.  The world of the fall becomes “the real world”; creation and redemption are of no practical consideration. 

So, for example, when you consider the area of gaming it may seem wise to limit the time spent gaming as the solution to too much time spent on games.  This is living in light of the fall and not appreciating the magnificence of what we were created to be nor the power of redemption to be able to see God’s power in life and its pursuits.   So, we settle for manipulating behavior rather than challenging the heart.

This is what Colossians 2:8 warns about:

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

I want to move slowly here with this foundational material to provide time for you to think these things through. Let me know your thoughts and questions.  There will be practical applications to the gaming issue in the next post.

Comments

[Karen]

Thank you so much for going slowly!!!

How do I "change the impact of the fall without the vision of creation for what things could have been"? Could I have a more concrete example of that.

Thanks for your help!

[Jo Charles]

Wow! Of course! Changing behaviour externally is living as if the fall were all that mattered, without reference to the glory of creation or the power of redemption. This is all that the world can offer. Thank you.