Of Guns, Grenades, Joysticks and Jesus
by Andy Perry

“You do know that this game is rated for those 18 years and older and includes graphic scenes of a violent and sexual nature, don’t you?” No, this wasn’t the concerned question of a mother to her son upon finding a recently purchased video game in his bedroom. It was the question of a sales assistant to a mother of two underage sons who stood behind her at a video store counter. Her only response was a shrug of the shoulders communicating bemused annoyance which said, “Whatever.” To his credit the sales assistant persistently repeated his question, knowing well the game in question, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, would never be seen by mom but plumbed to the depths by her adolescent boys.

The above scene, played out not long ago in the presence of an observant youth pastor in another city, betrays several things rife in our society today which should concern us. One is the complicity of an astonishing number of parents in their childrens’ sin. Though sinners will always be sinners, there was a time when the authority figures of our culture stood as the gatekeepers to hold back the inevitable flood of sin boiling in the hearts of its citizens. Though the police still act in this fashion, most parents no longer do.

Perhaps a far more alarming reality betrayed at the video counter is our culture’s ever-escalating thirst for violent entertainment seen especially in the video game industry. Four years ago a report by Children Now revealed that 79% of all games rated ‘acceptable’ for six year olds contained some form of violence and 48% of all video games contained serious acts of violence. Those figures are now only higher. More serious than the mere exposure to graphic violence is the fact that maiming, torturing and killing are actions promoted through so many games as positive and worthy of reward. For instance, Tenchu Wrath of Heaven is an assassin game which rewards its players for perfecting killing techniques. Another teaches one how to proposition a prostitute, go to bed with her and then kill her to get your money back. Even in many of the more ‘mild’ games, an attitude of aggression and destruction is the name of the game.

The effects of such games on children is hard to dispute. Stanford University recently concluded that children who watched less TV and played fewer video games became less aggressive later in life. At the same time the American Medical Association issued a statement saying that ‘Viewing entertainment violence can lead to aggressive attitudes, values and behavior, particularly in children.’ Psychologist Karen Dill is especially concerned about video game violence. For although she agrees that it is terrible that the average child views up to 12,000 television deaths by age twelve, even worse are video games which help the child positively identify with an aggressor. She has concluded that this leads to a pattern of aggressive thoughts, viewing especially authority figures as ‘the enemy.’

Additionally, the psychologically addictive qualities of video games, not unlike the Internet, seem unusually high. More than once I have been amazed when visiting homes to find kids so engrossed in front of a monitor that they were completely oblivious to the beautiful summer day outside or the visitors in their living room. At best a video addict loses hours of meaningful interaction with others and positive physical activity each day. At worst they begin to personalize the world of the video games into their real lives.

According to culture commentator Jason Gardner, at the heart of our society’s craze for video gore is simply the fact that ‘violence is cool.’ He writes, “Clint Eastwood...knew that in the spaghetti western classics and today the Matrix’s Neo and the X-men’s Wolverine know that most of the world’s problems can be solved with an Uzi or vicious metal talons….” What concerns me is how many Christians seem to believe it too. How much of your entertainment choices involve viewing violence and aggression? Likely more than you realize. Whether it’s a World War II novel, a Bruce Willis action film or playing paintball in the woods, we’re strangely comfortable with shooting, wounding and killing. Death as entertainment seems deeply out of step with God’s declaration in Ezekiel 18:32, “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord….”

When author J.K. Rowling scrutinized the recent creation of Harry Potter video games, she insisted they be laced with no violence but instead be marked by the same noble ideals of loyalty, friendship and courage found in her books. Perhaps our own Christian subculture, often so (and sometimes rightly) critical of Rowling, could learn something from her.

Perhaps sometimes the best way forward is to ask with Charles Sheldon, “What would Jesus do?” As one Christian thinker asks, ‘Would Jesus pass over the prospect of shoot ‘em up mayhem and settle instead for the all-age family-targeted antics of Mario Party, or would He insist everybody head outside to do something less boring instead...like fishing?’

Of course, Jesus didn’t have to reckon with video violence in His day and never had to warn His disciples about the deleterious effects of playing Duke Nuke’em. But He did live and teach against the backdrop of an Israelite history deeply marked by blood and war. Yes, He knew well that “the Lord is a Warrior” (Exodus 15:3), that David prayed for strength and skill in battle (Psalm 18:34) and that He Himself would return to earth as a conquering King with no mercy for His enemies (Revelation 1911-20:15).

At the same time, it’s crucial for us to remember that bloody conquest was God’s chosen means to establish and maintain the Old Covenant Kingdom, not the New. Though we will rejoice at His final conquest of His enemies, our Lord has called and commanded us now “...never to avenge ourselves but leave it to the wrath of God….” (Romans 12:19), to “love our enemies” (Matthew 5:44) and imitate Him Who is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

I find it telling that the fruit of the Spirit we are to pursue and bear to God’s glory reveal the opposite of warfare and gore. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) What would Jesus do? It seems to me that He would encourage His people to play video games which aid the growth of His Spirit’s fruit in our hearts and lives. Or, perhaps He would simply encourage us to go fishing instead.