Do Elders/Pastors play video games?

thinkerseven

thinkerseven

New Member
Hey all,
I have a bit of an odd question to run by you all: Would you think it wrong if your pastor or church elder played games like GW? I was just curious because I have the possibility of going into the ministry and I also like to play MMOs and other games... I know in the post on spirituality and gaming some of you kinda touched on this but I was still uncertain. It seems like all the pastors I know are older and did not grow up with games and so they see them as childish or worse. I was just wondering what you all think. As you can probably tell I am really struggling with this. I don't have a job right now ( I just moved half way across country last week ) and so when I am not out looking for jobs I am bored. I usually end up playing GW or PS2 because I honestly don't know what else to do with all this free time. I personally (as well as my wife) don't have a problem with this but like I said before, I don't know anyone in the ministry that plays video games period... I think it is kind of sad though because like all of you have shown me, it is a great way to minister to others. Thanks! :)
 
Actually, there is a new pastor at a church where Dea and I used to attend who I've been told is a huge Sci-fi and Fantasy nut. I don't know if he's into gaming - I'll have to find out! But in any case, I was so happy when I heard about this guy! Times are changing and the church really needs to be able to relate and reach out to those who may not have traditional hobbies and interests. It will never accomplish this if its leaders are compelled to hide their non-traditional hobbies and interests or abandon them for those that are more traditional and accepted.

Paul
 
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Quick answer before I run to church.

My old Pastor used to play Video Games with his son. He is about 50 years old. I was a Youth Minister before moving off and so was my Wife...And obviously we play.

As long as it doesn't interfere with your time of doing the duties that God has called you for I believe that it is ok. But that is my opinion.

It is not unheard of. I also believe it keeps me in touch with the younger generation, and having a calling for helping the youth of this world...maybe it's a good thing, I can connect on a level with them that many "older" people cannot.

Best thing I can say is pray and ask God...he'll let you know.
 
That is pretty much what I was going to say.

I remember a young person asked a similar question because one of there church leaders said that it was a waste of time and he should spend all his time reading Christian literature, and if he must... Christian fiction.

I think that attitude paints a very bleak picture of Christianity for our youth. I don't think our God is one without a sense of humor, and I also beleive (from what I've read in his word) that he mostly wants us to just enjoy the live he has given us. Now our own preferences need to take a back seat to his, and our first prioirty should be to his service. But as long as you are doing that and there is nothing inherently sinful about the game... playing it in moderation should be fine.

Also I would point out that second to God you need to make sure that your gaming time doesn't interfere with your service to your spouse. Since the bible calls our church leaders to be men married to one wife, this would also be a prereq. to being the "Pastor who pwns". Just a thought :), and one I've learned the hard way.

aka Ash said:
Quick answer before I run to church.

My old Pastor used to play Video Games with his son. He is about 50 years old. I was a Youth Minister before moving off and so was my Wife...And obviously we play.

As long as it doesn't interfere with your time of doing the duties that God has called you for I believe that it is ok. But that is my opinion.

It is not unheard of. I also believe it keeps me in touch with the younger generation, and having a calling for helping the youth of this world...maybe it's a good thing, I can connect on a level with them that many "older" people cannot.

Best thing I can say is pray and ask God...he'll let you know.
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Honestly, I don't know anybody in full-time ministry who plays video games (outside of some Madden guys, but that hardly counts). On the other hand, the ones I know play a lot of golf, tennis, raquetball, etc. In fact, I can think of one who hunts and fishes regularly and another who snowboards whenever he can get the chance. I can even think of a Pastor who spends at least one night a week shooting pool at a local bar.

Whatever hobby someone chooses, it should give them a chance to relax and unwind. More social interaction and the opportunity for witnessing some of the perks that gaming might have over other options, but I don't think any recreational activities are inherently more Godly then others. I find that games can be appreciated as art (one of God's great gifts to man) even if they don't offer any of those other perks. As long as your habit remains moderate and doesn't cause anyone else to stumble the important thing is that it's uplifting to you.
 
I mentioned this to my Pastor tonight...he does not game. His reply...

"Praise God, isn't it just amazing the doors that God opens. You have a great chance to witness to people that may not ever have a chance to be witnessed too. And you have a group of Christians to help in that mission, that is wonderful."

I told him I now spend more time witnessing, being in bible study, and christian discussion than I do playing now...LOL

he laughed and said "It sounds like a great opportunity for you and this group of Christians to not only help people find Jesus, but to help one another remain strong in the Lord."

WOW...can anybody say PRAISE GOD!!!
 
I can! And I do much more reguarly than I used to.

I keep calling this my church... and in the strictest sense of the word it is. Even without a building to go to, we're a community of beleivers and we have a responsibility to lift each other up, and to share our good news with those we encounter. We even have bible study, which is my idea of what a good service is! (Now if only we could find a way to have pot luck dinners.)

That's hard to remember sometimes, when you get caughtup in this world of grinding your character into the perfect build, winning at PVP, and getting annoyed with what strangers can do to your efforts. But I think that PUGs are sort of the reason we're here. Without having outreach, we're neglecting an oppertunity to talk to others about what we are.

aka Ash said:
I mentioned this to my Pastor tonight...he does not game. His reply...

"Praise God, isn't it just amazing the doors that God opens. You have a great chance to witness to people that may not ever have a chance to be witnessed too. And you have a group of Christians to help in that mission, that is wonderful."

I told him I now spend more time witnessing, being in bible study, and christian discussion than I do playing now...LOL

he laughed and said "It sounds like a great opportunity for you and this group of Christians to not only help people find Jesus, but to help one another remain strong in the Lord."

WOW...can anybody say PRAISE GOD!!!
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I believe everything Games,Music, Movies can be used by God. How are we to relate to those around us if we are totally separate from the? Here is what I have come to believe in my personal walk..... Where would Jesus be today? He would be at the Arcade... In the Mosh pit. At a Rap concert. At the Movies talking with people about his Father. But you say Jesus didn't have fun.....Let's See Jesus was at a wedding where they ran out of wine do you think before he turn water into wine he was preaching? I believe Jesus would bw were the lost are. We can be separate from the world but we should not be out of touch with them if you understand what I am trying to say.

Andrew
 
well, i dont know if my pastor is an... avid gamer (i can guess he might play a game or two now or then) but his son is... an extream gamer, and though i dont live with them, i cant tell when my pastor has had a problem with it.
but as many people have said, i think it is perfectly OK to game, as long as your duties to God and the people around you come first and first only.
Also if we only reach out to kids/teens by *deep adult voice* "the only way to be with God is to read scripture daily and all the time" then who will come to Christ... no one. I am so glad and praise God that we can worship him without only the bible, but through our technology today... gaming. PRAISE THE LORD JESUSE CHRIST FOR VIDEO GAMES!!!!
 
God is the ultimate gamer. One day (before there were even days), he looked behind him and there was nothing. He looked before him and there was nothing. Naturally, he got bored so he created life, the ultimate game. What is a game without an adversary? So he created him too. He played this game for a while and decided it would be cool to play it as an FPS. Eventually he decided that he wanted to let the enemy think that he had won so he let himself die. The enemy thought he won for about three days but what he didn't know is that God brought his res signet. Back in Heaven, he resumed his RPG from his most comfortable throne. He's almost reached the last level of the game where the enemy will throw everything he has at him. But we all know he's gonna get highest score. He's already told us how it's gonna play out. ;)
 
astrod00d said:
God is the ultimate gamer. One day (before there were even days), he looked behind him and there was nothing. He looked before him and there was nothing. Naturally, he got bored so he created life, the ultimate game. What is a game without an adversary? So he created him too. He played this game for a while and decided it would be cool to play it as an FPS. Eventually he decided that he wanted to let the enemy think that he had won so he let himself die. The enemy thought he won for about three days but what he didn't know is that God brought his res signet. Back in Heaven, he resumed his RPG from his most comfortable throne. He's almost reached the last level of the game where the enemy will throw everything he has at him. But we all know he's gonna get highest score. He's already told us how it's gonna play out. ;)
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d00d...that is a great analogy:cool:
 
Okay, guess it's time for me to weigh in.

It would not be inherently wrong for a pastor or elder to play a video game. Unless I've missed something in Scripture, God never said, "Thou shalt not play an FPS, nor an MMORPG, nay, not any RPG, nor engage in any other video game. This is an abomination."

Could it be wrong for any given individual to play games, pastor or no? Yes, if you simply cannot play and keep it in balance with your God-given responsibilities. But it does follow that it could be harder for someone in the ministry to find time for any hobby...though they need them more. (We all have some idea of the pressures and responsibilities on our pastors and missionaries. If you don't, you need to.)

And as far as a PK being an extreme gamer...is he a kid or teen, or a single guy? Less responsibiities always means more time to devote to any given hobby!
 
I think it really is how you prioritize the game, and how that game affects you. My youth pastor plays rts games all the time, though he has a wife and twin girls to care for.

The best analogy for responsibilies is the gravel and glass jar example my dad heard from a professor, I will try to remember everything from it :( :
One day my professor brought in a glass jar and set it on his desk.
After placing a few large stones he asked the students is this full?
They all agreed and said yes. Next he placed some slightly smaller stones and asked the same question. Again the students said the jar was full. Then he placed some small gravel. The students all agreed that the jar was most certainly full. Finally he poured a cup of coffee into the jar. He then proclaimed, now the jar is full.

The students then began to question the meaning of this. He responded by saying, The large stones represent your highest priorities, God Family and Church, the smaller stones your smaller priorites and the gravel represents your time to have fun.

The students then asked what the coffee was for. The professor replied by saying, You should always have time to sit down and have a cup of coffee with a friend.
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I love people who say they dont have enough time; they just dont realize how much they actually have.
 
astrod00d said:
God is the ultimate gamer. One day (before there were even days), he looked behind him and there was nothing. He looked before him and there was nothing. Naturally, he got bored so he created life, the ultimate game. What is a game without an adversary? So he created him too. He played this game for a while and decided it would be cool to play it as an FPS. Eventually he decided that he wanted to let the enemy think that he had won so he let himself die. The enemy thought he won for about three days but what he didn't know is that God brought his res signet. Back in Heaven, he resumed his RPG from his most comfortable throne. He's almost reached the last level of the game where the enemy will throw everything he has at him. But we all know he's gonna get highest score. He's already told us how it's gonna play out. ;)
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:eek: This about knocked my socks off! I had never thought of it this way! I am glad all of you have been willing to answer... I must admit that my previous experiences have made me a bit affraid to offer my ideas to people for fear they will get shot down horribly. I should have know better with you guys- you are much more mature and gentle minded than a lot of other gamers.
Okay, I think the thing I need to do is to moderate my time gaming AND spend more time with my wife in the process, as well as make sure I don't miss my daily time with God. My wife actually tells me to keep playing when I come to her with these questions! Talk about a great wife :D
So, now I am wondering, how do I get more involved and use my gaming time for God? I have been a prayer person for the boards the last week or so that I have been here but I also feel that I need to step it up and reach out to people in game... I think I need to follow some of you around and see what you do so I can get an idea too.
 
Playing with a bunch of Guildies and inviting a few PUGs into the group is a way to lead by example. Now this brings up a good point some guildies don't like PUGs and if your in a group and everyone agrees to inviting PUGs it is WRONG to leave if everyone is dying and aggroing things that should be aggroed. It makes us as Christian Gamers look like anyone else. Now if your getting abused because of your faith and they are going around the Language Filters I think it is ok to leave a PuG group. I have seen people get into shouting matches in town in game and proclaiming Jesus. Uless you really feel Jesus wants you to do that I highly suggest not to do this. A lot of times it does not look good and people feel you are pushing your faith down their throats, Not a good tactic. Jesus would be among the sinners where they are encourageing them. Discouraging their actions but not condeming them but their actions. Just my take on witnessing in game. I have done more one on one witnessing in game. I have spent hours just pming with someone I was in a pug with not even playing.
 
I find it immensely entertaining that my pastor finds what I do both praiseworthy and dumbfounding. He had absolutely no idea that an online ministry such as this existed, and he now thinks I should go to seminary since I am "pastoring" a flock of almost 250.

That's when I explained to him that Pastors are for churches, but Pastori's are for video games. (insert groan)
 
[toj.cc]WildBillKickoff said:
That's when I explained to him that Pastors are for churches, but Pastori's are for video games. (insert groan)
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Points for the Pastori! You really got me laughing...guess Paul has me conditioned with his bad jokes!

Yeah, my Sunday school teacher thinks what we do is pretty cool; so do some of our classmates. I suspect some of them simply don't know what to make of it! (We do have two WoW addicts and a Quake junkie among our S.S. families...)
 
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