Video Games Are For 50 Year Old Pastor's, Too!

posted by SweetTea023

Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 01:41:47 PM EST

A 50 year old pastor and a 30 year old evangelist spoke with enthusiasm after a church service I attended this past summer.  "Mass Effect just didn't hold my attention, man."  The younger evangelist said.  "If you can just get through the first half, the second is definitely worth it!" argued an older pastor and father of three.  

I just listened in awe as what had just been a discussion about a movie referenced in the sermon had turned into a debate about a Sci-Fi Xbox 360 game.  These weren't high school or college aged kids talking about video games but men who had been in the ministry for over 40 years combined; Men with degrees and families.  After about 40 minutes the discussion turned back the sermon but not before I learned the evangelist actually had two Xbox 360's.  
"Ya, I've found it works as a great evangelism tool." He told me.  Able to connect with youth in a new way the evangelist has youth over frequently to play video games and talk about life.  He went on to tell me about a small group he formed over Xbox Live that has been used as a witnessing tool effectively.

Come to find out, the evangelist is primarily a FPS player but likes the occasional RPG.  Games of choice included COD 4, Oblivion, Bioshock and Halo...on occasion.  The older pastor enjoys the Rainbow Six series, Madden, and COD 4 as well.  

The moral of the story is that as our culture begins to shift, some leadership in the church has identified ways to shift with it, making adjustments along the way.  
Sure, the majority of churches will still look down their nose at video games but the fact that key portions of the church are embracing video games shows the direction the church in general may be headed.

I'm just hoping someday we'll get a game based on Samson, who killed over 1,000 men with nothing but a donkey's skull.

What are your thoughts on the direction some churches are heading in incorporating video games into their strategy? Also, would a church having video game tournaments, giveaway's etc. make you more likely to attend in some capacity?

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Comments Disabled | 12 comments

  •  Bound to happen (none / 0)

    Inevitable, clearly this is the tides of change occurring within the next 3-4 years, as the criticism increases so does awareness and publicity creating  the total opposite of what people want. i.e. people want the public to think video games are bad, but the public will come back and say, let me see what is so bad about these things, its a vicious cycle and in the end all it does is create an education of people who were not educated on the subject.

    Nice post guys.

    by ensabahnur on Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 01:59:33 PM EST

  •  Cant (none / 0)

    wait to beat up hookers in church!

    "Look, when I was a kid, I inhaled frequently. That was the point." Barack Obama

    by Wangler1316 on Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 02:59:27 PM EST

  •  I (none / 0)

     don't see anything wrong with this at all.  I don't think we will see games like GTA4 being played at Church anytime soon though.  As long as this isn't the main focus to the youth who are going to Church this is fine with me.

    by GearsChrisB on Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 08:03:24 PM EST

  •  Interesting diary, SweetTea. (none / 0)

    I had a ReverendRage on my friends list for a while but had to delete him to make room for the expanding Gearhead community.

    Personally, I think that stiff services and hard pews don't work to serve or teach the newcomer nor the veteran church-goer alike.  

    As for the facilities themselves, there is simply a HUGE opportunity for all sorts of neighborhood outreach and service through the doors, and in the rooms, of the plethora of churches in every North American town and city.  Instead, these mostly mortgage-free, spacious buildings lie empty from Monday through Saturday (with just a smattering of small group prayer meetings).

    Playing video games in almost any situation is more positive/less harmful than almost all other forms of entertainment in which young people wish to engage/experiment. People NEED everything: love, friendship, support, advice, a listening ear, food, shelter, and a place to be. That pastors have not realized this shows the extent to which they don't live in this world, and I don't mean that as a compliment.

    "Gears2 has legs, and they go all the way up!"

    by 3Suns on Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 10:37:27 PM EST

  •  My take (none / 0)

    I don't think video games belong in the church.  Let me qualify that.  Our church actually has a gamecube.  From time to time, the mostly younger kids are playing it when the adults are meeting about something and they have nothing to do anyway.

    But when there are "organinzed" times for the kids, video games don't need to be the "Hook" to get them there.  The people, Spirit and community hopefully are strong enough to attract each other.

    But there are those nights when Highschool or Jr high have "Lockins".  Over nighters.  Xbox?  Heck yes!  

    ESuns (in a previous post) mentioned that This summer, every Tuesday after work, we had a Bar-BQ, pool party and volleyball at our house.  Neighbors, friends and friends from church came for the evening.  Mostly we hung out, ate, volleyballed it, etc....  But from time to time, I would let the kids play my xbox.  Or would show it to a few of my friends.  It wasn't a dominate place in our time together by any means, but it also wasn't "Hidden away" like it may have been in times past.

    This I think is basically what ESuns just posted above, just my personal experience added to it.  BTW, a 19 year old neighbor that I got to be friends with during our Tuesday nights is now an Xbox live Brother in Arms.  His name is Justin.  Gamer tag "JRBLEEZY", send him a FR if you want.

    "I do not tell lies, but I am a savage".

    by Kenai 91 on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 08:54:09 AM EST

    •  Just a heads-up, the spelling is (none / 0)

      JRBLEEZIE

      Being able to view a friend's Friend list can come in handy.

      FR sent!

      "Gears2 has legs, and they go all the way up!"

      by 3Suns on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 02:13:35 PM EST

      [ Parent ]

    •  You make a great point, Kenai. (none / 0)

      Fun, food, and silly party games, often labeled as "wholesome entertainment" is probably considerably more beneficial to everyone.

      I just have a knee-jerk, stomach churning reaction to evangelism and the tendency for many who attend church regularly to focus on the outside rather than the inside and thus miss attending to the needs of people.  It is a generalization and I recognize that I am kind of broken in this area.

      I am reminded of the blog writer with the three boys who like guns - I can't remember his name.  Great writer, and loving father, but when he kind of ranted about "common sense" in dressing for church, I just about flipped out. He had been bothered by a girl sitting in front of him with panties showing, probably a thong or something. It is that kind of attitude that just makes me lose it. I submitted a rather critical response but he never published my post.

      Anyway, the kind of thing you did this summer in your neighborhood is exactly what I think this world needs.

      "Gears2 has legs, and they go all the way up!"

      by 3Suns on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 02:14:31 PM EST

      [ Parent ]

      •  I hear your, 3Suns... (none / 0)

        Often I write a huge reaction to something and then never post it. =P

        But both what you, Suns and Kenai have said is totally valid.  It just continues the question of "If the Holy Spirit is really alive and active do we need to do anything other than open the doors?"
        I think, technically~ no, we don't.

        But God gave us all brain's and I think we should use those brains to figure out the most effective way of communicating the gospel. If that means using video games to get people to listen, so be it. In moderation and is a wise manor, of course.

        by SweetTea023 on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:53:32 AM EST

        [ Parent ]

  •  If scientology incorporated gaming, sign me up! (none / 0)

    Han shot first

    by tyrus on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 06:20:40 PM EST

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