In the book Halos and Avatars, in the chapter entitled Cybersociality: Connecting Fun to the Play of God, John W. Morehead states that, "For many involved in digital exploration and creation, 'what happens in virtual worlds is just as real, just as meaningful, to participants' as what takes place in the nonvirtual world" (page 177).
In his conclusion, Morehead applies Christianity by saying, "In my view the presence of video games and digital cultures represents an opportunity for Christians to consider how human beings created in the image of God express that image in the digital world" (page 188).
Wow! Based on this answer, games with multiplayer seem like a great and ripe missionary field! What an opportunity...
Shame that it feels like a suicide mission!
The games themselves, as we've seen, can be acceptable--possibly even commendable in some areas. But one of the most difficult aspects of any game has nothing to do with the game itself, but everyone else around you.
I am sad to say just how toxic playing a game online can be. I took a break from online gaming for a while, and now that I am back, it's been quite the wake-up call! The only players that seem to talk are the annoying gamers described in the video above. Worse, very little interaction ensues at all! Most just play a match, get their stats, and go on to the next game.
You could literally trade out actual players with AI (or "bots" as they are called in the gaming world), add some crap to come through my headset every now and again, and I honestly would not be able to tell the difference.
There's not even much sportsmanship anymore! After every match, I try to say "Good game," and normally, I'm met with silence. Occasionally, someone would return the saying or give a snide remark. I also got two extremes. One was amazed that someone would say that after losing and invited me to play with him! The other merely said, "Shut the f**k up!"
Even one of the members of Penny Arcade, a group created for the sole purpose of making fun of people, cannot stand what he hears from online folk! Keep in mind that anyone in satire NEEDS to have thick skin. The fact these words cut through him is quite alarming!
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I wouldn't even know how to contextualize it. Obviously, it was racist and aggressive and bizarre. But it was also... filthy, and I don't mean that as a mere euphemism for dirty by way of naughty. I mean that it was septic. I mean that something in my unbidden animal mind told me to avoid it." (https://www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2011/11/11/thank-you-edgar)
And before I sound holier-than-thou, I have a confession to make...
I am part of the problem.
Time and time again, I get frustrated with games and other people to the point where I rage quit. My mouse has been slammed on the table so many times that it barely functions anymore!
There was one particular time I wish I could forget. I was playing League of Legends after a bad day at school, and I was playing rather horribly. One person in particular was singling me out, making me feel completely worthless; eventually, I just lost it. I slammed one of the chairs in our dining room on the floor and vocally cursed the dude. I normally stay away from the phrase "God damn you," but I said it numerous times...and actually meant it, too.
To that person, wherever you are, I am so sorry...
You see, I am a perfectionist, and when things don't go perfectly (spoiler alert: they never do), I feel like a failure. In this sense, not only did I feel like a failure in the game because I sucked, but I also felt like a failure as a Christian. How would that tantrum ever glorify God?
But I find the opposite true as well: always pretending everything is "hunky-dory" (I've never actually written that phrase...It's kinda weird-looking) feels fake and doesn't do anyone any good, in my experience. If anything, it causes envy.
If rage quitting and people pleasing don't express the image of God in this mission field, then what will?
From my experience: grace.
Wait wait wait! Do NOT roll your eyes yet! I know it sounds incredibly cheesy, but let me explain why the second-best answer in Sunday School could work for the cesspools that are part of the gaming community.
In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus is asked by a lawyer to define "neighbor" in the commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus then launches into the famous parable of The Good Samaritan. In essence, a man was dying on the side of the road and a Priest and a Levite saw the man in need and kept walking for one reason or another. Then, a Samaritan appeared and went above and beyond to save the man's life. Jesus then asks, "'Which of these three, do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?' [The Lawyer] said, 'The one who showed him mercy.' And Jesus said to him, 'You go, and do likewise.'" (ESV).
"The one who showed him mercy."
Take note that the Priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan were never named. They stayed anonymous throughout...
Kinda like being online, in a way. No one really knows each other. And that can lead to the usual answer of "I don't actually know him/her. My response is harmless." But I think we are called to instead show mercy to these gamertags that hide a real person behind them.
Proverbs further accentuates this by saying, "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body" (Proverbs 16:24 ESV).
As mentioned earlier, grace does not mean people-pleasing. That is fake, and makes people feel accepted when you actually care more about your own image and what they think of you. There is a time for rebuke, a time for encouragement, a time for silence, and even a time for anger! These virtual relationships are just as "real" as your roommate, so treat them as such. And build them in a way for grace to grow.
Now what about me? I still rage quit. I still swear and curse at my enemies. Well, grace goes both ways. I am learning to have grace towards myself. In many ways, I think, it is "more Christian" per se to mess up and mend any problems by asking for forgiveness and repenting. To be broken, then redeemed.
As for John W. Morehead's quote above about the digital world being identical to the real world, I can attest to that with experience. Growing up, I always teetered on missionary work. Sure, I always respected it, but whenever people asked if I ever wanted to do it, I usually shrugged. However, I've come to realize that I've already been a missionary in a foreign land...
This land was called Azeroth.
Around high school, two events happened to me in the popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft, that I was not expecting (and I certainly wasn't on the lookout for missionary opportunities, I can promise you that!).
The first event involved a good friend of mine. His characters had many names, all dealing with shadow (Shadowsrage, Shadowspain, etc). We'll just call him Shadow. Anyway, I had played with him for a long, long time--ultimately 2-3 years, I think! The dude was awesome and tons of fun! One day, we were messaging each other while I was doing quests in Duskwood when he randomly asked, "You're Christian, aren't you?" I responded yes, and we started talking about religion.
He, at the time, was a New Age Buddhist, which if I remember correctly, was nirvana without enlightenment.
Then, he responded, "If you can give me proof of God's existence, then I'll consider your position." I was taken aback, but I spent a few weeks looking for proof and then presented my case to him. As far as I know, nothing has come of it, but the fact the conversation came up made me realize that game worlds are not in a vacuum.
Another time was on another server (a roleplaying server, meaning I usually talked and acted like the sneaky rogue that my character was...#nerdalert). Hey, don't judge; it was a place of escape! I was no longer bound to be the shy, awkward person I am in real life.
Anyway, I met two best friends who knew each other in real life and joined their guild. One was called Surmon and the other was Theovon. Like Shadow, we also had a lot of fun times!
One day after school, I logged on and the guild was disbanded! They both instantly messaged me and explained the situation. They had a falling out! A big disagreement in real life between the two caused them both to end the friendship...
...And here I was: a high school kid now caught in the middle as they wanted me to pick a side! I mean, I wasn't even acting as myself through most of our interactions because of the roleplaying aspect! And now, I was listening to both sides, and having no clue what to do. They both needed a friend, and I guess I was that friend. Turns out, pain and suffering spread even to my place of "escape." I honestly don't remember what I said to either of them, but I hope it was at least empathetic and comforting.
I also prayed for them. It is a little weird to say fantastical names like Surmon and Theovon in a prayer, but that's all I had! And the prayers worked! They were able to reconnect as buddies some time later, praise God!
Shadow, Surmon, Theovon, if any of y'all, for some reason, are reading this: I would love to reconvene! I miss you guys!
Oh! And **Kyllam pickpockets Surmon**
Despite the toxicity of online play, the times when grace was at the center have become some of my biggest memories in the gaming world. So if you or another player is struggling in one form or another, let grace take the lead and "Play it Out!" Who knows? You might be surprised at the outcome... (Alright, now you can roll your eyes, because THAT was cheesy!).
In his conclusion, Morehead applies Christianity by saying, "In my view the presence of video games and digital cultures represents an opportunity for Christians to consider how human beings created in the image of God express that image in the digital world" (page 188).
Wow! Based on this answer, games with multiplayer seem like a great and ripe missionary field! What an opportunity...
Shame that it feels like a suicide mission!
The games themselves, as we've seen, can be acceptable--possibly even commendable in some areas. But one of the most difficult aspects of any game has nothing to do with the game itself, but everyone else around you.
I am sad to say just how toxic playing a game online can be. I took a break from online gaming for a while, and now that I am back, it's been quite the wake-up call! The only players that seem to talk are the annoying gamers described in the video above. Worse, very little interaction ensues at all! Most just play a match, get their stats, and go on to the next game.
You could literally trade out actual players with AI (or "bots" as they are called in the gaming world), add some crap to come through my headset every now and again, and I honestly would not be able to tell the difference.
There's not even much sportsmanship anymore! After every match, I try to say "Good game," and normally, I'm met with silence. Occasionally, someone would return the saying or give a snide remark. I also got two extremes. One was amazed that someone would say that after losing and invited me to play with him! The other merely said, "Shut the f**k up!"
Even one of the members of Penny Arcade, a group created for the sole purpose of making fun of people, cannot stand what he hears from online folk! Keep in mind that anyone in satire NEEDS to have thick skin. The fact these words cut through him is quite alarming!
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I wouldn't even know how to contextualize it. Obviously, it was racist and aggressive and bizarre. But it was also... filthy, and I don't mean that as a mere euphemism for dirty by way of naughty. I mean that it was septic. I mean that something in my unbidden animal mind told me to avoid it." (https://www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2011/11/11/thank-you-edgar)
And before I sound holier-than-thou, I have a confession to make...
I am part of the problem.
Time and time again, I get frustrated with games and other people to the point where I rage quit. My mouse has been slammed on the table so many times that it barely functions anymore!
There was one particular time I wish I could forget. I was playing League of Legends after a bad day at school, and I was playing rather horribly. One person in particular was singling me out, making me feel completely worthless; eventually, I just lost it. I slammed one of the chairs in our dining room on the floor and vocally cursed the dude. I normally stay away from the phrase "God damn you," but I said it numerous times...and actually meant it, too.
To that person, wherever you are, I am so sorry...
You see, I am a perfectionist, and when things don't go perfectly (spoiler alert: they never do), I feel like a failure. In this sense, not only did I feel like a failure in the game because I sucked, but I also felt like a failure as a Christian. How would that tantrum ever glorify God?
But I find the opposite true as well: always pretending everything is "hunky-dory" (I've never actually written that phrase...It's kinda weird-looking) feels fake and doesn't do anyone any good, in my experience. If anything, it causes envy.
If rage quitting and people pleasing don't express the image of God in this mission field, then what will?
From my experience: grace.
Wait wait wait! Do NOT roll your eyes yet! I know it sounds incredibly cheesy, but let me explain why the second-best answer in Sunday School could work for the cesspools that are part of the gaming community.
In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus is asked by a lawyer to define "neighbor" in the commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus then launches into the famous parable of The Good Samaritan. In essence, a man was dying on the side of the road and a Priest and a Levite saw the man in need and kept walking for one reason or another. Then, a Samaritan appeared and went above and beyond to save the man's life. Jesus then asks, "'Which of these three, do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?' [The Lawyer] said, 'The one who showed him mercy.' And Jesus said to him, 'You go, and do likewise.'" (ESV).
"The one who showed him mercy."
Take note that the Priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan were never named. They stayed anonymous throughout...
Kinda like being online, in a way. No one really knows each other. And that can lead to the usual answer of "I don't actually know him/her. My response is harmless." But I think we are called to instead show mercy to these gamertags that hide a real person behind them.
Proverbs further accentuates this by saying, "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body" (Proverbs 16:24 ESV).
As mentioned earlier, grace does not mean people-pleasing. That is fake, and makes people feel accepted when you actually care more about your own image and what they think of you. There is a time for rebuke, a time for encouragement, a time for silence, and even a time for anger! These virtual relationships are just as "real" as your roommate, so treat them as such. And build them in a way for grace to grow.
Now what about me? I still rage quit. I still swear and curse at my enemies. Well, grace goes both ways. I am learning to have grace towards myself. In many ways, I think, it is "more Christian" per se to mess up and mend any problems by asking for forgiveness and repenting. To be broken, then redeemed.
As for John W. Morehead's quote above about the digital world being identical to the real world, I can attest to that with experience. Growing up, I always teetered on missionary work. Sure, I always respected it, but whenever people asked if I ever wanted to do it, I usually shrugged. However, I've come to realize that I've already been a missionary in a foreign land...
This land was called Azeroth.
Around high school, two events happened to me in the popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft, that I was not expecting (and I certainly wasn't on the lookout for missionary opportunities, I can promise you that!).
The first event involved a good friend of mine. His characters had many names, all dealing with shadow (Shadowsrage, Shadowspain, etc). We'll just call him Shadow. Anyway, I had played with him for a long, long time--ultimately 2-3 years, I think! The dude was awesome and tons of fun! One day, we were messaging each other while I was doing quests in Duskwood when he randomly asked, "You're Christian, aren't you?" I responded yes, and we started talking about religion.
He, at the time, was a New Age Buddhist, which if I remember correctly, was nirvana without enlightenment.
Then, he responded, "If you can give me proof of God's existence, then I'll consider your position." I was taken aback, but I spent a few weeks looking for proof and then presented my case to him. As far as I know, nothing has come of it, but the fact the conversation came up made me realize that game worlds are not in a vacuum.
Another time was on another server (a roleplaying server, meaning I usually talked and acted like the sneaky rogue that my character was...#nerdalert). Hey, don't judge; it was a place of escape! I was no longer bound to be the shy, awkward person I am in real life.
Anyway, I met two best friends who knew each other in real life and joined their guild. One was called Surmon and the other was Theovon. Like Shadow, we also had a lot of fun times!
One day after school, I logged on and the guild was disbanded! They both instantly messaged me and explained the situation. They had a falling out! A big disagreement in real life between the two caused them both to end the friendship...
...And here I was: a high school kid now caught in the middle as they wanted me to pick a side! I mean, I wasn't even acting as myself through most of our interactions because of the roleplaying aspect! And now, I was listening to both sides, and having no clue what to do. They both needed a friend, and I guess I was that friend. Turns out, pain and suffering spread even to my place of "escape." I honestly don't remember what I said to either of them, but I hope it was at least empathetic and comforting.
I also prayed for them. It is a little weird to say fantastical names like Surmon and Theovon in a prayer, but that's all I had! And the prayers worked! They were able to reconnect as buddies some time later, praise God!
Shadow, Surmon, Theovon, if any of y'all, for some reason, are reading this: I would love to reconvene! I miss you guys!
Oh! And **Kyllam pickpockets Surmon**
Despite the toxicity of online play, the times when grace was at the center have become some of my biggest memories in the gaming world. So if you or another player is struggling in one form or another, let grace take the lead and "Play it Out!" Who knows? You might be surprised at the outcome... (Alright, now you can roll your eyes, because THAT was cheesy!).
Ask your parents if it is okay for you go come read the next post! I'll be waiting!