Traps - Video Games and Pornography

[WalterNZ]

I realise that this article is from a somewhat alarmist, and primarily aimed at the next generation. I say we need to l,.ok at ourselves. But the underlying content of this I think is relevant to allot of men and even some women of this generation

These Two Traps Are Absolutely Destroying The Next Generation Of Young Men In America


I found this article interesting

The Righteous Will Live By Faith

Romans six brings both sides together, proclaiming God's provision and our responsibility: "our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless." God has provided in Christ's crucifixion for your crucifixion. You've been "freed from sin" (v.7), but it does not end here you still have a responsibility. Verse 11 clearly spells out your responsibility: "Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." So we do have to let God work in our lives, but can we just say "Oh God, you've done it all" and do nothing? I answer with a resounding NO! God has done his part, now it's up to you to do yours. If you were just a puppet, if it was only up to God, apart from your own agency as some seem to imply, none of us would ever sin again. The fact that this is not the case, that sin continues, demonstrates that some agency apart from God's is at work in the world. Fortunately God still allows freedom, unfortunately people abuse that freedom. The reason people still sin is because they forsake their responsibility, ignore God's provision and cling to the darkness. The apostle Paul said it best:

"We have an obligation- but it is not to the sinful nature to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature you well die; but if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body you well live, because those who are lead by the spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:12-14 ).

[WalterNZ]

This can be a tabu subject for some but its gotta be tackled

[WalterNZ]

New Zealand and Australia are in the same situation, and id imagine same for Europe too

[RandallB]

Can't locate reference right now but a Sage once said:

"I have two natures battling inside me all the time."

A Pundit asked: "Which one wins?"

Sage: "The one I feed."

[FaithInChrist]

Can't locate reference right now but a Sage once said:

"I have two natures battling inside me all the time."

A Pundit asked: "Which one wins?"

Sage: "The one I feed."

So true!

[Hannah]

Promiscuity of young girls is also ruinning the next generation of young women.

Hard drinking and taking drugs.

We can only pray for the young.

If you are a parent of course we need to be godly parents and teach out own children right from wrong and teach them about Jesus.

All we can do is influence the young children who we have in our spheres of life. We cannot change the whole world who have turned their back on God.

for the young that the Lord might give them every opportunity to hear the gospel message and turn to Jesus, amen.

[mikhen7]

Walter you have a valid point. Some -- Many have been told all they need to do is walk an aisle, say the prayer and walla-your life insurance policy is secure. Others have been told the same and they have followed suit but not for the right reasons. Insert your reason here--> ___________________________! Mine was because others were walking the aisle I thought I needed to, but I still did not understand. But once I came to end of myself and found that I was insufficient to accomplish any eternal things-I began to fear God so I trusted Christ and He changed my life immediately... literally, it was immediate for me. Others have been in my position and were indeed truly saved but they were let down by the church because there was no clear teaching and discipleship. They are babes in Christ. I say this because if they were not truly saved they could never be discipled in the first place. Straight is the way and narrow the gate.

Hebrews 5:12-14 (NKJV) teaches, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Some of the issue's with changed lives that know there is an obligation to grow in Christ is the lack of responsibility and fervency for Christ in the lives of those they hang with.
Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NKJV) That is really a telling verse about a church living in sin (even to the point of denying the resurrection) that should be grown up in Christ as well.

We need to evangelize the churches while not neglecting the lost.

God Bless.

[nillapoet]

Video games don't even belong in the same sentence as porn. What a crock. People want to whine about their kids playing games? Simple, don't let them have any.

I'm starting to see why people are leaving this site. There's so much sensationalism throughout the forums.

[mattfivefour]

Video games don't even belong in the same sentence as porn. What a crock. People want to whine about their kids playing games? Simple, don't let them have any.

I'm starting to see why people are leaving this site. There's so much sensationalism throughout the forums.

Actually, bro, the site is growing ... both in members and in visitors. We know this from our stats, and it is also confirmed by our climb in the Alexa rankings.

I realize that there is sensationalism in some people's posts. But it is restricted to just a few of the "news" or "non-specific" forums on this board. We also need to remember that this IS a discussion board. We try to allow as unhindered a flow of discussion as possible. Would you have us delete everything we personally do not agree with? We already have many more rules than some boards and hold to a strict theology about the core doctrines of Scripture. Most of those who have departed—and I can tell you that some of those departures were not voluntary—did so because they disagreed with the beliefs on which this board is founded and refused to abide by them.

Handling a diverse community of some 6,000 members—some of whom are regulars and many of whom are irregular users of the site—is a difficult thing. We are constantly, daily, faced with having to make decisions as to what can stay. We try to be as open as possible and rein in sensationalism when it occurs. And I can tell you we come under a lot of criticism when we do that. Nonetheless, we are well aware that we answer to God for what we do here and thus I can guarantee that the two Chrisses and Buzz and I seek His guidance to help us with this ministry.

I personally agree with you that there is sometimes far too much sensationalism in some posts; there is also sometimes far too much behavior manifested that is a shame to the name of Jesus Christ. However, in as amorphous and ethereal an assembly as an internet assembly with as diverse a membership as ours, those things will occur. We do our best to deal with them and, based on my prior experience and my current reading, I think you will find that RF is stricter in doctrine and less accepting of sensationalism than most prophetic sites on the web. You would be shocked at the kinds of things that are accepted and even encouraged on many sites; as, I am sure, you would be stunned at the error of the doctrines espoused there.

Despite its faults (which, let us face it, are the faults of individuals rather than of the site), RF overall is a warm and loving community in which members fellowship and care for one another in prayer, comfort, and consolation, and where most try to build their brothers and sisters up in the faith.

Where we mods fail, I can only ask you to forgive us. We are doing our best. And with God's help will get better at it.

[nillapoet]

I apologize Adrian. I guess my frustration comes from seeing video games and porn being lumped together. If that's the case then football should be thrown in there with porn too.

I've seen a few posts about members leaving and automatically connected my current frustration with what I thought may be the same reason for their leaving. The mods do a great job by the way. Especially when it comes to resolving conflicts in a loving manner.

[mattfivefour]

Thank you, bro. No problem. I often share your frustration!

Back to the topic, however, I think the video games the author was speaking of are quite different from the video games you and I likely played (and may still play). There is a dark, demonic spirit in more and more of the games today, games which revolve around witchcraft and demons or which glorify the most evil acts. I will not give you the names of the games because I do not want some visitor (or even a member) to be tempted to get the games— but here is a sampling. (I hope you've got a strong stomach!)

One popular game out of Japan is a "stalking/rape simulator that features stealth scenes where you stalk your victim to reach an interactive rape scene." The rape scene comes "complete with moans of pleasure" ... which tells the perpetrator of the rape (the one playing the game) that being raped really feels good.

Another one from Japan has brawlers battling each other. Every time one lands a blow on the other a piece of the person's clothes flies off. Once your opponent is naked you force them to perform sexual acts on you. Both homosexual and heterosexual rape—involving all of the various acts—are part of the game.

Another is a school shooting simulator in which you try to see how many students you can kill. One of the intended victims is supposed to be your girlfriend. If you fail to gun her down the game tells you not to be "such a wuss."

Then there's the first-person shooter in which you have to choose whether to be a Nazi, a Klansman, or a skinhead. Then you pick your weapons and go into a neighborhood to "ethnically cleanse" it of all non-whites.

And there is another well-known game in which cold-blooded murder is the only way to "win". The more you murder in cold blood the more successful you are.

Yes, these are real games. And there are a lot more: even many mainstream games frequently involve the conscious violation of morality based on God's laws. In know they are "games", bro, but they most certainly serve to desensitize individuals to true evil. And thus they are evil in and of themselves.

So when the author of the cited article in the OP places porn and video games like these together as means of deadening the souls of young people today, I believe he is correct.

[nillapoet]

This particular article doesn't say anything about violent games, just game addiction. Unless I jumped over a section, which I very well may have. I agree that if you put the games you suggested (I've heard of just about all of the ones you listed) in the article, there is a definite correlation between games and porn both being detrimental to our youth. Certain individuals in the media feel like they have the authority to talk about how bad something is when they have no idea about it. More often than not games are all categorized as bad and that really irritates me.

There are a lot of games out there that are very demonic and twisted. When I played some of those games before I was a christian, I could literally feel the darkness around me while playing.

In response to the article itself, it comes down to the parents protecting their kids from becoming addicted. My kids love video games, as do I, but I realize there are more important things in life. They only get to play on weekends or for a little while if the weather is bad and after the house is cleaned. Though they're usually outside with friends playing some sport it seems. It only becomes an addiction when the parents fail to step up and set some ground rules.

Oh and Japan is really twisted.

[mattfivefour]

I agree with your comments, bro.