Gaming and Godliness, Part 1
Introduction
Many may ask church leaders for counsel about video games: “Should I, or those under my care, play them? If not, why not? If so, what kinds and how much?” To answer these questions knowledgably, pastors and elders must first understand what a video game is, what types of games there are, and what are their ratings.1
Discussion
Calibrating the Conscience
Body
“Theologian Charles Hodge (1797–1878) describes the conscience as a ‘mysterious power,’ a mental faculty that seems both to emerge from our inner world and stand outside of us as an external judge. A further complication arises from the evident reality that one’s conscience can malfunction.” - 9 Marks
Discussion
The Sinful Practice of "Religious Threats"
Body
“The strength of the threat comes from the effect that it has on the religious sensibility or conscience of the person…. Since the religious type of threat lays claim to the Bible, let us see what Scripture says about threats.” - Matt Postiff
Discussion
Five Ways to Beat Bitterness: #4 - Act
Read the series so far.
Elijah sits under the juniper and bemoans the failure, unfairness, and pointlessness of his years of work (1 Kings 19:10). Jonah sits under his gourd and broods over his unwanted success (and God’s unwelcome mercy!) in Nineveh (Jonah 4:1-11). Job sits among his “friends” and agonizes physically, emotionally, and spiritually (Job 2:8, 13).
Then there’s Peter. What was he doing between his denial of Jesus, with its resulting bitter regret (Matt. 26:75), and his decision to “go fishing”?
It probably involved a lot of sitting.
Discussion
Which Way, Christian?: A Contrast of David Platt’s Radical and Michael Horton’s Ordinary
Body
“as helpful a correction as Radical is to a real problem in American Christianity, Platt nevertheless overcorrects and creates an unhealthy and unwarranted expectation…. In this article, I’m going to focus on three areas where I think Horton offers a helpful counter-correction to Platt.” - Christ Over All
Discussion
Glorifying God with Our Bodies Isn’t About What We Don’t Do
Body
“It’s far more about what we do with them—where we go with our feet, what we do with our hands to help others, and what we say with our mouths to give meaning to the acts of our bodies.” - TGC
Discussion
Filthy Rags or Fragrant Offerings? How Does God View Our Good Works?
Body
“…as Christians, we sometimes underestimate the change in status that took place when we were united to Christ and adopted into God’s family. We speak of ourselves as though nothing had changed in our relationship, and as if God still viewed our efforts to please him as offensive. But this is false, as we’ll see from Scripture.” - TGC
Discussion
Key Ways to Increase Our Awareness of God’s Presence at Work
Body
“It is one thing to understand our need for this presence, but it is another thing to maintain an awareness of his presence in the busyness of life.” - IFWE
Discussion
Rediscovering Joy: Addressing a Critical Need in Today’s Church
Body
“something has happened in the last several years. The joy quotient for most people, even followers of Jesus, has taken a dive.” - Challies
Discussion
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Discussion