What should I do with a game that has an indecently dressed character?
Question:
I've been reading some of the articles and questions, and I like your commitment to keeping sinful entertainment out of your life. I have been trying to keep all forms of this out of my life for a while now. My DVDs almost wholly consist of Disney movies save a few. But I do want to inquire of you what I should do regarding this one video game.
I bought a video game recently that was rated E+10 for everyone ten years of age and older. It's an animated game, and there's not much to it. Its rating was for comic mischief, mild cartoon violence, and suggestive themes.
After I bought the game, I opened the box and saw the little pamphlet that goes with every game. I read through it a little way and saw it contained a curse word. I marked it out with a pen. It wasn't what society considers to be a really bad curse, but of course, you know we know there is no lesser evil.
I played through it a little way, and you free a fairy (looks like a woman with wings, maybe), but she's dressed in basically a bikini. Now she's only on the screen maybe four or five times during the game according to the pamphlet. She only appears on the screen for maybe five to ten seconds. In the game, there is no cursing, as far as I know. I figure it would have held a much higher rating if it did. There is no sex. Everything is a cartoon. My question is, because of the immodest apparel that occurs in this game, would it be wrong to play it? What should I do in this type of situation?
Answer:
The difficult part of making moral decisions like this is the money you invested in it. It is hard to let go of something that you decide is wrong if you paid money for it.
Video games that contain brief elements of wrongfulness are more difficult to handle than a book or movie. With the latter there are ways to edit out the unwanted material. The video game industry doesn't give that option.
Here are some ways to decide about whether a game should go or not:
- If a preacher or elder walked in at the wrong moment, would you be trying to hide what was on the screen?
- If you have a younger brother, would you want him looking at it? Would you want to explain it to him if he asked questions?
- Do you find it provocative, titillating, or arousing?
I would rather be like Job: "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?" (Job 31:1).
Question:
Thanks. I think "If a preacher or elder walked in at the wrong moment, would you be trying to hide what was on the screen?" really helped.
My thing is I'm very frustrated with this. I actually went to the store looking for a video game that didn't have immoral content in it. I thought a game designed for ten-year-olds would do great, what has this world come too?
The truth is, they make those scenes look very provocative, even if they are two-dimensional cartoon fairies! They really don't appeal to me whatsoever, but we are supposed to flee temptation.
However, I do have a question regarding another game. The game is intended for a mature person, rated M for 17+. However, this game (as far as I can tell) does not contain this suggestive material. No sex or language, just violence. Maybe you're familiar with the franchise Lord of the Rings, I'm a big fan of their books and movies. This game, however, is extremely realistic and bloody. Of course, you're killing dreamed up monsters, but it's very detailed. There wouldn't be anything wrong with this game would there? After all, the Bible has very bloody moments in its history as well. (David and Goliath, for example.) I can see no real sin in this game; it's just really bloody. You're basically just killing monsters in very gruesome ways, and I suppose they will kill your character as well.
It comforts me to get a point of view from a much more mature Christian. So, can you tell me what you think about this one? I know the creator of the books, Tolkien, was a Christian, although most likely denominational. I realize not to judge myself by other people, which has been extremely hard for me lately. I know plenty of more mature Christians who watch TV with foul language or superhero movies with sex scenes, and these Christians have helped me so very much in my journey. I couldn't imagine them being damned for these things, but again I do not believe it's right.
Right now I'm still amazed that I spent 60 bucks on a game I thought would be fine and dandy. What has it come to when games designed for small children have content clearly condemned by God? I guess it's just another example that "men's mind only think evil continually" is back, and we're back in days like those of Noah's. But then again, you couldn't be blind in this world and not notice that.
Answer:
In regards to violent games, see Are all violent video games wrong?
I agree that older Christian need to wake-up to the fact that they are being pulled into the world. I know that they will have to give an account before God for the example they gave. Whether such will keep them out of heaven, I just don't know. I always pray that God will be merciful. Yet, for myself I try to remember: "Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" " (I Peter 4:18). I don't want to be deluded that heaven is a sure thing and that I don't have to monitor my own actions.
What you can do is see if you can take it back to the store and tell them about your disappointment with the rating. They might not be sympathetic, but even if they don't refund your money, you at least made a statement. Also, write a nice letter to the company explaining your disappointment in the rating of the game. Tell them you've stopped playing it, tried to return it, and will let others know that the game isn't rated accurately. But don't ask them to do something about it. They may or may not decide to do something, but at the least, they know someone is concerned and watching. Meanwhile, also try locating game review sites that are oriented to family or Christian ideals. Give a factual review of the game and explain why you think the game wasn't rated accurately. If nothing else, your experience will help others make a more informed buying decision.
Question:
I appreciate the answer again. But what about movies like Alice in Wonderland and Aladdin where characters are seen smoking (Genie and the caterpillar)? Would you consider movies like these improper to watch? Just wondering. I just want to make sure I'm not doing anything that displeases the Lord.
Answer:
There isn't a perfect movie, since they are being created by imperfect men. "I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world" (I Corinthians 5:9-10). Each of us is going to run into things that are not right. Because the world is filled with evil, we won't be able to totally avoid it.
The question is not whether there are examples of wrong to be found, but whether its presence is influencing us. A person who is having a rough time quitting smoking probably won't want to watch movies that include smoking. An alcoholic would not want to see movies that have bar scenes. Yet people who have no desire for such things will merely think, "There they go again, trying to make the morally wrong acceptable."
Therefore, we must always be on guard. If repeated watching starts altering our thought on a subject, then it is time to end the influence. While what may be bothersome to you, might not bother me, still heavy repetition will destroy barriers. "Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits" " (I Corinthians 15:33).
