JohnnyBGamer

Thinking Aloud: Growing Closer to Christ

Note: I could write an entire series on what it means to grow closer to Christ. I realize that I barely scratch the surface of this subject and wanted to recognize that. You are now free to read.

Last year, I read an article on a Christian video game site that extolled the virtues of Telltale’s The Walking Dead series. The article talked about how the game’s protagonist, Lee, was a Christ-like figure due to his sacrificial death at the end of the game. Spoiler. All I could think was that Lee was a murderer, Christ wasn’t.

As a Christian, I should be constantly growing closer to Christ. What does growing closer to Christ look like? Is it a combo of:

Giving up/walking away from things that are shrouded in helpless darkness? Perhaps coming to the realization that The Walking Dead, with its unimaginative curse-filled vocabulary, just isn’t for me?

Embracing the darkness and trying to find Christ’s redemptive story/ God’s redemptive plan in everything? An effort of trying to find the good, the light, that exists within the darkness we often consume?

Phillippians 4:8 comes to mind:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I want to be willing to give anything up for Christ. Even if this means walking away from a gaming series that I really enjoyed, like The Walking Dead or even God of War. I want to be careful with the games that I endorse because my endorsement, as a Christian, is like saying Jesus approves of this. I do not want to lead anyone away from Christ. A difficult road to trot down.

Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure

I have a 3 year old. He likes to play video games with his daddy. Anytime the PlayStation 3 chirps to life, he comes running into the room asking what we are going to play. We? Yes, we.

In the haze of Thanksgiving evening, my stomach stuffed with Mexican food, my wife and I headed out to Walmart. Walmart was having some early sales and we wanted in. Walking into the store, my wife and I separated. She went to wrestle for a bike for our son; I went to buy an Xbox 360 bundled with Skylanders for myself. Sounds fair, right?

Skylanders

Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure is the game I wish I had growing up. Developed by Toys For Bob, Skylanders integrates action figures, NFC technology, and good old fashioned RPG mechanics. My son and I have spent hours playing the game. In fact, we have one more level to complete as of this writing.

Being 3 years old, my son has a hard time controlling games that use a 3D plane. So, we have worked out a system where he sits on my lap, I control the character, and he controls the fire button. Perfect solution. I will note that this solution crumbles any time Skylanders decides to become difficult (ANY boss fight). During those times, I take over and kick the crap out of Kaos.

Overall, I have enjoyed the game. Playing with my son has given us an activity for “Boy’s Club” and has certainly improved his video gaming skills. Skylanders represents the first game we will have beaten together. How cool is that? There is nothing better than sharing your hobby with your kids.

I’m Alive!

Woof, I have been sick since Christmas (20 days and counting). What started out as an innocent cold quickly mutated into something else. Fever, cough, and achy joints soon showed up for the party. Two rounds of antibiotics (one of which I am currently still on), a diagnosis of a sinus infection/pneumonia/mono, and I have pretty much been sleeping my days away. So, I haven’t vanished if anyone was wondering. Have just been a bit under the weather. Thankfully the drugs that I am on seem to be working. I can’t wait to actually feel well in 2013.

Video Game Violence Aides Connecticut Shooter

We can cast blame on “lax” gun laws or analyze the media diet of shooter Adam Lanza and still come to the same conclusion. In the end, Adam was human. To deny that we as humans are evil is to deny our humanity. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, sin and evil have entered our world. This should be no surprise to us as we consume the daily news and personally experience evil and injustice. Our world is a dark place.

Despite a possible mental illness, Adam Lanza was a human being with a free will. He made the choice to walk into that school and cause the physical and emotional destruction he wrought His actions were calculated. At what point will we allow him to take responsibility for his actions?

Blame is easy. Personal responsibility, not so much. So let us blame violent video games. Adam was a kid, he must have played them, right?

The Gospel of Simplicity

In high school, my youth pastor’s heart beat was to the drum of the Book of Revelation. He could be somewhere completely different in the Bible, a book like Matthew, and somehow we would end up closing our time in Revelation. After awhile, I honestly grew tired of hearing about the end times. However, I knew that his heart was in the right place and that he was genuine in his faith due to how he lived his life.

Attending a Christian college, I encountered a lot of hypocrisy. People would say one thing one moment and then live something completely different the next. I almost walked away from Christianity during that time. God, in His mercy, reminded me not to look at others and instead focus on my own personal relationship with Him. Throughout the years this has been a lesson that I have had to continually come back to again and again. Simple and sweet.

I am thankful that I do not serve a God that requires me to follow lists; a God does not require a specific amount of works for me to be deemed right. I am thankful that:

I do not have to walk down an aisle or pray a specific prayer to be saved.
That I do not have to build up a certain amount of disciples.
I do not have to engage in the latest “church” fad.

All I have to do is believe, embrace God’s hand, and walk on.