The Devil is in the details

D. male 19 years old.

I needed some clarity on something. I've been feeling convicted about playing a particular video game that involves magic and a plot line that ultimate leads you to killing 'Diablo' and I hadn't really thought much into the conviction other than I know that video games have a tendency to be a serious distraction in my life. I had a kind of fellowship and morning bible study with a brother today and something he mentioned was, when is it too much involvement in witchcraft that it actually becomes a problem, or more so sin? Then went on to talk about how witchcraft is in form or another in a lot of video games, and that ultimately that's why he doesn't play games because he thinks it gives glory to satan. Then I asked him what he thought of Halloween and he pretty well said the same thing. I've been trouble thinking about it all of today. In fact I've been struggling spiritually in that the problem focussing like I had mentioned before. I tried getting some sleep, didn't seem to help I've prayed over it, I've rebuked it and I'm not sure what else to do??

D

My response.

There are extremes on how many would answer your question, but I would start with a question for you. Are you able to walk away from it. Put it down. Or does it have control over you? Of course you could have this problem with Angry Birds. Still it's a good question. The demonic impact of a game like this should be taken seriously although that is hard to explain why in detail. Because I personally believe that demonic influence comes through deception that we have to buy into. It's not like a virus that we can catch on accident. So another question would be; are you being deceived in anyway through this game or is it leading you toward deception? I would recommend that you keep praying for God to reveal what it is he is trying to show you. One last thought. One of the trickiest lies that I see believers get caught up in has to do with what they believe is the extent or limitations of Satan's power. When we start believing that he has power over us when he really doesn't, it opens the door to him having power over us. We must always remember that our "flesh" also wants to control us. It is easily distracted toward things that have a negative de-valuing to us. It's like when we eat junk food. It seems harmless, it tastes good, but it has negative consequences. This video game may be spiritual junk food for you. Slow, subtle negative consequences that in the end leaves you stranded with extra baggage you really don't need.

Take care D.

In Search of Emotional Courage

The heart of a man is like deep waters...  Proverbs 20:5

A true adventure requires risk.  And risk we must! For falling back in fear will mean losing the emotions we were created to experience.  As men we are strongest when we can empathize with the emotions of a loved one.  Then and only then will we be able to connect at the heart with those we care about and the God we serve. 

I was first introduced to “risky faith” when I was in college.  The first time I heard Tim Hansel talk about the need for adventure to bring personal growth it captured my masculine heart and for the first time I began to see Jesus in a different light.  Tim said, “an encounter with Jesus is no safe thing.  Meeting him is like running straight on into a tornado for the first time.”  It was from this man that I first heard a quote by Helen Keller, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”  In many ways he was a forerunner to John Eldridge, who over a decade ago began to call men back to their masculine souls.  And what a stir that caused.  Men from all over this country were drawn to the “Wild at Heart” message that said,

“Adventure is written into the heart of a man.  And it’s not just having fun.  Adventure requires something of us, it puts us to the test.”  -John Eldridge-

John told us that men’s hearts have been assaulted and it was time to recapture what it means to be a man.  He challenged us to return to the adventure of living from the heart. 

Soon after hearing the adventure message in my early twenties I discovered that the greatest adventures in life do not happen riding the white waters of the Tuolumne or climbing a vertical granite wall in Yosemite.  For many men it is easier to risk rappelling off of a vertical granite face or jumping from an airplane than to risk feeling the deeper emotions of the heart.  Meaningful adventure happens when we trust God with the pain of our lives because then and only then do we discover that He is bigger than that pain.   And then we are able to love others deeply instead of closing off and shutting down our emotions. 

As men we are called to be strong and courageous and often toughness and strength are required to take on the day, finish strong and rise to the present challenge.  At other times the obstacles we face are of a different nature, like overcoming the pain of a traumatic childhood or a devastating loss of a friend to an early death.  Some of us carry the wounds caused by an angry or absent father while for others it is the rejection of a lover or the loss of a dream.  Whatever it is that has assaulted your heart, it will not let go until you find the emotional courage to trust God with the deepest part of your pain.  Anytime we move from managing our own pain to facing it and trusting God to take us through it, we will find ourselves on the path to discovering a God that is much bigger, more powerful and intimately real than we ever imagined.

We have to trust that our stories deserve to be told.  We
may discover that the better we tell our stories the better
we will want to live them.  -Henri Nouwen-