I’m not very hip when it comes to video games. Actually, I’m not very hip when it comes to anything—as evidenced by my use of an outdated term like “hip”.

The other day I found myself at the video store looking at games. I unwittingly picked up a game called Far Cry 3. Like an idiot, I didn’t bother checking the ratings or really much else. I remembered enjoying a game called Fable a few years ago and thought this one looked a tad similar.

Thankfully, I got online to see what was in the game before I played it. I soon discovered that this game is filled with salty language, nudity, and a host of other things that I didn’t care to introduce to my home. I never opened the game.

I did a little research—since I’m a nerd and that’s what I do—about some of the more popular games that teens and young adults are playing. Many of them have nudity. And this isn’t your dad’s Atari. I know how good the graphics are on my Madden games or the baseball games I occasionally play. These players look legit. I can only imagine—though I don’t care to—how realistic the nudity and sexual content is in these games.

That got me wondering. How in the world do Christian guys justify playing games with nudity and sexual content in them? Some of these same guys wouldn’t even consider watching movies with explicit scenes of sexual content—or even scenes of rape. Yet, here they are actively participating in a first-person shooter type game participating in sexual acts—albeit mediated through a screen.

It’s Victimless. Right?!?!?

Perhaps the logic is that video game sex and nudity is not the same as real life. It is after all only a video game. It is not like you are ogling real women. It’s a victimless act. It’s different than lust. You aren’t looking at a real woman, that has a real father, or a real husband. That’s not the case with pornography, where you are objectifying a real woman. Not some computer generated version of a woman. She is an object, not a real woman. Therefore, it’s harmless. Right?!?!?

Absolutely not. It’s still pornography because you are viewing something (someone)in a sexual manner outside the context of a marriage*. Since, it is pornography then it will be deeply wounding to both you and if applicable your spouse or future spouse. It’s not a victimless act because it is destroying your soul. Tim Challies is correct when he says,

“One of the most deeply harmful things pornography does, therefore, is reinforce the false lesson that sexual excitement is not about a whole-person union at all”. (From, Sexual Detox)

Every time you participate in a sexual act through a video game you are doing damage to your soul. Yeah, it might be fun and seem relatively harmless to go through the streets of San Andreas jacking cars, visiting strip clubs, and busting up stuff. But it’s not. Every strip club you visit is just as damaging to your soul and your marriage as if you went to the real thing.

It’s not an issue of the eyes as much as it is an issue of the heart. You are training your mind and heart to view sex as an object. Rather than living out real-life fantasies in a video game you’ll soon try to live out video game fantasies in real-life. Sex will not longer be about “whole person union” it will be about conquest. The same thing that you are doing on the video game.

Not Innocent

It’s not innocent, man. Forget the lie that you are telling yourself that you only play the game for the “other stuff”. If that’s the case, then play games that only have the “other stuff”. Who cares if the graphics are better or the game play is better? Is it really worth the price of your marriage? Your purity? Your soul?

Unplug.

Tim Challies had a very helpful article on Monday about Grand Theft Auto V. You should read it. His final sentence is powerful. Here he writes, “The things that entertain him shine a powerful spotlight into his heart.”

What does your video gaming say about your heart?

If it reveals impurity the only prescription is to repent and run to Jesus for healing. He can heal the damage that you’ve done by participating in these games that you thought were so innocent. He can restore your view of women, your view of yourself, and your view of Him.

By the way, if you’re looking to fight a really difficult boss. One that is Nintendo-hard. Try doing battle with your own heart. You can’t conquer this bad-guy. Only Jesus can. And he does. The adventure your looking for isn’t found in a video game. It’s found in the real world of following a real Savior that’s bringing real redemption. Be a part of that. Enough of this flitting away your time on an imaginary world of imaginary sex.

Jesus is better.

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*Well, what about a game where the nudity is not in a sexual nature? What if you play the role of a doctor, or a crime scene investigator that has to view naked bodies to solve the crime? Granted, this is not quite the same as pornography. But, I believe the point still stands. You aren’t viewing these nude bodies as a job. You are viewing them for pleasure—even if it isn’t for sexual pleasure. It’s still going to jack with your head and heart. Run away.