Video Games and Reality

I can no longer swallow the argument that 'it's just a game' when it comes to the offerings of violent programming being marketed to the world.

They are not games!

They are nothing less than tactical exercises geared to removal of human and Godly emotion in dealing with our fellow beings.

To the degree that we become self-absorbed and accustomed to violence as a daily way of life, we separate ourselves from the Spirit of God by degrees until what we perceive to be light is truly darkness.

Experts within the video gaming industry don't want people to realize that this desensitization is occuring because it would harm the bottom line. But facts are facts. We have proof that subliminal advertising works. We know that media is crammed with distorted images of what we should be, look like and purchase with our hard earned dollars. So when the people who earn their money by exploiting the baser emotions claim that their products are harmless, I have to disagree most vehemently.

If they had no effect either through addictive properties or increases in altered behavior, no one would buy another one and they wouldn't ever use the first game again.

The fact is, by design and engineering, violent games are created for the sole purpose of doing the unacceptable in a safe environment. But it isn't safe.

What we think we will eventually do if we do not heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit and leave those things behind that can harm us spiritually, emotionally and eternally.

I have seen all too many times the headlines of tragedy that violent actions have occured in mimicry of violent games. The rationale is that 'they would have done it anyway' just doesn't ring true.

When we make all things possible by any means possible, we remove God from the equation and are left to our own devices. Much like the people of the Book of Mormon who willingly subjugated themselves to the Father of All Lies and acted most cruelly to those whom they battled, those who enslave their appetites and passions to gaming are teaching their spirit that it doesn't matter what they do.

Eventually, they can't stop without intervention and a huge dose of repentance.

Our armed forces who are commanded into harms way come home with PTSD and a host of issues that they cannot overcome alone. They have lived the reality of the games that are played by a generation of gamers who don't see any harm in what they do. And the harm they have suffered will never fully be repaired in this life.

Sadly, we have a lot of people in this world who are more than willing to make a living off of the backs of other people while exploiting the base elements of human nature.

The truth is that we have a choice. We don't have to cave in and buy these things either for ourselves OR for our children.

It's strange that we wouldn't tell our children to eat from the garbage cans, yet we are willing to allow them to forage through the mental trash of the world and hope there will be no harm.

It's all reality . . . there is nothing virtual about it.