Finding God in the gaming world

by · June 30, 2010

I love to play computer games. As a child I enjoyed them, as a teenager I played them and now as an adult I still enjoy computer games. They fascinate me, I played Burger Time on an ATXT, before that I had an Atari 2400 and played Paddle Tank. I’ve played Space Quest, Kings Quest and every Mario version there was. I’ve played StarCraft, Quake, Doom, Duke Nukem, Unreal and Diablo. Today I play Halo 3, Gears of War 2, Call of Duty and Fable.

Sure they can be a distraction and yes, I think they can be addictive.  I believe that there is such a thing as playing too much computer games and the stories these days are epic in computer games, the budgets are bigger. Big name actors play major roles in computer games. Graphics are better, game play is more immersive, multiplayer is better and there is more interaction and emotion. The gaming industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and its not just teenagers playing.

Here are some gaming industry facts, according to the Entertainment Software Association :

  • In 2008, gaming software sales grew 22.9% to $11.7Billion
  • 68% of American households play games.
  • The average gamer is 35 and has been playing 12 years.
  • 40% of gamers are women.
  • 63% of parents believe games are a positive influence.

So why can’t we talk about God in games? Look at the character of the Master Chief in Halo. This genetically enhanced being, Spartan 117 is genetically designed for one purpose, to protect humanity. The Master Chief rarely speaks, never gets angry, is a good listener and is willing to do anything to rescue humanity. He will risk life and forgo his own self for a cause greater than himself. This unlikely character battles the forces of evil relentlessly in an effort to carve out a better world for humanity.

Isn’t that similar to Jesus’ mission? Jesus who was sent to earth to give up his life, so that we might live.  John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave up his one and only son.” Strange, the Master Chief is the last of his kind, a Spartan 4 solider. When you peel back the layers of this game you start to find Biblical undertones.

Perhaps Call of Duty is another example, simple stories of soldiers in epic battles to make the world a better place. War forges friendship, it is a place where the band of brothers concept is formed. For years in Christian circles we have talked about these concepts in men’s ministries. More to the point, these unlikely characters come together on one common purpose, to rescue humanity from a greater threat. Kinda like the Apostles and the Disciples in the New Testament. Unlikely people coming together for a common purpose.

What about Marcus Fenix in Gears of War? The anti-hero who’s life is changed by an encounter with the locust horde. Suddenly and enemy becomes the worlds greatest ally. That story kind of reminds me of Paul’s journey to God and his encounter on the road to Damascus. Saul becomes Paul, an enemy becomes a friend and humanity has a new hero fighting for Jesus.

Many modern films carry on the same motif. The Matrix is littered with Messianic references. Neo is a computing nerd who is the savior for humanity. Isn’t that kinda similar to the Galilean who rescues the world from their sin? Luke Skywalker is born on a desert planet in some backwater part of the galaxy, turns out he is humanities last home. Even more recently Jake Sully is the lone person who can rescue the nation. Each one is a messianic figure, sure there are layers of New Age religion and Philosophy, but they give us a perfect point to teach the real story at heart.

Jesus.

Jesus frames everything that we see in modern media. Spend enough time in the words of God, and the stories in games start to look similar to those in scripture. Some are even blatant about it, Darksiders is about one of the 4 horseman. Sure the eschatology is horrible, but it gives us a chance to tell the REAL story. The key is learning to examine culture, see the bright spots and leverage the conversation to tell the real story of Jesus, God and Scripture. The stories of games may not be right, or even close to it. There, buried below the surface, is some hidden truth which we can leverage for a conversation about God.

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  • Leanne

    Yes, definitely the games are expressing the need for a Savior…. But there is a difference between the savior of the games and Jesus. Jesus' only casualties were a fig tree and himself. The Messiah of the game-world is the one that the Zealots expected: someone to come and free them from the Roman Empire so that they could be God's nation once more, not Rome's. That Messiah would go to war, like King David, and rack up the casualties (and xp) for God's chosen people. Jesus didn't do that, and I think that says a lot.

    PS. Am also originally from Australia. Been here in the US a little longer though.

  • pastorduncan

    Good point, I think Jesus is very much an unexpected Savior, but I would contend, give Jesus a long enough timeline and when we see him again, it might look like the Messiah that the Religious Zealots expected.

  • http://valporev.com Rich

    My first big purchase with my own money as a kid was an Atari 2600. Is that what you meant? Or did they have an Atari 2400 in Australia?

  • pastorduncan

    Rich I think your right, it was a 2600 not a 2400. My apologies man, I have been saying 2400 forever, I sold my self 200 Atari Points short!