Is Playing Mature Rated Games Alright?

[jasoncran]

The general argument against pornography is that it induces lust in the individual, not that sin is being displayed and observed.

If one can watch pornography without being induced to lust, then it is no sin.

why else you watch it, too admire men?

see naked person in a documentary isnt porn , but two person in act of sex is.

 

[Menno]

The general argument against pornography is that it induces lust in the individual, not that sin is being displayed and observed.

If one can watch pornography without being induced to lust, then it is no sin.

Totally agree. God looks more at the intent of the heart than anything else. Like you said, nudity itself is not sinful, but the only purpose of pornography is to inspire lust in people. It's also very addicting which I've unfortunately learned.

So, if anyone who is say nudity is sinful in itself, I have a question to ask. A few years ago for my high school junior history class, I watched a movie about slavery that showed naked slaves being thrown overboard. Did we sin?

Question: is gaming addictive?

 

[jasoncran]

it can be

 

[Tissue]

why else you watch it, too admire men?

see naked person in a documentary isnt porn , but two person in act of sex is.

One might watch it to study the genre and its themes, along with its effect on the human psyche (http://psycnet.apa.org/?fa=main.doiLand ... 21038-001; for example, studied the effect of pornography on one's understanding of the gravity of rape).

Obviously those are exceptional cases. But my point is, it isn't a sin in every case.

I might be a bit of an odd case, but sex scenes in movies do not typically arouse me. My arousal is more emotional; I have to care about someone first in a way deeper than mere sympathy for a character. For example, I've watched the film 'Boogie Nights' (a fantastic film by PT Anderson, and jostling with 'There Will Be Blood' as his masterpiece thus far), which is about the porn industry in the 1970's. I remained cognizant of possible problems, as there are multiple sex scenes, but I was not driven to lust.

 

[jasoncran]

why else you watch it, too admire men?

see naked person in a documentary isnt porn , but two person in act of sex is.

One might watch it to study the genre and its themes, along with its effect on the human psyche (http://psycnet.apa.org/?fa=main.doiLand ... 21038-001; for example, studied the effect of pornography on one's understanding of the gravity of rape).

Obviously those are exceptional cases. But my point is, it isn't a sin in every case.

I might be a bit of an odd case, but sex scenes in movies do not typically arouse me. My arousal is more emotional; I have to care about someone first in a way deeper than mere sympathy for a character. For example, I've watched the film 'Boogie Nights' (a fantastic film by PT Anderson, and jostling with 'There Will Be Blood' as his masterpiece thus far), which is about the porn industry in the 1970's. I remained cognizant of possible problems, as there are multiple sex scenes, but I was not driven to lust.

huh implied the study of it, but all others may lead to sin, look i struggle with porn, it didnt go like hey lets look at porn it was first a small exposure,ie penthouse,playboy and the movie the Heavy Metal, the later had no active sex scenes but showed breasts and it lead one thing to another.

an alcoholic starts with one drink.
an one can change the natural desires into the unatural arrousals over time.

 

[Tissue]

I understand your concern.

I'm 20-years-old. It's been a good eight or nine years since I 'discovered' sexuality. My sexual drive has died down quite a bit since the rampaging hormones of puberty. While I remain aware, I also know well enough now what may cause me to stumble and what is alright. I do, of course, remain aware, and if issues arise, I correct them.

I don't watch pornography, for the record.

 

[jasoncran]

I understand your concern.

I'm 20-years-old. It's been a good eight or nine years since I 'discovered' sexuality. My sexual drive has died down quite a bit since the rampaging hormones of puberty. While I remain aware, I also know well enough now what may cause me to stumble and what is alright. I do, of course, remain aware, and if issues arise, I correct them.

I don't watch pornography, for the record.

what one puts in the mind does affect you more than you think.
putting ones guard down isnt wise, i have done this all too much.

 

[Tissue]

I just told you I'm not putting my guard down.

 

[jasoncran]

but youre saying that playing "mature" game is ok with you, then i then you are better man than me,

even though beer will never tempt me or any alcohol, i avoid bars and such like as they dont glorify the lord unless he sends me there to witness, wich hasnt happened to me.

combat has made it impossible for me to play extreme violent games as i can detach my feelings from death and see it as fascinating and stay there and i hate that.

 

[Tissue]

I never said I thought I was a better man than you. I'm simply pointing that, just because a particular area is a struggle of your's, does not mean it is a struggle for all of us (though, to be sure, pornography and lust is a struggle for a surprisingly high percentage of men). I have my own struggles.

I don't believe smoking or drinking is wrong. Bars don't bother me.

The way it works is basically 'If it is a stumbling block for you, do not partake.'

 

[jasoncran]

some would advise, and i do why take the chance. we dont know if we have that particular weakness.

is the gory scenes of some movies ok to the lord as entertainment?
is the bedroom scenes ok with the lord.

not to sound legalistic as i have been guilty of the above, but tv and others entertainment have become so hedonistic that it hards for most christians to look at.

that's my approach.

some say that's a prudish approach, and may affect witness possibly, but i have come to this place this year as i no longer watch tv since the month of june. really after the cancellation of stargate atlantis.

but this is not a commandment.

 

[Tissue]

some would advise, and i do why take the chance. we dont know if we have that particular weakness.

I do know if I have that particular weakness. I don't.

is the gory scenes of some movies ok to the lord as entertainment?
is the bedroom scenes ok with the lord.

If the person watching them does not stumble, yes.

not to sound legalistic as i have been guilty of the above, but tv and others entertainment have become so hedonistic that it hards for most christians to look at.

Not really. Only if Christians are not able to distance themselves from what they see.

 

[jasoncran]

how, a murder can distance himself from the act, does that make it ok? no,obviously.

when you are watching tv you are routing for some charachters that engange in all manner of sin, then come church time it oh now dont commit adultery that's sin. watch its ok but dont do it.

to some that seems contradictory. no true it wont make you go and do it,but you are thinking about it and what jesus's say about that.

it's a place that one has to come to. not be told to get there. i gave up secular music 15yrs ago. my wife watches tv i dont. some are called to this or do this voluntarily.

you are young and dont remember when curse words and porn lite wasnt seen on primetime, i like the older tv shows.

 

[Tissue]

how, a murder can distance himself from the act, does that make it ok? no,obviously.

The very word 'murder' contains within it both the act (killing another individual) and the sin itself (the motive). Many Christians believe that there are situations in which it is ok to kill another person (such as in warfare, or in self-defense, or (more controversially) euthanasia). So, by definition, a murderer cannot distance himself from the act, in that the very word 'murder' necessarily implies that the murderer is deeply connected with the sin of the act.

This is not the case for the observation of pornography, or the participation in M-rated games. There is no implicit sin in these cases. Sin happens when the individual's mind moves in ways it should not move.

when you are watching tv you are routing for some charachters that engange in all manner of sin, then come church time it oh now dont commit adultery that's sin. watch its ok but dont do it.

I rarely watch TV. When I do, I don't know that I ever 'root for people.'

to some that seems contradictory. no true it wont make you go and do it,but you are thinking about it and what jesus's say about that.

But you aren't actually sinning. That's the key point.

it's a place that one has to come to. not be told to get there. i gave up secular music 15yrs ago. my wife watches tv i dont. some are called to this or do this voluntarily.

I only listen to secular music. As a Christian, most CCM kitsch is far more offensive to me than what I listen to.

you are young and dont remember when curse words and porn lite wasnt seen on primetime, i like the older tv shows.

Profanity isn't sinful. I curse.

I've never seen anything resembling pornography on primetime television. But then, I don't really watch much tv. The stuff I do watch is pretty simple: The Office, Arrested Development, etc

 

[jasoncran]

what part of the verse dont you understand.matthew 5:27-32 is what i'm referencing.

if you see lets say for me it was racheal lutrell and see her in a sex scene and go wow she's hot , you have sinned not in the fact that you are atracted to her but if you continue watching her and thinking about her naked, whether married or not that sin.

sin starts with a thought, surely you agree.

look i'm not saying one shouldnt watch tv only why i dont. i drew the line this year. and wont watch anything new unless its not too hedonistinc and that's far and few between.

so, you aren't effected by naked woman, come on what are you lying to me or a eunich.

cursing is a sin, is it ok to god names in vain to you, or speaking coarsly, what bible college do you attend?

i dated a man who wouldnt step into a church even he was appaled by the cursewords christain used.
yes i was once a bi

 

[Tissue]

what part of the verse dont you understand.matthew 5:27-32 is what i'm referencing.

if you see lets say for me it was racheal lutrell and see her in a sex scene and go wow she's hot , you have sinned not in the fact that you are atracted to her but if you continue watching her and thinking about her naked, whether married or not that sin.

sin starts with a thought, surely you agree.

Sure. I don't disagree with any of that.

look i'm not saying one shouldnt watch tv only why i dont. i drew the line this year. and wont watch anything new unless its not too hedonistinc and that's far and few between.

Ok. If that's what you need to do, then do it.

so, you aren't effected by naked woman, come on what are you lying to me or a eunich.

On the subject of arousal, I find clothed women much more tempting. I certainly do have a sexual drive, but it's something I am capable of keeping within control.

cursing is a sin, is it ok to god names in vain to you, or speaking coarsly, what bible college do you attend?

I don't attend a Bible college. I attend Houghton College. Liberal arts.

Cursing is not a sin. Sometimes there's nothing better for a situation than a nice bit of profanity. I don't use it around people who are offended by it, but I am not offended by it myself, and most of my friends aren't either.

As for taking God's name in vain, I would point out that we don't have a clue what God's name is. Yahweh and Jehovah are both approximations (and the second is almost certainly wrong).

i dated a man who wouldnt step into a church even he was appaled by the cursewords christain used.
yes i was once a bi

It is wrong to offend people with one's profanity, sure. But profanity itself is not wrong.

 

[jasoncran]

so we can curse the name of the lord then even if were exactly sure what is? and he will be that's ok you didnt know the my name but ignore the law that says thou shalt not take the lord's name in vain?

i do curse, so i'm guilty of it, but i wont justify the sin in my life as i know that i shouldnt do it and have told the lord to take it from me. but hmm sinners have told me you cant be saved if you cuss like that, what does that say about my witness.

do all christians cuss once in a while sure, no one's perfect.

ah nevermind this is going no where.

 

[Tissue]

so we can curse the name of the lord then even if were exactly sure what is? and he will be that's ok you didnt know the my name but ignore the law that says thou shalt not take the lord's name in vain?

It's all about motive. All sin is. If we accidentally stumble upon his name and use it in a fit of anger, but did not intend to use it as God's name, I don't think that's bad.

At any rate, I'm more inclined to think 'Do not take my name in vain' was more of a holiness code for the Israelites. I'm not certain what it's relation to us today is.

i do curse, so i'm guilty of it, but i wont justify the sin in my life as i know that i shouldnt do it and have told the lord to take it from me. but hmm sinners have told me you cant be saved if you cuss like that, what does that say about my witness.

Again, don't curse if it causes you problems or offends other people. My close friends at college are Christians, and we curse. And it's not an issue.

do all christians cuss once in a while sure, no one's perfect.

ah nevermind this is going no where.

I think we just fundamentally disagree. I don't think there's a way to really bridge this gap.

 

[jasoncran]

to be truthfull cursing doesnt bother me, as i have been all around the world and in war, but it still not ok.

so though shalt not murder was written to only the isrealites?
where do we stop that logic with the basic ten commandments.

 

[Tissue]

That's a very fundamentalist-esque approach to my post: If we change one thing, then we have to change everything!!!

I reject this idea. We can be careful and precise.