This is odd to me. Can we figure out some better way to represent Jesus in new media, it all seems a tad counterproductive. The first "mainstream" video game for real "gamers" to bring the "Prince of Peace" into the picture, with God's army let lose, guns a' blazin. Apparently, after you've been shot up a whole bunch, to regain your health, you "pray" and then get right back into the battle, shootin up non believers and evil doers alike. (from MSNBC) March 6, 2006 issue - Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition: Christians are finally getting a high-caliber shoot-'em-up videogame of their own. Due out on PCs in the second half of 2006, Left Behind: Eternal Forces is the first game adapted from the blockbuster books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Gamers familiar with the largely uninspiring and unprofitable history of Christian videogames will quickly notice two differences in Forces: the top-shelf design, which offers an eerily authentic reproduction of the game's Manhattan setting, and a level of violence reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto. The game revolves around New Yorkers who are "left behind" after the rapture. Players scour the streets for converts, training them into a work force to feed, shelter and join a paramilitary resistance against the growing forces of the Antichrist.
I think the Ten Commandments have a little to say about this, or am I interpreting the 6th Commandment wrong?
posted by David at
7:33 AM
11 Comments:
Mixing violence with Christ is blasphemy, period.
I hope this game is banned. This is a perfect example of a bad idea gone wrong.
7:21 AM
It is not a joke, it's the sad truth. I think any game made with a christian theme (marketed to "serious gamers") will probably just make a mockery of the faith, whatever the game makers intentions. It's transparent, just like when adults try to be "hip" to relate to kids to get a point across. This is ridiculous, and Ethan, at this point, I think that defending our country and representing God (in a lot of cases) is an either/or situation.
8:33 AM
There was a game in the early 90's called Bible Adventures made for the original NES. The game invovled Noah's Ark, the story of Moses, and I believe David and Goliath. I recently downloaded the roms to play on my computer and it's actually a fun and interesting game that incorporates Bible verses. So yes, there has been a Christian game out there, but it wasn't too successful.
4:14 PM
it just goes along with the entire mainstream christian theme... if it has the word "christian" on it then it is acceptable for them to play or do or go to. "christian" music, movies, books, bands, even "christian" candy or mints. its disgusting - making a profit off of anything with jesus' name or a "christian" label smacked on it to somehow ease their conscience and let them feel that its okay for them to do whatever it is they are doing. (kids not being allowed to play halo because its violent, but a "christian" video game with the same basic theme is much much better.) i hate it.
7:20 PM
"christian". what does it mean anymore? seriously. i don't want to be associated with the filth that alleged "christians" are putting out there as a safe "alternative" to so called worldly things.
i'll never forget back in the day when i was in leadership at a church and was reading "god chasers" by tommy tenney, i believe his name is, and was somewhat moved by the content of his book, his apparent sincere passionate cries for the church to "press in" to god, hunger and thirst after him like you never have before. at the conclusion of the book, a few pages after the last chapter, sure enough there was a catalogue page where you too could be a "god chaser" and let everyone know that you are indeed chasing god by buying and wearing "god chaser" t-shirts, drinking from "god chaser" mugs, sporting stickers, posters, baseball hats, using his manuals, study guides, leadership guides, etc. and so on and so forth ad infinitum. it was one of many instances where i could feel myself beginning to be unplugged from this matrix.
open any "charisma" magazine and see seminars and conferences that cost hundreds of dollars to be a part of just so you can sit and listen to some man or woman who has is speaking because he or she has been adjudged to have it together because they have a direct connect with god that you don't. it's pure unadulterated filth and it disgusts me. all of it, every single last ounce of it. we don't need another "christian" anything. we need love and we need truth. someone tell us the truth!
finally, to put it in terms that "christians" can maybe, just maybe, understand..."woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but are full hypocrisy and lawlessness." every sunday, in america at least, there is something that definitely rises to the heavens but i don't think it's praise.
god deliver us from religion.
7:51 PM
Wow. That is really terrible!
Its really ironic, because I am currently reading Blue Like Jazz, a reccomendation from Jacob, which I am sure you have read, and I just read this part earlier today:
"The problem with Christian belief -I mean real Christian belief, the belief that there is a God and a devil and a heaven and a hell- is that it is not a fashionable thing to believe. I had this idea once that if I could make Christianity cool, I could change the world, because if Christianity were cool, everybody would want to deal with their sin nature, and if everybody would want to deal with their sin nature, then most of their problems would be solved."
Hah, well I even wrote that quote down because I thought so much about it, and now I read your blog, and it is so well fitting.
This video game is outrageous. Its pretty much making a mockery out of Christianity. Ehhh
10:31 PM
wow. i really appreciated what rob said above. expressing my own frustration better than i could!
i'm reading rob bell's velvet elvis now (it finally came in from reserve at the library) and at one point he talks about how dangerous it is call things "Christian"-- because a Christian is an individual person, not an object or an idea.
things like this video game, and that t-shirt, and almost anything i've ever seen for sale in a "Christian bookstore" really hammer that point home for me. dangerous.
10:57 PM
You're right. It's counterproductive. (Not to mention idiotic)
There's a better way to spread the good news: love the world, not its ways.
3:28 PM
The picture reminds me of this picture I saw once of Jesus holding a rifle that a pastor showed. Search Google Images for it (put in "Jesus, rifle"). So disturbing, it's kind of sadly funny.
Also, it reminds me of a song by Dakona called "In God's Name" which has a line that says "But if you wanna hate, then please leave God alone." Actually, the entire song gets mixing violence with God right - in that you shouldn't, like spydrwebb said. Look up the lyrics - it's quite a beautiful song in its own right.
7:31 PM
wow, that's absolutely ridiculous. i cant believe there's a video game like that. society is so sick and wrong sometimes...i was just thinking about how so many things are messed up in our culture, what is it going to be like in 10, 20, 30 years?!
6:25 PM
Bible Adventures was an amazing game!
6:28 PM
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