Why does this bother me so much?
So this Left Behind series came out a few years ago as a realistic deptiction of how the dispensational view of the end times might play out. I started reading it and it was a compelling story and interesting take on what might happen. Then the books started slowing down to where each book seemed to cover a period of days instead of months or years, so I stopped reading and part of me wondered if the books weren't slowing down so there could be more them so they could sell better. Then I noticed there was a kids version, which furthered those suspicions. I was on the web site today and apparently there was a calendar and greeting cards, and there is now a prequel to the series and books that talk about what else was happening while the other stories in the books were going on. Lord forgive me if I'm 100% wrong, but this sure seems like a way of making money in God's name.
Then I saw that they're making a video game for kids out of the whole thing and my stomach turns every time I think about it, but I'm not exactly sure why. Here are some of the quotes about the game:
'the angelic Tribulation Forces and the demonic Global Community Peacekeepers, led by the Antichrist, battle it out to convert secular, neutral units to their respective sides'
(I think the term conversion has enough patronistic, 'we're right and God loves us more than everyone else' baggage that we don't need to add to it)
'Players participate in "battles raging in the streets of New York"... using the power of prayer to strengthen your troops in combat and wield modern military weaponry throughout the game world'
(Not saying Jesus is opposed to military action, but 'modern military weaponry'? What happened to 'our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness...')
I guess I don't see anything positive coming out of this for the cause of the kingdom.
Here's the link to the article if you're interested:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/technology/723/section/left.behind.battles.rage.on/1.htm
posted by jeff @ 1:36 PM
21 comments
21 Comments:
If you're 100% wrong, then I'm wrong too... I guess we can go down wrong together...
Then maybe people can write a book about 2 heretic pastors and how they fell from there place in the Kingdom... then they can make a movie about it and market it as a... oh, sorry... a little carried away...
I guess some good could be a situation like this: Johnny is playing a video game at Bobby's... Johnny asked Bobby what the game is about... Bobby has a chance to evangelize...
See that's not so bad...
Oh, wait... what if Johnny accepts this evangelism only out of fear of being "left behind"... is that what Jesus wants??? - not sure... (ok, maybe I have issues)
Besides... we all know dispensationalism is not true anyway... (I am only making this statement to make Jeff laugh - I am not agreeing, disagreeing, or looking to get fired by making this remark - thankyou)
-Jason
Cynic.
I found this article article backing the game.
It says, "Critics who have raised questions about violence in Left Behind: Eternal Forces have neither seen nor previewed the game as it is still under development."
So, back up off my boys JJ and Timmy. "They're especially excited about the "pray" button."
Does this look violent to you?
your article in support of the game is on the game's website. that doesn't count as support, it counts as marketing.
Shannon, its nice to see you got your article from an objective third party (insert sarcastic tone here)... tell JJ and Timmy i said sup!
OH...SNAP!!!!! Is this game gonna have multi-player mode? Shoot yeah, I'm gonna pwnt some demonic Global Community Peacekeepers! Bring it on N00BS!!!!11!!111ONE!1!
oops...looks like jeff beat me to the punchline while i was typing. sneaky...
Sorry to be so dramatic, but this is the reason why I now use the term "christ-follower" as opposed to Christian. People assume you think this type of gaming is cool or Godly or something like that. I could go on and on and on and on...But, I will choose not to. Anyhow, Its really sad!
Davo...
I will destroy you in the days of coming destruction!!!
"Evanglists head out into the world to convience other units to join thier side."
Are they targeting G-Unit?
Here is a more objective article on the game.
"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition... the game's Christian themes will grab the audience that didn't mind gore in "The Passion of the Christ." "We've thought through how the Christian right and the liberal left will slam us," says Lyndon. "But megachurches are very likely to embrace this game."
I can see it now... you walk into the "auditorium" and see a please turn off you cell phone slide followed by a trailer for this game playing on the gi-normous screens.
On a more serious note, I found this.
wow, that last link you left is great. I'm going to have to spend some time on that blog looking at the rest of their conversation about it. you're so wise shannon... like a big huge buddha, covered with hair...
So ... on a slight tangent, I have a comment about the whole "conversion" thing, since you brought it up again.
In the ESV, I see references to "converts" or "conversion" in 1 Ti 3:6, 1 Cor 16:15, Rom 16:5, Acts 13:43 and Acts 15:3. For you NIV'ers, you can also add Mat 23:15 and Acts 2:11 and 6:5.
But isn't this just a crazy word to use at all? After all, it isn't that my old self is CONVERTED to one that follows Christ. The bible seems to state pretty clearly that we start out dead (Col 2:13, for example), and then become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17) because we're reborn(there's a LOT of verses that talk about being reborn).
That's a lot different than "converting." I wonder if we wouldn't be better off dumping the word entirely and focusing more on the fact that, without Christ, we're not just broken or in need of some "changes" (ie, conversion), we're dead.
I keep thinking of Bart Simpson over at the Flanders' house playing "Billy Graham's Bible Blasters". The goal is to zap people into becoming Christians. He hit one and said something like, "All right! Full conversion!" One of the Flanders boys corrected him, "Nah, you just winged him and made him a Unitarian."
I agree with kec and everyone else who questions our use of these terms. It seems clear to me from Scripture that I was dead in my sins. I had no hope of life and nothing I could do would save me. Then in His mercy and grace Christ came and gave me a new life. He changed my heart of stone to one of flesh. I don't deserve this and I don't understand this, but I want to live for His sake as a result.
I guess a Calvinist like me would make a boring video game. Share Christ's love with people. Present the gospel in a meaningful and relevant way. Pray that God would change their hearts. Keep loving them. Keep sharing. Keep praying. And so on. Not nearly as exciting as a bunch of troops lined up with automatic weapons.
I spent more time reading the various articles linked here and I'm even more in agreement with Jeff. I don't think there's anything wrong with making money in your ministry. But when you start producing things that seem only good for making money you have to wonder. I remember hearing from someone who worked at a Christian book store and said that "holy hardware" outsold Bibles by a wide margin.
Am I the only person who isn't offended by this and couldn't really care less? I'm not really known for intelligent debate or thought, but I really think we let stuff like this bother us too much... if anything, take the game as humor. Let them sell the game, normal people aren't going to take the game seriously. Just like Doom doesn't raise children to be killers. Take the game for what its worth. I think it would be fun to pwn Davo in some multiplayer madness, proving my superior l33t h4x and skillz.
I'm ready to hit this game up on the internets...my prayer warriors will crush sexton's nukes
Ken, I feel like you are baiting me into a debate about Calvinism. This is the best thing I've read about it - http://www.epm.org/articles/qa-theology_debate.html. I'd be interested to hear what you think.
Jason, I wish I had a clip of that Simpson's thing. That would come in handy sometime.
Chris, I think it makes a difference because Christians get labelled en masse and the actions of these people affect people's perception of me when they find out I'm a Christian. We're all accountable to each other.
I like that article. I have a hard time understanding how someone can be a "four-point Calvinist". I think we all tend to get hung up on the "L" for "limited atonement".
This is a long article, but a good one:
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/doctrines_grace/2wills.html
I think it is a very clear explanation of the perceived discrepancy between God's love and the doctrine of election. I also think that Calvinists get a very bad rap because we are often lumped immediately into the hyper- group. I see a great need for evangelism because I know that God uses means to accomplish His will. I'm honored that I ever get to be a part of anything that He does.
sounds like a game for rod and todd flanders.
that simpson's clip is priceless. jason, you were on the money with that clip, that's one of the first things to come to my mind too.
the episode where bart and homer become catholic is also classic
I don't see any other girls posting here so hope this isn't taboo. I just wanted to say that I see Jeff's point and all about the books. A bit junk novelish for me but in the beginning I enjoyed them. Then it became something of a joke. All the rest of the talk about this game though? Seems kinda cool to me. I want to shoot guns at the antichrist for sure. Oh wait, I won't be here. I mean seriously though. I don't think this is something to be upset about. People are going to spend $ on games. It just so happens that in this one you don't pick up hookers and shoot policeman?! I just think thats swell. Want to get mad? Think of how much they charge for a good old NIV.
The "baiting" comment made me laugh. I've been doing a lot of thinking on that subject recently, but wasn't actually trying to bait you. If I was, I would have asked if the "compulsion" you mentioned last week was extended to all, and if it was strong enough to be resisted. I didn't go there though ...
FWIW, I'm still coming to grips with all that it means, but I'd say that I'm pretty "evangelical" and "calvinist" both -- and don't see any contradiction with a calvinist being very concerned about both missions and evangelism.
I need to read all of Jason's article -- I like Piper's preaching and his ministry.
And, just to throw it out, if you haven't see this yet, take a few minutes.
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