Why We Choose to Avoid Violent Video Games
Hello, dear friends! Today I want to tackle a topic that might step on some toes, but I feel called to share where Jake and I have landed on this issue: violent video games. I know this is an area where many Christian families have different convictions, and I want to approach this with grace while also being honest about what we believe God has shown us.
The Heart of the Matter
When it comes to violent video games—those that center around killing, graphic violence, or glorifying sinful behavior—Jake and I have chosen to avoid them entirely. This isn't about being legalistic or thinking we're somehow more spiritual than others. It's about a genuine conviction that spending hours simulating murder, torture, or other acts of violence isn't compatible with filling our minds with what is "pure" and "lovely."
I understand that many people see these games as just entertainment, as fantasy that has no bearing on real life. But here's what troubles me: if we're called to guard our hearts above all else (Proverbs 4:23), how can we justify repeatedly engaging with content that celebrates the very things that break God's heart?
What Scripture Says
The Bible gives us clear guidance about what we should focus our minds on. Philippians 4:8 isn't just a nice suggestion—it's a command about the kinds of thoughts and influences we should welcome into our lives. When I look at games that reward players for acts of violence, theft, or sexual immorality, I struggle to see how they align with thinking about things that are "noble" and "right."
Jesus taught us that what's in our hearts eventually comes out in our actions (Luke 6:45). While I'm not saying that everyone who plays violent games will become violent, I do believe that what we repeatedly expose ourselves to shapes us in ways we might not even realize.
Ephesians 5:11 tells us to "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." How can we claim we want nothing to do with darkness while we spend our free time immersed in digital worlds that celebrate it?
The Desensitization Concern
One of my biggest concerns about violent video games is how they can desensitize us to violence and evil. When we repeatedly see graphic violence as entertainment, doesn't it become easier to become numb to the real suffering in our world?
I think about how God's heart breaks over every act of violence, every life lost, every person harmed. How can I reconcile that with finding entertainment in simulated versions of these very things? Romans 12:9 calls us to "hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Violent games seem to do the opposite—they make evil entertaining and engaging.
Our Future Children
When Jake and I have children, Lord willing, we won't be allowing violent video games in our home. This isn't because we want to shelter them from reality, but because we want to shape their hearts toward what God values.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 reminds us that God's commands should be on our hearts, and we should impress them on our children. Part of that means being intentional about what influences we allow into their young minds and hearts. If we believe violence and evil shouldn't be glorified, why would we allow games that do exactly that?
I know some parents argue that they can use these games as teaching moments, but I believe there are countless better ways to teach our children about good and evil without exposing them to graphic content that's designed to be enjoyable and rewarding.
What About "It's Just a Game"?
I often hear people say, "It's just a game," or "It's not real." But here's what I think we're missing: the time we spend with these games is real. The thoughts and emotions they generate are real. The gradual shaping of our hearts and minds is real.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 says, "'I have the right to do anything,' you say—but not everything is beneficial. 'I have the right to do anything'—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others."
Even if we have the "right" to play these games, are they beneficial? Are they constructive? Do they help us love God and others better?
Alternative Entertainment
This doesn't mean we're against all gaming or entertainment. There are so many beautiful, creative, and challenging games that don't require violence to be engaging. Games that celebrate creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and even redemptive storytelling can be wonderful ways to relax and connect with others.
Jake and I enjoy games that challenge our minds, let us explore beautiful worlds, or work together toward positive goals. Entertainment doesn't have to include violence to be fun or engaging.
Grace for Different Convictions
I want to be clear: I'm not condemning every Christian who plays these games or saying they love Jesus less than we do. The Holy Spirit may convict different people about different things, and we each have to be faithful to how He's leading us.
But I also think sometimes we're too quick to dismiss convictions as "just personal preference" when they might actually be the Spirit trying to guide us toward greater holiness. Romans 14:22-23 reminds us that whatever doesn't come from faith is sin—and if we have doubts about whether something honors God, we should probably avoid it.
The Bigger Picture
Ultimately, this issue isn't really about video games at all. It's about the condition of our hearts and what we're allowing to influence us. It's about whether we're serious about Paul's command to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
When we choose to avoid violent entertainment, we're not just saying no to one type of media—we're saying yes to filling our minds and hearts with things that draw us closer to God rather than potentially pulling us away from Him.
Living Differently
As Christians, we're called to be different from the world around us. Not different just for the sake of being different, but different because we're being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Sometimes that means making choices that others might not understand, including choices about our entertainment.
I'd rather err on the side of being too careful about what I allow into my heart than too casual about it. There's so much beauty, goodness, and truth available to us—why settle for entertainment that celebrates what God hates?
A Challenge
I want to challenge all of us, myself included, to really examine our entertainment choices through the lens of Scripture. Are we choosing things that help us think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable? Or are we compromising because something is fun, popular, or convenient?
This isn't about perfection or earning God's love through our entertainment choices. It's about the natural overflow of hearts that want to honor Him in every area of our lives, including the "small" things like how we spend our free time.
What Do You Think?
I know this is a topic where godly people disagree, and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. How do you approach entertainment choices as a Christian? What guidelines or principles help you make these decisions?
Let's continue this conversation with grace and humility, always remembering that our goal is to help each other grow in Christlikeness, not to judge or condemn.
May we all have hearts that are increasingly sensitive to what grieves God's heart and increasingly drawn to what brings Him joy.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23