Left Behind the video game is soon to be released. On the Fringe brought this to my attention and I cannot stop ruminating on how ridiculous American Christianity has become. The game, according to creators, is meant to show, "...situations resulting from the stories' post-apocalyptic time-frame are used to encourage gamers to think about matters of eternal significance, a topic largely ignored by modern games."Is this what Arminian evangelism has lead to? Are we so ashamed of the Word of God and so doubt the work of the Holy Spirit that we rely on destructive and apocalyptic video games to do our evangelism for us?
I prefer the method of the Apostle Paul personally. I may be old fashioned and not Generation-Tech enough, but I think that the Spirit still works this way:
"WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. -Romans 10.13b-17
Maybe if the Apostle Paul knew about this video game he would change his view of evangelism. It would not be faith comes by hearing Christ in preaching, but faith comes through gaming and how can they game without a programmer.
8 comments:
At least it has more wow factor than Harold Camping's radio-only so called "truth" dispenser.
It can hardly be evangelism, for one main reason: the people who like "Left Behind" are almost all converted already.
Plus, how are you going to win the game? Beat Satan yourself? (I haven't read the series, so I don't know how it ends, I'm just doign some uninformed speculating.)
Anyone who fancies it being evangelism is being awfully generous. Especially when games made from established franchises usually get panned by the gaming community.
However, I will say this: while the Christian community is focused on getting the word out through movies and TV shows, the video game industry is well on it's way to becoming THE entertainment industry. I think for the past couple years it's made more money than Hollywood. So one the one hand, thinking a Left Behind game could save millions may be wishful thinking, at least they are trying to reach out to this increasing demographic.
I don't thinking preaching the word of God should be limited to just church. In an age when people get suggested worldviews on multiple mediums, shouldn't we, as God-fearing Christians, try to spread the Gospel on as many platforms as well?
Reaching out to all people using different mediums is part of evangelism.
The Puritans were the masters of using technology for evangelism in their day. The printing press was a best friend of them and they knew that God worked through these means.
This does not mean that evangelism IS preaching. Preaching is the means that God NORMALLY uses to convert sinners.
Although video games may somehow introduce someone to the gospel, I am not sure how they can teach enough of the gospel to be a respectable means of communicating the message of salvation.
We too use technology to spread the gospel, look what the internet has done for conservative reformed churches and doctrines that may not be able to be seen without this technology.
Any thoughts?
Here's my concern - the big thing touted about the game is that it's "not too preachy". Great. So what's the point? If an unbeliever feels comfortable playing it, then it's useless as an evangelical tool.
And yeah, we should try to reach people on different mediums, provided they hear the gospel. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. We really need to stop this whole "sneak attack" approach, it ultimately will compromise the gospel.
Here, here Mark.
That reminds me of a time when Rev. Lanning was asked to preach at RBC chapel on the reformation.
After the chapel a few kids commented to me that it felt too preachy.
The preacher was preachy?
Wow. Gen-tech'ers are dumber than us Gen-Xers.
I think it's more attempts by the rapturist people to create a further divide between them and non-Christians and non-dispensationalists. I think a good question is how do we respond to such dangerous beliefs as dispy pre-mil? CPH, the publishing company for the LCMS, is working on a book series about the end times, written from a Lutheran Amillenial point of view. Is this really the best way to counter heresy? It seems to me there should be a better way.
I guess people will play this game in cheat called God mode. sick sick I hope it bombs. This is certainly pseudo-christian.
and they're obviously gay.
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