I’ve done years of research involving mental breakdown through media and societal corruption. I find it strange how certain Apostolics are bent on the dangers of TV, not allowing this media flow in the home, yet, they allow Video Games.
I have worked with several psychiatrists who openly told me about the danger of Video Games. They expressed that they are so habit forming that marriages, jobs, and health have all been lost from Video Game addiction. One counselor with 30 years experience told us, Video Games attract the same lust and brain activity as when someone looks at pornography.
I have my own personal experience with this. My Son-in-law is so obsessed with Video Games that he has sacrificed his family, spiritual life, and personal health. At 29, he is now divorced, has health problems of a man twice his age, and no longer attends any church. I’ve watched him for the last 15 years deal with this crisis. He would throw away the games, smash his game player, only to return to the vice and challenge of another game.
After the divorce, my daughter revealed the nightmare that she lived in. He would play games almost every waking moment of his life, rejecting intimacy, time with his children, and even his job. His intimate acts became perverted with playing a game, and my daughter literally becoming a part of this false world.
I’ve never seen or heard about TV doing this to anyone. Yes, TV has many negative ramifications to those who over indulge in it, but I grew up with TV and never did I see me or my friends wanting to watch TV instead of playing outside. I’m sure there were some, but overall kids loved the outdoors. Today, kids who have the appetite for these games are finding themselves “Hooked” and unable to let them go for the important things in life.
I'm sure you can find people who have become obsessed with work to the point of loosing their family and spiritual life... we don't ban work. lol
The way I see it is... people who allow ANYTHING to control their lives to the point of loosing family and their spiritual walk have deeper issues than the "thing" that they are obsessing over. The actual issue has to be addressed... not the symptoms be it teleivision, video games, or work.
I'm sure you can find people who have become obsessed with work to the point of loosing their family and spiritual life... we don't ban work. lol
The way I see it is... people who allow ANYTHING to control their lives to the point of loosing family and their spiritual walk have deeper issues than the "thing" that they are obsessing over. The actual issue has to be addressed... not the symptoms be it teleivision, video games, or work.
I did make reference to this in another post. I agree, addictions are caused by deeper issues or problems within the person involved.
But the main reason I brought this up is to parallel TV and the Video Game. Many Churches have come down very hard on Television without considering this comparison. I’ve seen very conservative Churches go head over heels against the “One Eyed Devil”, while the same pastor of that Church went home and played Video Games.
I have never observed or witnessed someone going over the hill with TV the same way someone can do with Video Games.
I watched my Son-in-law completely lose himself in this false world of a "Game". He lost his job, marriage, social life, physical health, and his walk with God over games. He has become a total slob, not showering for a week or washing his clothes. To this day, he is in the total darkness of another game. All of his spare time is spent playing games, and I mean ALL.
I did make reference to this in another post. I agree, addictions are caused by deeper issues or problems within the person involved.
But the main reason I brought this up is to parallel TV and the Video Game. Many Churches have come down very hard on Television without considering this comparison. I’ve seen very conservative Churches go head over heels against the “One Eyed Devil”, while the same pastor of that Church went home and played Video Games.
I have never observed or witnessed someone going over the hill with TV the same way someone can do with Video Games.
I watched my Son-in-law completely lose himself in this false world of a "Game". He lost his job, marriage, social life, physical health, and his walk with God over games. He has become a total slob, not showering for a week or washing his clothes. To this day, he is in the total darkness of another game. All of his spare time is spent playing games, and I mean ALL.
I love (hate) the little disclaimers on car commercials. "Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt." Once, we watched a particularly cool commercial where they didn't have that disclaimer. Did they forget? Who knows! Who cares! I looked at my son and said "Yesss!! We can attempt!"
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Without really looking into the scientific side of things, my general idea is that I don't want to raise couch potatoes. We have TV, but it's generally the last resort around here. If the kids are going to be on the computer or play the Wii/DS, we limit them to about an hour a day. Occasionally we make exceptions for watching movies during the week, but mostly that's a weekend thing.
If I had to pick one media over the other, I'd prefer they were playing video games, since they have to use their brains to play a game (and their bodies, in the case of the Wii). Generally, I'm suspicious of most media having a role in my children's lives, and I'd much rather see them curled up with a book, talking on the phone with their friends, playing a board game, or playing outside.
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
I have 4 TV's in my UPC home. Might watch about 2 hours a day total. On the flip side I came to a point in my life a few years ago where I broke every game CD I had and threw them away. Was up all hours, neglected everything to play.
I have a friend of mine in the church. Him and his sons play for a couple hours a day and go on. But there is no tv in his home because in his own words, "I am not a good steward of television, it would consume me".
Just depends on the person.
__________________ You can't reach the world with your talents. People are sick and tired of religious talents. People need a Holy Ghost annointed church with real fruits to reach out and touch their lives. ~ Pastor Burrell Crabtree
In fact I think that the insinuation of "hateful" Pentecostals is coming mostly from the fertile imaginations of bitter, backslidden ex Apostolics who are constantly trying to find a way to justify their actions. ~ strait shooter
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