Let us look at what the word Christian really means.
The main definition I will take a look at is this: "Following the teachings or manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus Christ." Most define the word Christian as "Christ-follower" but in a very real sense, for someone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, it is far more than that. As Christians we are not merely following Him, we are having a daily relationship with Him: we believe He is the risen Christ and that His Spirit dwells within us. So we are, in actually, walking with Him.
That being said, as we ask ourselves the question, "Can this thing co-exist with Christianity?" or "Can Christians do this or that?" we are really asking this: "Would Christ do this thing?" or "Can this thing co-exist with Christ?" My dear wife once put it to me like this: if you were engaging in this activity and your Savior walked in and sat down next to you, would you continue with what you were doing? Would you do it with Christ sitting in the room? Frankly, if you are a born-again believer that is exactly what you are doing already.
As some of you digest that sobering thought along with me let us take a look at gaming in its broadest sense. While this topic finds itself under the video/console game category we can certainly apply the argument to any form of gaming: tabletop role-playing games (RPG), collectible card games (CCG), computer games, what have you. As Christians, our Lord and Savior holds us to a very high standard of living. Our Christian walk is outlined in the New Testament, in large part by the apostle Paul. He tells us that, "All things are lawful for me; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the power of any." (1Co 6:12) One of the things we can take away from this verse is that even though Grace has saved us and our sins are forgiven, we must still turn and repent from our sinful ways. We cannot continue to engage in things that are unfit for us as Christians. We cannot simply take salvation as fire insurance and go back to our worldly pursuits: we must endeavor to walk with Christ every day and purify ourselves through relationship with Him.
What does that have to do with gaming? Let me put it like this: are the games I play fit for Christ to play? That might seem like a brazen question, but I think it is a very simple one. I have no doubt that when my family and I sit down to a friendly game of Balderdash that He would love to join in with us as we laugh and have fun. On the other hand, I do not think He would be very pleased to sit next to me while I play an arcade game that involves playing a character wearing a hockey mask, carrying a chainsaw and hacking apart zombies. That might seem a little ludicrous, but it is important that I delineate between the two. And delineating between the two, rather what is fit for me to play and what is unfit to play, is rather easy for me to do. It is outlined for me very clearly in scripture.
Scripture tells me what games I can play? Am I kidding? No, I am not kidding: Everything in my life as a Christian has a righteous standard by which to measure, a benchmark that I am called to hold to.
The apostle Paul gives me an excellent benchmark: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Php 4:8) These are the things that I am to dwell on: heart, soul and mind. Whatever I do and say, whether it is at work, at home, during playtime or while I am in church should conform to the things outlined in this verse. "For as (a man) thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Pro 23:7)
When I walk in relationship with him, the results are manifest. Scripture calls these things the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control." (Gal 5:22, 23) How do I know the things to avoid? They are outlined just as clearly as the works of the flesh: "fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like." (Gal 5:19-21)
I consider myself to be a gamer, and have been for over a quarter century: I love games of all kinds, types and genres. I love role-playing games and console games and could easily wile away hours in front of a computer screen (I do not though: I set reasonable limits) playing FreeCell. I also enjoy playing games with my wife and son, and we especially enjoy the ones that fire up our imagination and strengthen our fellowship together. We can easily spend hours playing chess; other times one-on-one soccer or skateboarding engages us until the afternoon sun sets. In the past I have even spent whole evenings with friends playing Gin Rummy or matching wits with them playing online chess.
Ultimately I need to hold myself (and the gaming I do) to the benchmark I previously mentioned. If I enjoy playing a game that promotes sorcery, idolatry or all manner of uncleanness, for example, it cannot co-exist with Christianity. If it promotes love, joy and peace in my home and in my life, then it can.
I have, from a very young age, enjoyed fantasy: the works of J.R.R. Tolkein have always been among my favorites. Needless to say when the films were released, along with a series of console and computer games based upon the novels and films, I eagerly bought them. My son and I indulged in reading all the books, watching all the films, and sitting in front of a screen (controller in hand) playing the games for hours. I doubt there are many that are unaware of the fact that Tolkein, like C. S. Lewis, wove many images and themes from scripture into his novels. As such I had no qualms whatsoever about the console and computer games.
My son and I were playing one in particular that had a rather unique feature: something called an "evil mode." This LoTR game was an RPG designed for console play, and like many of its ilk it involved playing key characters from the film, leveling up with each encounter, gaining more skills and abilities as play progressed - it was a fun game! You actually get to become your favorite heroes from the film and play them as they progressed through the story, defeating the forces of evil along the way. About halfway through the game, my son managed to find and unlock this special feature. The "evil mode" allows you to reverse roles: you become the villains, and try to kill the heroes to prevent them from fulfilling their quest and completing the storyline.
That is what I said: kill the heroes. Kill them using all the tools that the villains had access to in the film (and novels): dark sorcery, vile curses, poison and necromancy to name but a few. Evil mode indeed.
Now I need to confess that I really enjoyed this game. So did my son. Even after seeing the inconsistencies with what this aspect of the game was promoting and glorifying, I was still reluctant to set it down. Even though it was blatantly in opposition with the benchmark I cited above. Even though it was sending a crystal clear message to my son, whom I endeavor to "train upin the way he should go." (Pro 22:6)
The following verse laid hold of me: "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph 5:11) So did this one: "For what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion hath light with darkness? (2Co 6:14b) This "evil mode" was obviously quite dark. I could not deny it, there was no justification for it, and no defense for it could be found. I have stated before that I have been a gamer for over a quarter century. I have been an advocate for all manner of games for a very long time, and have adamantly and vocally defended them. But I was feeling convicted about exactly what kind of theme this game really had and what message my actions were sending. It might seem trivial, since it was "only a game": but the kind of witness I am as a believer is anything but trivial. The things I do and say, the life I live, says a great deal about my witness and my beliefs.
And it even boils down to the games I play and how I play them.
My son and I no longer play that particular game. When I spoke to my son about it, I did not even get an argument: he just looked at me and said, "God wouldn't be too happy about us playing that game, would He?" I said, "No, I don't think He would like us playing that any more. He has laid it on my heart to get rid of it." My son just smiled and said, "Ok. We have other games we can play."
Can gaming co-exist with Christianity? Sure it can. Provided it is something that glorifies our Heavenly Father and brings a smile to His face. I imagine that goes for just about everything in our lives.