Shall I buy Diablo 3 for my son?

[Rev T.S.Perkins]

when my son started that kind of wants i had him read Phil 4:8 and telll me what it meant ..weve still had our issues but not as bad as it could have been because ive set in him a moral line that he must deciede if he wants to cross.Gods word as taken root and thats a start....What so ever things is pure,just ,honerable or worthey ,if there be any virtue or praise think on theses things..(.this to shall pass..lol ) Rev

 

[El Hombre viejo]

I'd have him be moral and logical. I dont think him playing a game is going to affect that.

In my view the bible is not to be taken literally, its a book with stories that help you live your life and to face the challenges and decisions that you will encounter.

You should choose to do things becuase YOU decide that is the right thing to do, not because you fear hell.

You said "In my view the bible is not to be taken literally, its a book with stories that help you live your life and to face the challenges and decisions that you will encounter."


Uh...Were you raised in the Romanist religion? LOL Not to offend but you do sound like you would tell GOD what HE meant when HE said something.

 

[dannibear]

I'd have him be moral and logical. I dont think him playing a game is going to affect that.

In my view the bible is not to be taken literally, its a book with stories that help you live your life and to face the challenges and decisions that you will encounter.

You should choose to do things becuase YOU decide that is the right thing to do, not because you fear hell.

I can't agree with this.
The disciples took the commands of Christ
(which are part of the Bible) literally.
Jesus Christ took it literally. Whenever Jesus quoted
from the Old Testament, it was always clear that He
believed in its literal interpretation.

Although we take the Bible literally, there are still figures of speech within its pages. An example of a figure of speech would be that if someone said "it is raining cats and dogs outside," you would know that they did not really mean that cats and dogs were falling from the sky. They would mean it is raining really hard. There are figures of speech in the Bible which are not to be taken literally, but those are obvious. (See Psalm 17:8 for example.)

Jesus' birth a story? His resurrection a story?
The heroism and great faith demonstrated by
those who took a huge leap for Jesus a story?
Hardly so.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

HolyDiver, here's a website you may want to look at for answers to spiritual questions:

Ask Questions about Life and God

Spirit Led Ed (SLE)

 

[lee abshire]

WOW so much misinformation.

Edit: Made this reply before seeing the parent made there decisions.

to people who say this game is evil

"Abstain from all appearance of evil."
"blatant satanic and occult imagery"
"it contains a lot of demon worship and prime evil"

All of this is untrue...

You cant be referring to the fact that in the game you destroy demons that are trying to enslave man are you? The church has killed many ACTUAL humans in the name of the lord. What sounds more evil slaying fake demons in a game where you try to save the souls of your fellow man, Or killing your fellow man in real life in the name of the lord?

Remember the devil will try at all times to mask good messages as "evil" and sin as something wonderful.

I have played the demo for this game and it is gory but life is much worse than a game. If you look at the message of the game Its good vs evil, heaven vs hell, and you are always on the side of the light. This game is rated mature (17+ without parental consent). If you let your child play Grand theft auto, first person shooters, and other games you kill humans in. Why are you against a game MUCH less graphic where you slay demons who threaten to enslave humanity and wage war on heaven? So it is up to you to sit down with your child and evaluate if they understand the difference between right and wrong / good and evil. I would recommend learning about the game lore/story and using it as a way to talk to your child about god.

Be a parent, learn what the game is about, and decide what the moral of the game is. God works in the shadows and the light he is all. Not all things are blatantly holy, beautiful, colored white, and stamped with the approval of a church. Use all things in the world as a gateway to talk about the lord. Don't preach and protect them, but instead talk and guide. I promise you 90% of the people who have left comments here calling this game "evil" didn't even bother to learn what the game is about, they just passed judgement on the game and the people who made it.

Therefore, O all of you who pass judgment on others, you have no room for excuse. As you pass judgment on someone else, you are actually condemning yourself in sin;

 

[lee abshire]

Firstly I'd like to thank you all for your replies! I did not expect this thread to reach several pages long so thank you all for your time!


I have decided to buy the game for him for the following reasons:

1. Parental Controls - you can remove the "gore" effects totally from the game.
2. You play a holy warrior - purging the world from demons, how can this be against god.
3. It is just a game - and he understands this.

Not the answer most of you would have chosen i'm sure!

I will heavily monitor his behaviour and limit the time he can play just incase but as a rational logical person I dont think there will be any issues here.

#1. its nice that you looked into the game and that a feature that troubled you is able to be turned off.
#2. It's even better that you took time to learn about the game and its message and discovered the game is about fighting for god not the devil.
#3. You sat down with your child and together came to an understanding it is a game not real and that the message is good not evil.

You need a christian parent of the year award, because you are a Shepard not a sheep.

How many of you learned about the game like this parent did before casting your stones and judging the game as evil?
Therefore, O all of you who pass judgment on others, you have no room for excuse. As you pass judgment on someone else, you are actually condemning yourself in sin

 

[Peace Seeker]

You cant be referring to the fact that in the game you destroy demons that are trying to enslave man are you?

Jesus already defeated and destroyed them and set us free from their bondage, in real life. Whereas in this game you are destroying nothing, but rather are dabbling with, and overly fascinated with things you shouldn't be.
Is the gamer slaying these fake demons for Jesus? Is this the spiritual warfare Ephesians was talking about?
Just walking in submission to the Lord will give the believer plenty of real demons to slay, if that is one's passion, without having to pretend they are spiritual warriors in a make-believe video game.

Colossians 2:15
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil — 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

The church has killed many ACTUAL humans in the name of the lord. What sounds more evil slaying fake demons in a game where you try to save the souls of your fellow man, Or killing your fellow man in real life in the name of the lord?

Okay, so we should play gory video games that are saturated with demons, because this world is fallen and mankind - even church members - are sinners? If you're implying that since the church's (or you name it's) sins are worse than yours, therefore yours are allowed, you might reconsider whether that is a humble and proper position to have in the Lord.

this game is gory but life is much worse than a game.

I am sure you would agree that the gore/violence in society is sin-based, and if so, what is the gore/violence in a video game based on?
Also, I don't agree with your premise that because there is evil in society, it somehow justifies our playing video games that mimic evil.

This game is rated mature (17+ without parental consent). If you let your child play Grand theft auto, first person shooters, and other games you kill humans in. Why are you against a game MUCH less graphic where you slay demons who threaten to enslave humanity and wage war on heaven?

You are making a straw-man argument here to justify yourself. Specifically, why would or should Christian parents let their kids play games like Grand Theft Auto, that are full of gratuitous sex, violence and evil? You can have a little bit of evil, or a lot of evil, but it's all evil. Any Christian parent that lets his child play Grand Theft Auto should give his head a shake.

Use all things in the world as a gateway to talk about the lord.

I really can't picture a group of teens being stimulated to talk about and seek the Lord after playing this game! Diablo as an evangelistic tool? :shock: Seriously???

I promise you 90% of the people who have left comments here calling this game "evil" didn't even bother to learn what the game is about, they just passed judgement on the game and the people who made it.

I guess I'm in the 10% then, because I have looked into this game extensively. It is full of demons, sorcery and the like. The player, as the supposed "good guy" gets to be either a Barbarian, Witch Doctor, Wizard, Monk or Demon Hunter. Which ones of these is good? Are any of them fighting by the power of God? No, it is just fleshly strength fighting against demons by using magic and other means, which the real life Satan is happy for us to do.

Therefore, O all of you who pass judgment on others, you have no room for excuse. As you pass judgment on someone else, you are actually condemning yourself in sin;

There are many places in scripture where we are admonished to reprove fellow Christians if we see sin; we bear a testimony against them, in Christian love, and endeavor to convince them of their wrongdoing.

Ephesians 5:11
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Would you invite Jesus into the room to play alongside with you?

 

[differentDem]

Dont

like Harry Potter and a lot of other media in America, Diablo is only repackaged Black Magic for the youth...
it is full of demonic and satanic imagery and even spells...

 

[lee abshire]

once agian

Jesus already defeated and destroyed them.
This is good to hear I thought there was going to be a rapture.

Every one has to look at this game and evaluate there own opinion of what it stands for. We live in a world of sin and there is no escaping it till the end of our days. saying I justify one evil because there are other evils Is just an illogical counter argument. Yes there is "gore" in the game the point is there is gore and much worse sin in the world and you cant censor life. If your child can see the "story" for the good in it and you can use it as a tool to talk about the lord there is good in it. Before Jesus died for us we sacrificed lambs and other animals for god with our kids watching and explained to them why, not just turn them lose with a knife and let them hack at an animal. If you just pick and chose the "evil" out of the game (It is full of demons, sorcery and the like.) than you are not even trying to look for god in the shadows and use every opportunity in this sin ridden world to shed light on the darkness.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

Barbarian, Witch Doctor, Wizard, Monk or Demon Hunter. Which ones of these is good?

I am glad to answer this because the answer is so simple. All of them are good all of them wish to fight back the demons of hell in the game, all of them could be saved by Jesus if they were real and had souls, but this is a game. If they were baptized at the very beginning of the game could you then forgive and not judge them for there background in this fantasy, and then respect them for fighting hell's minions?

You can twist words and interpret the bible in anyway you want that is one of the gifts god gave us. But he also gave us free thinking and I respect your opinion even if you felt the need to dissect mine and disprove me.

Finally yes I would LOVE to play this game with Jesus, we could fight the minions of hell and spread the word of the lord to the men we saved from the demons in the game(actually its a game, we would talk about the lord to non christians that join our game). Being a Shepard is not just about peace and love, sometimes one must protect the flock and bring light where there once was not.

But that is the way i feel and I hope every one reading this forum will look for them self and use the free will god gave them to decide what is right and look for the light.

 

[lee abshire]

video

please search google for (Diablo III: Wrath)

Rated 17+

No one Knows the whole story yet, but it is suspected Imperius will lose his way. you may have to fight him and hopefully help him find it once more so he can join the other angels and turn the tides of war.

 

[Peace Seeker]

Yes there is "gore" in the game the point is there is gore and much worse sin in the world and you cant censor life.

We have no choice but to experience this world that we live in, but we do have a choice with what we choose to put in front of our eyes.

Barbarian, Witch Doctor, Wizard, Monk or Demon Hunter. Which ones of these is good?

I am glad to answer this because the answer is so simple. All of them are good all of them wish to fight back the demons of hell in the game, all of them could be saved by Jesus if they were real and had souls, but this is a game. If they were baptized at the very beginning of the game could you then forgive and not judge them for there background in this fantasy, and then respect them for fighting hell's minions?

You are not making sense at all here. How are Barbarians, Witch Doctors and Wizards good? And there is no such thing as a Baptized Barbarian, Witch Doctor or Wizard.

You can twist words and interpret the bible in anyway you want that is one of the gifts god gave us. But he also gave us free thinking and I respect your opinion even if you felt the need to dissect mine and disprove me.

The bible is quite plain on these matters, and I would rather prefer that you respect God's opinion on this matter, not mine.

Finally yes I would LOVE to play this game with Jesus, we could fight the minions of hell and spread the word of the lord to the men we saved from the demons in the game(actually its a game, we would talk about the lord to non christians that join our game). Being a Shepard is not just about peace and love, sometimes one must protect the flock and bring light where there once was not.

I just cannot agree at all with this. :disagree:

 

[brodav9]

liberty with discretion.

In Christ we have a tremendous priviledge. We are free to choose and thereby are not robots. As a friendly suggestion I would say go to James 1:5. If any of you lack wisdom let them ask of God and it shall be given them. We cannot go to others, without first going to God. It is exceeding important that we pray to God and say we love him so we will do all the things that please him. That is why we are called to have a close relationship to him.

Just one reason for seeking him first is because he knows beforehand what the results down the road could be. We don't know the dangers of tomorrow. Even a paper cut could result in death. So I included must be careful less the devil take advantage of us in any given situatiion.

God always has a better alternative for anything we might have to cast down. Sometimes it's just a test like Abraham offering up Issaac.

God gave me the gift of music after walking away from heavy rock. I still tremble at this tremendous gift. God loves you to much by giving his son for you that you would fall in any snare to entangle you. God bless.

 

[lee abshire]

We have no choice but to experience this world that we live in, but we do have a choice with what we choose to put in front of our eyes.

So you admit I'm right it is about choice and free will. I see an opportunity for good you see something that scares you. I chose to use this as a tool to spread the word of the lord you see it as something to totally abstain from. It matters not who is right or wrong because our intentions are good and we both walk in the light.

there is no such thing as a Baptized Barbarian, Witch Doctor or Wizard.

so it is impossible for all men to be saved in your eyes? although you have to keep in mind this is a game and these people dont exist. If they did in your eyes its not possible to be saved.

The bible is quite plain on these matters.

Do you speak and read from the Hebrew bible? most of the bible was written by man and all of it was translated (interpreted) by man. Man is imperfect so the bible is imperfect and left open for god to work his way in our hearts and interpret his word and will. also some of it was written to protect people. Back in the day pigs carried disease so the church declared it unfit to eat by lords word. it is safe to eat pigs now as we farm raise them. Do you eat pork chops or bacon?
The pig is also unclean; although it has a split hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.

I just cannot agree at all with this.

Good more time for me to bond with Jesus. Later we will go to the bar, have a beer or wine, and save the lost and lushes from eternal damnation.

 

[Peace Seeker]

We have no choice but to experience this world that we live in, but we do have a choice with what we choose to put in front of our eyes.

So you admit I'm right it is about choice and free will.

I didn't think this was a contest, but no, my point was not about choice and free will. It was about the difference between seeing evil and participating in it.
I will try to make my point clearer : we are born into a world of evil and evil is all around us; we can't help seeing evil and even being touched by evil in some way; but that is only because we are here and we have no other options.

But even though we are amidst evil we are not looking for it, we are not partaking of it, it is just a fact of life over which we have little control. On the other hand, when you play video games with obvious evil themes, it is an active pursuing on your part to play them; you are actively partaking of and participating in them, even agreeing with them, when you have other options.

I need to be physically in this evil world but I don't need to partake in it's evils. And God does not need us to partake in evil in order to further His plans!!

I see an opportunity for good you see something that scares you.

Did I say I was scared? We don't resist evil because we are scared of it, we resist it because we want to walk in the light you spoke of and want to be obedient to God. I don't have Diablophobia!

I chose to use this as a tool to spread the word of the lord you see it as something to totally abstain from. It matters not who is right or wrong because our intentions are good and we both walk in the light.

Right and wrong doesn't matter? And since when do intentions matter? Regarding walking in the light, 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
14 ........."For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial"?

there is no such thing as a Baptized Barbarian, Witch Doctor or Wizard.

so it is impossible for all men to be saved in your eyes? although you have to keep in mind this is a game and these people dont exist. If they did in your eyes its not possible to be saved.

No, again you missed what I meant. If an atheist is baptized into Christ he cannot be an atheist anymore; so too with the barbarian, witch doctor and wizard. How could someone say "I am a baptized wizard"?

The bible is quite plain on these matters.

Do you speak and read from the Hebrew bible? most of the bible was written by man and all of it was translated (interpreted) by man. Man is imperfect so the bible is imperfect and left open for god to work his way in our hearts and interpret his word and will. also some of it was written to protect people. Back in the day pigs carried disease so the church declared it unfit to eat by lords word. it is safe to eat pigs now as we farm raise them. Do you eat pork chops or bacon?
The pig is also unclean; although it has a split hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.

So are you implying that because the bible was written by men it is relatively untrustworthy, and therefore we can relax when we see a passage that seems to speak against certain sins we want to participate in, because we probably aren't getting the "real" message of it anyway, and we should just reinterpret it based on our own needs??? When God talks about sorcerers and witches and necromancy and the like, we can take it with a grain of salt because flawed men wrote it????

And no, I do not speak and read from the Hebrew bible, nor does anyone need to be able to in order to understand our scriptures.

I just cannot agree at all with this.

Good more time for me to bond with Jesus. Later we will go to the bar, have a beer or wine, and save the lost and lushes from eternal damnation.

I would rethink such a flippant and dishonoring attitude toward God if I were you!

 

[lee abshire]

once agian

More twisting of words your argument misses the point all together. There is no absolute in this world god gave us free will and choice and it is up to us to decide on our own what he would want us to do and not do. The bible is flawed because it was written by man that does not make it bad or wrong but you cant use it as an absolute answer. the bible is a book meant to be used as a guide for us each to use the free will god gave us. If you want to say a person is no longer a barbarian because they are saved that is your choice, it is important to remember this is a game and a work of fiction. maybe they are all lost souls the heroes in this game. that does not mean they can not be saved and there is no good in them. One again you are judging on background and "Therefore, O all of you who pass judgment on others, you have no room for excuse. As you pass judgment on someone else, you are actually condemning yourself in sin;" , but feel free to interpret that any way you want the bible is a guide not absolute.

And no, I do not speak and read from the Hebrew bible, nor does anyone need to be able to in order to understand our scriptures.
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
The eye of the needle actually refers to a market in a city that was very busy and camels often would walked down with goods for sale or trade. It is impossible for a camel to fit through a sewing needle so it would be even more impossible for a rich man to get into heaven. What this was ment to say was that a rich man will have many obstructions in his path to the kingdom of god. but It was written in Hebrew many years ago where people knew of the ר' מְחָטִים (needle) and then many years later translated by another man.

Why do you think I have a flippant and dishonoring attitude toward God sounds like you are also judging me? Jesus spent much of his time in bars and slums saving those who most needed to be saved. I would be honored to join him and Jesus did drink wine less we forget that wine is the blood of Christ. You view Jesus as this iconic figure up on the cross but he was just a man and the son of god, one could talk to him as they talk to there neighbor with no need for prayer. I would play this game with Jesus, I would go with him to the slums, I would follow him into the darkness, and I would laugh and enjoy his presence with my light heart. You need to take a step back and evaluate that holier than thou attitude and maybe spend time in you local ghettos and prison missionary as Jesus did.

Anyone looking to buy this game because that is the point of this thread. Please look into what the game is about and the story of the angles who you fight along side to bring peace back to sanctum, then evaluate with the free will god gave you If this game is right for you. no one can be your holy spirit and tell you what is right and wrong, but in your heart you will know what god wants for you and you only.

Gods peace

look up the video on youtube (DIABLO3: WRATH)

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

What is more evil,playing a game with concepts of things that are not real or playing a war game which is modeled after something real that has brought evil down on men's heads since the beginning of time.
Answer:whatever is not of faith is sin.

If you think anything is wrong then DO NOT do it because you have created a law for yourself because you reject Jesus's finished work when you believe you can separate yourself from God.

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He says nothing can,should I challenge God and say"oh yes I can".

Be careful about pride before the Lord as that is true witchcraft.
Rebellion is as witchcraft and not believing that Jesus has defeated all evil is unbelief.Believing that you are more powerful than God can only end in disaster.

 

[Peace Seeker]

The bible is flawed because it was written by man that does not make it bad or wrong but you cant use it as an absolute answer.

I am curious what you use as an absolute answer then.

One again you are judging on background and "Therefore, O all of you who pass judgment on others, you have no room for excuse. As you pass judgment on someone else, you are actually condemning yourself in sin;" , but feel free to interpret that any way you want the bible is a guide not absolute.

Please, you're just using "judge not" as a weapon to silence or beat down a different opinion. And if the bible is only a guide, not absolute, then anything you do can be defended, which seems to be what you're doing.

You view Jesus as this iconic figure up on the cross

What a ridiculous thing to say. You don't know anything about me yet you are telling me how I view Christ? Ooops, you just judged me! And you're not even making judgments based on any knowledge or facts about me, it is just another ad hominem attack because you don't like that I have a different viewpoint than you.

You need to take a step back and evaluate that holier than thou attitude and maybe spend time in you local ghettos and prison missionary as Jesus did.

You have accused me of having an improper view of Jesus; you call me holier than thou, and you have judged me more than once, all the while preaching at me to not judge you.

Regarding prisons, working for the Lord, etc., how do you know what I do or don't do for the Lord? You know nothing about me or anything I do, but what I do is between me and God and has nothing to do with a discussion about video games.

If you think grace gives you freedom to do whatever you want, then knock your heart out! I am not judging you about that, I was just giving you another point of view, one that I believe is scripture-based.

Our society is being bombarded with much witchcraft re-packaged as "light vs dark" so as to make it palatable to the masses....... that's all I wish to say to this. The Peace of Christ to you brother!

 

[lee abshire]

this is way off point now.

No one has any absolute answer but god he knows all. all we can do is think we know what is right and the answer for us.

I said interpret that passage as you want, if you chose to see it as a weapon of silence from the bible against your view so be it. but you seem to think the bible is quite plain and absolute on all other passages.

My comment of "take a step back from that holier than thou attitude" was derived from direct comet "I would rethink such a flippant and dishonoring attitude toward God if I were you!". Just because I would play this game and go to bars with Jesus to save the souls of the lost just like he did in the past, does not meen I am flippant and disrespectful to the lord. I was not judging you but describing your actions as a adjective and suggesting you take a look at that.

ho·li·er-than-thou (hl-r-n-ou)
adj.
Exhibiting an attitude of superior virtue; self-righteously pious.

I assumed from your remark "I would rethink such a flippant and dishonoring attitude toward God if I were you!" that you didn't think Christians ( & Jesus) spent time in places of sin like bars where i said i would have a bear or wine with Jesus. I am sorry your assumptions about me and unfounded accusations that "grace gives me freedom to do whatever I want" are not true. It was my fault for assuming you don't spend time in those places based of your retaliation to me comenting i would spend time with Jesus there. No need to tell me about the places of sin that you have spread the word of the lord you are right this is a video game discussion.

I am done discussing my view VS yours. The point of this forum is should someone buy this game and my opinion is that no one can be another mans holy spirit and guide If you have anything to add to the discussion going forward about the Title of this post I am more than happy to discuss that.

 

[Property Of God]

To the OP, personally I would not want my child to play a game like that, listen to songs like that, or go to movies like that. There's nothing wrong with playing video games, music, movies, but there's something very wrong with some of their content.

As parents, this is our job, to do all it takes and do researches on what is good for our children. A teenage boy shouldn't be thinking about demons and the devil, what if it scares him and leads to trouble sleeping? Maybe I'm naive but if it was my son I'd wonder about that.

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Abstain from all appearance of evil
1 Thessalonians 5:22


Amen to those who have said this game is not right for children or indeed anyone.

This forum is for talking about Jesus. For praising Him, ministering His love and His salvation......its pages are seen worldwide. So it is Jesus that should be promoted and lifted high......not some worldy video game.


If you are spending your time concentrating on a video game....isnt it worth considering....could I put my hands, heart and time to something more glorifying to the Lord.

Fighting evil on an addictive blood thirsty game is hardly representative of standing against evil in this world.

Stop making excuses for worldy pleasures and addictions.


Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, 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.
Philippians 4:8

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2