Home and Faith
by Burbie52, HSM team writer
I am going to start out by saying that I am a born again Christian, a Pentecostal, and I have been for many years. Most of my family is as well. My Mom and stepfather are both very active in our church, and were leaders of the seniors’ group for over twenty years. My brother plays drums for the worship team, among other things. I have written and produced several children’s plays for Christmas and other holidays, and love to sing special music on occasion as well.
Now some of you might wonder what or how someone my age (I’m turning sixty-one soon) and with a faith like I have is doing in a place like Home. Many might see it as a contradiction, because some people in the Christian community can be very critical of not only gaming, but other things like the content that can be found on the Internet. They have also been critical of things like Harry Potter, which just arrived on Home’s shores. But that is only some people who are believers, not all of them. Some have a more open view on these things, and see opportunity where others see condemnation. As a Christian, I believe that we are not to condemn people for their actions, nor judge them either — that isn’t our job.
First off, you have to define what being a believer is. For me it is a faith in Jesus and his resurrection and forgiveness. A belief in the reality of both heaven and hell, and a relationship with God through his Son. Jesus himself reviled “religious” people. He spoke against them several times in the Bible, because he saw them as self-promoting egotists trying to puff themselves up by a show of religiosity. He called them a “den of vipers”.
So it truly isn’t about “religion”. Now I can understand Christian parents having an issue with some of the concepts in Harry Potter, but I think many take that concern too far. As parents, we need to monitor what our children take in. They are innocent, and sometimes they don’t understand what they are really seeing and doing, so we should always keep an eye on it and foster a feeling of communication that will last them their whole life. They should feel they can ask us any question without getting into trouble for it.
C.S.Lewis
Many of you might know of an author named C.S. Lewis. He was a devout Christian man who had been turned from atheism to Christianity by some of his peers at Oxford University later in his life, including his good friend (someone you may have heard of), J.R.R Tolkien. He created a series of children’s books called The Chronicles of Narnia to help young people understand Christ through the subtle messages he placed within the stories. They have since been turned into movies, television series, plays and the like, and are world renowned. He used magical happenings and the same good vs evil theme as J.K. Rowling does in her books, for in the Bible it clearly states we are fighting “powers and principalities”. In other words, there are things going on behind the scenes of everyday life that most don’t think about or even know exist.
Now granted the magical undercurrents in Narnia are more subtle than casting spells, using wands and creating potions like Harry Potter uses, but the idea is the same — you are transported to a new world completely unlike your own, where animals talk and there are mythical creatures living and there is a wicked queen who represents Satan (evil) in the first book, who seduces one of the siblings with sweets and falsehood. Yet most Christian parents would love for their children to read this book series, as I have.
I have been a video gamer since they were invented. My father, may God rest his soul, instilled in all of his kids a love of games and gaming from the very start of life. We used to have Risk games going on in the basement for weeks on end. He also taught us chess at a young age, and even created games of his own to play. If he had lived long enough, I could see him in front of a PS3 right now at eighty eight years young, playing a war or strategy game, both of which he loved.
Narnia books
All of this led up to my purchasing gaming consoles until I got my PS3 over three years ago. I discovered Home shortly thereafter. Having never seen the like, I was instantly curious and decided it was worth exploring. I was lucky to meet some good people right away, and the rest is history. I looked at Home as a “field white to harvest”. It was a new area where I could talk to people about my faith, but not in a preachy way and always when they were ready and wanted to. You see, it is when we try to beat people over the head with our faith that they get turned off. It is better to live your faith through your actions than speak it, or as St. Francis of Assisi said, “I will preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary I will use words.”
I have had some very interesting discussions about faith with people in Home over the years. There are probably a lot of my friends who don’t even know about my background when it comes to this, but it isn’t important that they do unless it comes up, then I am more than willing to tell them about it. The ground we plant in is more fertile when it has been tilled properly by our decisions in how we deal with people. Forgiveness and patience are huge parts of what Christ stood for and our daily attitudes are what God looks at, not just our human mistakes.
Home is a wonderful place filled with opportunities for all of us, no matter what we believe. We need to enjoy Home in all of its complexities and if our faith can be spoken or better yet shown to others in the course of each day, then I believe that Home will benefit from it as will we and those whose lives we touch here. Be a good friend, listen and think about your answers when asked for counsel, and most of all put yourself out there and love people faults and all. Jesus did.
April 30th, 2013 by Burbie52 | 6 comments
Burbie52 is a 62 year-old published author and founder of the Grey Gamers group within Home. Born and raised in Michigan, she has lived there her entire life, with the exception of a twelve-year residency on the Big Island of Hawaii. She enjoys reading and writing, as well as video games, especially RPG's. She has one son in his twenties.
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If you don’t understand it, fear it. That’s the general rule of the Human condition. Because of this default thought process, non-religious people will hear you say “Christian” and think you spend all day and everyday praying to Jesus for the safety of your children every time you see a scantily dressed avi in Home.
Also, those with that same train of thought will always assume that someone from the middle-east is a gun-wielding fruit loop who wants “DEATH FOR THE INFIDELS!!!”, sadly, the stereo-types stick to them all.
Faith is a fantastic thing (it seems) for those who need comfort or feel the need of justice when our laws lets us down, but can be so very very dangerous when wielded with a silver tongue and a self-serving goal in mind -- which is exactly what puts non-religious types at such opposing angles in contrast to those with faith.
As a comfort tool, I’m envious of those who believe in god and heaven and all the rest. The recent death of my mum has left me cold and unsure, and because I have no belief system in place, dealing with death so close is a bleak and lonely experience. *ANY* religion would help or at least quell these problems for me no doubt, but as it stands I have nothing… Much.
Regardless of how extreme some people can be (and this is aimed at EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF RELIGION) we must all try to remember that the real reason we have our faiths is to HELP ourselves, and each other, and NOT so we can be “offended” by stuff, or oppose other beliefs or even casually and quietly judge others.
That was the best comment I’ve ever read from you, good sir.
When this topic was brought up at HSM about demonizing Harry Potter. Then the added element of peoples personal beliefs in Christianity was on the table. I felt like we might be playing with fire.
People seem so diametircally opposed on this topic in Home.
I love God! Not offended at all by anyones PERSONAL beliefs. I keep my ideas of spirituality to myself for the most part simply because for me they are still growing.
Yes… it is sad that people, that feel they are right on any topic. Feel they have to be overbearing to convey whats on their minds. And feel the need to demonize someones views or even much simpler. Their good time with others is a horrible thing.
Just relax. Have a good time.
In Home you don’t have to be convincing on anything. Enjoy your imagination. You own it.
Great article. I’ve been gaming for most of my life (about 21 years) and only been saved for about 5. My PSN ID is a great ‘tool’ and I’ve had some really wonderful conversations because of it. I get a lot of “I love your ID!” PMs and have made many new, awesome Christian friends. I never pass up the opportunity to talk about my testimony and share the good news (I notice some people will stop for a bit and listen, or sometimes walk away and come back a couple times). Now don’t take this as I just go up to everyone and start preaching, cause I don’t. I’m on Home usually to relax or ‘get away’ like most other people (and for my dailies of course).
I’ve had very interesting, and respectful, conversations/debates with atheists, and christians who’ve since turned away from Christ. As well I’ve encountered my fair share of hecklers, and people who just downright hate & despise anything associated with God, or at least ‘Christians’. But, it’s your actions and what you say as a believer that will make the difference, especially towards bystanders.
As KrazyFace mentioned, non-believers think all we do is pray, and we don’t know how to have fun. We don’t all think video games and rock ‘n roll are “the devil’s work”. I’m sure some of it is, but I digress. Home is a great place for the most part and people there are in need of hearing as much as anyone you would pass by on the street. This and other social medias like Facebook and Twitter shouldn’t be ignored, but possibly embraced if you’re trying to share the faith
Wow.
I have a LOT to say on this subject, but I am not going to bring it here. All I can say is that I feel like a hypocrite for even participating in Home.
I have studied religions of the world my whole entire life and feel I have accurate bible knowledge. We all try to do our best knowing that we have all inherited sin and death from Adam. (Romans 5:12) But the hope of God’s promise keeps us going. (Rev 21:1-4)
We all have to be extremely careful of out choices of entertainment in today’s age. The dangers are everywhere in the world and everywhere in Home, for I can see right through it.
Advertising, video games, media, etc… We have been warned by God’s word, but we are sucked into it by temptation and the desires of the flesh.
It is out of control. As long as our conscience is enough to guide us in the right direction… we can do our best to ovoid corruption.
I love Home and try to focus on the creative, fun positive things, when simply… I know better. I try to keep my beliefs OUT of Home when I know I should not be there in the first place. It is hard. Social media is the means of today…
I could go on…but I think I’m going to cut it right here.
Thanks Burbie, this was very brave of you.
Very good article Burbie, and very impressed that you chose to take such a brave step to proclaim your faith. I have found that there are a lot of Christians on Home, but there are a lot of people that are very hostile towards them, just like in the real world.I too am a Christian, and yes I have made a ton of mistakes and done stuff I probably should not have, but that’s part of our walk. Always trying to walk a better walk (than I did the day yesterday). In Home, we are still in that microcosm where in we will see the same as real life, only more concentrated, and with a certain amount of anonymity, we don’t always know who we are talking to and their beliefs, so as respectable Christians it is not our job to stand around being hostile, but instead, walk like you do with compassion and be slow to wrath, even when some one is overly aggressive about opposing your views. I will always be respectful of those that can be respectful of my views, and in that, I have made some very good friends where I never get into harsh discussions because we each respect each other’s position. Very good one Burbie.