Thou Shalt Not Kill, Except in a Popular Video Game at Church
Did you read this article in the New York Times? Amazing. The church is indeed changing.
First the percussive sounds of sniper fire and the thrill of the kill. Then the gospel of peace.
Across the country, hundreds of ministers and pastors desperate to reach young congregants have drawn concern and criticism through their use of an unusual recruiting tool: the immersive and violent video game Halo.
The latest iteration of the immensely popular space epic, Halo 3, was released nearly two weeks ago by Microsoft and has already passed $300 million in sales.
Those buying it must be 17 years old, given it is rated M for mature audiences, but that has not prevented leaders at churches and youth centers across Protestant denominations, including evangelical churches that have cautioned against violent entertainment, from holding heavily attended Halo nights and stocking their centers with multiple game consoles so dozens of teenagers can flock around big-screen televisions and shoot it out.
The alliance of popular culture and evangelism is challenging churches much as bingo games did in the 1960s. And the question fits into a rich debate about how far churches should go to reach young people. -New York Times
My take on this is that church groups using Halo and other shoot-em up video game should be careful to keep the emphasis on relationship building and not on membership building. People should always matter more than numbers. The article goes on:
David Drexler, youth director at the 200-member nondenominational Country Bible Church in Ashby, Minn., said using Halo to recruit was “the most effective thing we’ve done.” -New York Times
Again, connecting and forming positive relationships with others is what the church should be about. If video games can be used to do this, great! But, if games are merely a recruiting and membership tool, then it is not so great. It is not always easy to keep the emphasis where it should be. In fact, forget video games, forget church, it is always true that people are more than things. The same would be true for a basket weaving group.
What makes Jesus revolutionary is that he was about people (his priority: “Love God Love Others”). He used stories, fishing, and sand writing (audio visual culture) only to help with that goal. In my mind video games are amoral, people are primary, just keep the priority in the right place.
Read The Full Story in the New York Times JODIE FOSTER'S MOVIE IS VERY SPIRITUAL (Sept 19 2007) I had a great time noting all the Spiritual Connections in The Brave One! Believe it or not it is about the spirituality of violence.
Download video for your iPod nano and iPod classic (320) Download video iPod touch, iPhone, Apple HD TV (640 16:9)) Both options work on all computer monitor screens with QuickTime or iTunes ************************************* DOBSON COMDEMNS HARRY POTTER MSNBC makes the connection between Harry Potter and Jesus Christ, but James Dobson does not!
Church at Louie's Bar and Grill --David Bruce and Jim Larsen (Sept 10, 2007)
MSNBC makes the connection between Harry Potter and Jesus Christ! As Lisa Miller reports: "But what to do about the fact that in the last book Harry walks willingly to his own death in order to save the world? After which, in a chapter portentously titled 'King's Cross,' he finds himself in a place with a 'great domed glass roof [that] glittered high above him in the sunlight' talking to a father figure with 'long silver hair and a beard' whose supernatural powers are accompanied by a profound message of love? And what, finally, should the reader make of the fact that after that intimate scene, Harry comes back to life and leads his friends to victory over evil?" (source)
Despite the these links to the Jesus story, James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, officially denounces Harry Potter, stating, "given the trend toward witchcraft and New Age ideology in the larger culture... it's difficult to ignore the effects such stories (albeit imaginary) might have on young, impressionable minds.” (source)
I recently discussed this report with Jim at Louie's Bar.
Church at Louie's Bar and Grill --David Bruce and Jim Larsen (Sept 06, 2007)
According to the latest satistics from the National Center for Health: "Fewer high school students are having sex these days, and more are using condoms. The teen birth rate has hit a record low.
In fact the report shows, "More young people are finishing high school, too, and more little kids are being read to, according to the latest government snapshot on the well-being of the nation's children. It's good news on a number of key wellness indicators, experts said of the report.
"The implications for the population are quite positive in terms of their health and their well-being," said Edward Sondik, director of the National Center for Health Statistics. "The lower figure on teens having sex means the risk of sexually transmitted diseases is lower...." (source)
I recently discussed this report with Jim at Louie's Bar
YOUTH LEAVING CHURCH IN HISTORIC NUMBERS. Study reports more than 2/3 of young adults who attend a Protestant church have stopped attending church regularly!
Church at Louie's Bar and Grill --David Bruce and Jim Larsen (Sept 01, 2007)
Survey: Reasons Why Young Adults Quit Church. -- LifeWay Research released study results that showed that more than two-thirds of young adults who attend a Protestant church stopped attending church regularly (at least twice a month) for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22.
(View video here) We believe that "boomer" (so-called 'contemporary') and traditional church styles are not connecting with youth. Answer: Small groups meeting in non-churchy places.
(Sept 01, 2007) Check out recent Video Review of Mandy Moore's new film 'Dedication' (with Jonathan Bruce and Jim Larsen) as we discuss relationship, porn, and fear at Louie's Bar. --Or, view it now in Movie Review Section --Or, view it in HJ Live! (available Sept 5)
