"First the percussive sounds of sniper fire and the thrill of the kill. Then the gospel of peace.Am I an old curmudgeon or is something wrong with this picture?
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."
From the discussions I have had with my son, and overheard in passing, much of the "buzz" for this game is happening with boys who are significantly younger than 17.
I believe that much of the hand-wringing and such that goes on about violent games and our youth is overstated. But having said that, it is crystal-clear to me that much of our entertainment promotes values that are at odds with the Christian faith.
Churches should be a beacon of light, and not conform to the world's standards. We should be agents of transformation and hope in a world that has, in many ways, lost its way.
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