“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” –1 Corinthians 13:11
The world we inhabit is a cavern of facsimiles—a place where pseudo-experiences replace the genuine, fulfilling adventures that were once a vital part of the human narrative. Video games, as enjoyable as they can be for leisure, have grown into monoliths that dwarf the panorama of human interaction. They offer us an artificial glory—a realm where risks are taken without genuine jeopardy, a place where courage is nothing more than a fictional bravado.
We suit up in digital armor as characters in games like Master Chief, fighting off relentless extraterrestrial invaders, yet remaining utterly oblivious to the gravitas of genuine risk in the real world. We clutch our plastic guitars, belting out Rock Band tunes without the faintest understanding of musical theory. Miss a note? No worries—there's no live audience to let down. This imitation seeps into every corner of our lives, affecting even the sacred institutions of family and community. We build virtual empires and care for digital families, all the while neglecting the genuine responsibilities that accompany the real thing.
Even more concerning is the impact this virtual existence can have on the next generation. God’s Word instructs us to "train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Yet, if we adults are content to live in a simulated world, what precedent are we setting for our children? How can we raise them to be accountable, wise, and God-honoring adults if we ourselves are entangled in and consumed by fictitious undertakings? Indeed, we risk perpetuating a cycle where our children learn to escape into virtual worlds, rather than engaging with the reality that God has so meticulously and purposefully crafted.
One must question: what are we becoming when our lives are submerged in virtual worlds that can never take the place of God's tangible creation? While God created man to partake in the Great Commission, to serve in His kingdom, and build earthly relationships and families, we are dissipating our time in digital illusions. When God has endowed each one of us with unique talents and gifts to serve Him and those around us, how can we squander these divine investments on pixelated pursuits?
The issue at hand goes beyond mere diversion. It becomes a question of stewardship. The Bible warns against idleness, as seen in Proverbs 12:11: "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense." While there's no inherent sin in video games or virtual experiences, the act becomes idolatrous when it devours the time God has granted us—when it distracts us from engaging in the world He lovingly crafted and in the lives of the people He purposefully placed in our paths.
Let's consider for a moment the enormity of wasted human potential—potential that could be harnessed for incredible creativity, innovation, and most importantly, for the glory of God. Men and women are surrendering their God-given creativity and intellectual faculties to artificial worlds that offer nothing of lasting value. Meanwhile, the tangible world suffers from this neglect, relationships stagnate, opportunities to serve are missed, and the quest for meaning is left unanswered.