Should i not play online games if it could make people mad?

[need4thetruth]

Yeah, see it has been brought to my attention that when i play online games with people, lets say call of duty modern warfare 3, when i fictitiously kill someone on there, or do something that goes against their desires in the game, sometimes people have gotten mad i think...and i know at least 3 people personally that get sooo angry when they play games like this for different reasons, but still continue to play them, even if they take a break....and their anger usually doesn't just affect their game experience, but their girlfriend or their friends around them...and they get so frustrated and moody during this time, and it seems like maybe even depressed, they havent found true happiness in their video game...and the truth is, that only God can fill that deep void in our lives, in our hearts. Nothing nor anyone can except Him. So now, my question is, regardless of whether people still play when they're angry or not, and regardless of whether the people i might play with actually would get angry or not...because they could, no way of me knowing except maybe asking God...regardless of all that, and whatever other things, i do have a pretty good idea that there are a lot of people that play these games that get angry, even if they dont take it out on their wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, parents, children, etc...and i, though its hard for me to know whether or not the people i play with would get angry, i DO know that if i play these games there's probably a chance that when i pull the trigger or blow someone up with a grenade, or whatever, that my choices could play a part in someone's stress, anxiety, depression, anger, bitterness, etc... and that because of my wanting to have fun on a stupid game, i could unknowingly be causing or adding to someone's divorce, child abuse, fighting, unhappiness, and the list could go on and with my brother's school sending home a paper about SUICIDE! When i remember they used to send home papers about drugs and sex...and robbin williams' recent apparent suicide...i dont want to play a part in that either....because while i dont know that the person on the other end of the controller is going through horrible suffering....i have seen the damaging effect games have made on my friends and family when they've played and gotten angry...and before i was changed inside by God's Holy Spirit, and had truth and help and strength...i too have busted part of a controller because i was mad at a game, among other times ive gotten angry...so what do you think people?

 

[kingerik]

First, YOU are not causing anything. If a Game leads someone to suicide, depression, or other things than they have a BIGGER problem then games, and they shouldn't play.

Second, YOU are not the cause of someones emotion, so you have nothing to do with them getting mad and that is a personal problem.

Third, to answer your question. No. You shouldn't.

 

[LightningClap0002]

need4truth, the answer to that is between you and God. I will say that after several years of playing video games that I felt God was encouraging me to atleast stop playing violent games against other people.

In general, I try to live my life in accordance with the example Jesus set. Some of His words that led to my decision.

Matthew 18:6 [Jesus said] “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

And later Paul wrote to the church in 1 Corinthians 10 saying: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Or in Romans 14:20: Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble

People will struggle on their own, but if you knowingly continue doing something that may cause your fellow christian's to sin (anger) then you are not acting out of love for them. Something else to consider is why do you desire to play these games? What is driving you to do it? Is it love?

I really don't know the answers for you. But these things need to be considered. Is there good and righteousness that will come about because of your video game playing? Certainly it's not a black and white evil. But God's will for you, for your time is of the most importance. Jesus gave His life so we could live ours for God. If you believe that you are honoring Him with your game play, then there may be no concern.

 

[need4thetruth]

L akingerik, thank you and while i understand where you're coming from, i do disagree my friend, because while they could get mad at the GAME for messing up or whatever reason, ME shooting them and them getting angry is like totally a direct cause of them getting angry....regardless of what "BIGGER" problems they have going on and regardless of whether the SHOULD get mad or not....if the DO get mad, and it was because they got killed by me, or i shot their helicopter down or whatever...it was MY actions that caused their anger :/ do you understand what i mean? And that is not good...

LightningClap0002, thank you and yeah, see i don't really look at video games that have war against other people as bad if you look at it right, i dont see it as killing anyone i know it's not, AND even looking at porn, cartoon porn or not, that is NOT the same as playing a videogame like call of duty, with porn the only purpose is lust...evil lust, but a game like call of duty, i look at it as a skill think like paintball wars lol like can i not get hit by my friends and can i get them! Haha its cool BUT when anger, bitterness and stuff like you said, start happening then yeah, its not good...and so yeah, regrettably, i think i probably shouldn't play games with others that i know theres a chance someone could get mad when playing it, and that it could be a result of my actions that made them angry...it is pretty fun, and i hate to not play them...but i hate even more to be wrong with God and also i know that whatever He tells me to do it's the best way to do things because He knows everything and knows what my actions would cause if I'm not following His will and i don't want people to get mad because of me ...i do however want to ask, by something like "cause one of these little ones to offend" what does that mean, isn't it to make them sin? And the same for the "stumble" word? Well how do you deal with people who might say like "well I'm sure Jesus made a lot of people angry, and curse and made them crucify Him" i mean He didn't MAKE them do it but, the way they took His actions and words, yeah i would say that a lot of people got angry and resentful and bitter and cursed and stuff because of the way they perceived His ways...so i think we should just try to follow the guiding of the Holy Spirit and then if we are following God's leading, and people get mad or whatever then it won't be on us we would have been doing the right thing. So hopefully i can listen more to God's guidance and figure this out, but for now, i think i should stay away from playing competitive games on or offline unless i have a good idea that who I'm playing with wouldn't get mad thanks guys and please everyone feel free to reply

 

[Ugly]

Yeah, these peoples problems are theirs, not yours. This isn't to say we never have any responsibility to take. But a person who chooses to engage in such activities, yet knows how they will react if things don't go their way, are putting themselves in this situation. They could choose to not play, but they do. In a situation like this, i'd say it's not your fault.
But yes, there are times where our actions can cause someone else to stumble and it falls on us more. I don't see this as one of them.