Counter Strike for Christian Brothers & Sisters

.... That doesn't sound very nice.

Bro people can quote scripture until the cows come home. I find it silly...If they think we're in the wrong why don't they just pray that God would convict our hearts and show us the truth? Wouldn't that be more effective? =P

Anyway bro, wanna pwn some nublettes? =P

Dude, I'm proud of what you do for this country. Its people like you that make me proud to be an American. You have alot of guts doing what you're doing, as there are alot of people that would be to chicken to stand up for our country and do what you do! I understand that what you do for our country is necessary, and I'm okay with that, but what isn't necessary is pointless killing in a video game; it doesn't gain you anything by playing those games, it just desensitizes us to the world around us. A man got shot and mugged right out in the open, and was left bleeding in the street, and people around him didn't even help, they just stared at him. We've been desensitized by the junk of this world.

I'm proud to be an American, and I'm proud to say that we have people like you fighting for our freedom, don't think that I don't like people like you. I like everyone. Love the sinner, hate the sin, and to me, Counter Strike is a sin. Believe how you want, I just speak what I believe, and no one will stop me from doing so.

Have a great day, and may God be with you,
waitn2drive

I agree with you, we should be praying for people, but we also can't neglect scripture because thats what God gave it to us for! Prayer needs to be used in ADDITION to the Word, and if they aren't, neither of them are fruitful.

Prayer is Communicating to God. Scripture is God communicating to us!
Relationships can't grow without Communication!

"Killing" a programmed sprite with a programmed gun isn't a sin. If it causes anger to rise it may be unwise to play but if it's just a game and you have control over yourself then there's no disobedience. You can preach all day but if this is something that is a personal sin to you Dmurray...Then that's between you and God. You can advise us but you can't simply lay it down as if it IS a sin.

I used to be an avid gamer. I know there are some truly demonic games out there. WoW being one of them...Horrible game. Ruins lives. But counterstrike...'eh... If counterstrike causes you to be disobedient to God's will for your life then yes it's a sin.

Anyway, despite your opinion I'm going to go "kill" programmed sprites in a game that is not real and it's going to be fun. mkay? b00m headsh0t mkay?

Peace!

My whole point of responding to this message, is that it is an M rated First Person Shooter game. I believe if a new Christian was to come on here, or someone who wanted to know what Christianity was about, that this would portray a bad message.

Killing period isn't Christian, whether it is in real life, a movie, or a video game.
This is my point. It is a personal conviction for me, and it was an addiction. Hence why I don't play it anymore for we all know we can not serve 2 masters, for we will love one and hate the other.

I just believe that this topic should be discussed in private, and not in public eyes.

I'm not condemning you for playing it, I just don't want someone's relationship with God to get hurt before it has had a chance to begin or to turn someone away from Jesus.

God Bless.

Totally interested.

Contact info:

Daedalus - Caleb - [email protected] - apocsymph1

Oh my lord...Ok. Here's the deal, I am getting the final word on this. I think this has gone on for long enough, therefore I am ending it. THIS THREAD IS NO LONGER OPEN FOR DISCUSSION: Do not post here unless you have interest in the game. We can save the whole, "Its a sin" rant for the bible discussion section. This is not the time or place for arguing this.
You can not tell me that playing CSS is a sin. The Bible is not up to date with technology, therefore it doesn't speak of anything like CSS. So if scripture can not POINT-BLANK determine that this is a sin then we can only speculate. You can read scripture and apply it to other things in the way that you believe something from the scriptures should be applied...but it is your personal opinion, your perception of the scriptures, and nothing more. Until God almighty tells me that this is sin I am going to continue to recruit more members for this. And instead of venting your opinions on this particular thread, why not start a new one exclaiming why you think its wrong? Or do like Daedalus said and pray for me, the sinner. I mean hey, it might not be for what I want but your still praying for me right? 3 PAGES of this thread have been wasted on voicing opinions, and don't get me wrong your opinions matter, but we really need to keep this thread strictly for discussing the game, and recruiting more people.
Don't be offended in what I'm saying, I'm part to blame as well since I contributed to the whole "is it a sin or not" thing. But whether it is or isn't is no longer the issue. The point of this thread is to recruit fellow CC members to play CSS. Not to argue about whether something is sinful or not. We can start a new thread if we absolutely have to discuss that. So lets just leave it at that guys, I mean if it truly is sin then do as Daedalus suggested and PRAY for me and all who play this evil and wicked game.
But from here on out lets try and keep this thread focused on CSS and not discussing it being a sin or not. Please? =]
God Bless,
Chris

As much as I don't want to, I guess I can respect what you said and not talk about this unless it is in the debate forum. But I still don't agree with it. Oh, btw, I was never calling any of you "sinners", as I myself am a sinner, and I try not to judge, because I myself will be judged. I have to take the plank out of my eye before the speck out of someone else. I'm sorry if what I said in the past comments offended you, but I defend God, and I'll be hated by people of this earth if thats what it comes down to. So you guys have fun with your CSS, but just know that you may feel the Holy Spirit and God act upon you to stop playing, and if you ignore THAT, then I'm sure what you are doing is wrong.

Have a good one guys, and I hope to talk to you guys in other threads!,
With LOVE and respect,
waitn2drive

My current username is J. Diggs

My login name (name you can use to add to friend list) is drwillywildcat.

Waitn2Drive....I appreciate it man. Thanks And God Bless you to
I promise...if he tells me to stop I won't ignore it. I doubt he will however. But thanks man, and God Bless you to brother.
Much Love,
Chris

And Like I said, I wasn't debating if it was Sin or not. My point was that I don't think this is appropriate talk in public is all.
God Bless Brothers. I pray that God will lead you into all truth through his Holy Spirit.

In His Love.
,David

Dmurray, chill out dude. FIrst off you did say we were sinning, so I believe thats a sin as well.

(Sorry everyone, but I wrote this on a word sheet as I always do, so as not to lose my work upon internet crash etc. and then upon logging on, found all the new requests to end this discussion. However, it's actually a new discussion within this thread.)

So Murray let me ask you something. Based on your perceptions and the statements or arguments you've so are presented, I infer that what you're postulating, is that someone in uniform such as a soldier, or military personal, is according to God's law, unable to kill regardless of the circumstances?

So am I assuming correctly that a soldier or officer of law enforcement who is without Christ, but working under the authority of your government is permitted to take a life, if it is necessary in the defense of your life and country, but for a Christian soldier or officer to do so, is wrong?

I don't understand this one bit, and I'd like to hear what you believe in regards to this matter. I'd like for you to provide an answer, as to how in your country, you're free to do certain things, and are protected by a military force, or that of law enforcement, based on the fact that these entities defend your life, and ability to do so.

So, if I or one of my brothers in Christ, served in law enforcement, and we responded to a call where someone's life was being threatened by another, and had to take that person's life, in order to protect and save the innocent from harm or death by a criminal, you're saying that it's wrong?

Sorry man, but the more I hear you speak, the more I question your ability to think with just plain common sense. But since it's obvious that every argument you make must come from scripture, I'll be happy to indulge you.

Answer this please: Why did God in many instances through scripture command his people to take the lives of those who's time of judgment had come?

Allow me to give you some examples.

Joshua 8:1 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city." (so we find here that the acts taking place in the following verses are in obedience to the Lord's commandment)

... ...

20 The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising against the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction, for the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the desert had turned back against their pursuers. 21 For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from the city, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai. 22 The men of the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives. 23 But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the desert where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. 25 Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai. 26 For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed [a] all who lived in Ai. 27 But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the LORD had instructed Joshua.

28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. 29 He hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take his body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.

and again...

Joshua 10:7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8 The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you."

9 After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
"O sun, stand still over Gibeon,
O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."

13 So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!

16 Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, 18 he said, "Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 19 But don't stop! Pursue your enemies, attack them from the rear and don't let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand."

20 So Joshua and the Israelites destroyed them completely—almost to a man—but the few who were left reached their fortified cities. 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me." 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.

25 Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." 26 Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening.

Search the scriptures, and you will find example after example of God commanding His people to “kill” or using another power to rise up and kill. However attempting to paste and highlight every single one of these, would be unnecessary, as I have now established on the above examples alone, that God Himself has at times commanded His people to take lives, and “kill” when it was fitting to His will.

So what then, should we assume God is able to break His own commandments Himself simply because He is God? Of course not! For, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” And His Law was an example and expression of His perfect nature. No, based on this understanding, and the above example, I think we can instead safely infer that there's indeed a distinct difference when it comes to “killing” out of selfish, malicious, or evil intentions, and taking a life or “killing”, when it is necessary, right, and just. You strongly lack common sense my friend. Again I think it's because you are young, but I have faith in God and His work in you.

isogesis: (in my own words) What biblical scholars consider “reading into the text”. This is considered an often fallible and weak way to study, interpret, or build an argument from the scriptures. Where the proper way to read scriptures, exogesis, which is to draw from the entire context and understand what was being said to who, by who, and the authors general message and intentions, is what leads to a better understanding and discernment of how to apply God's word in our lives.

Dude I'm over the game thing, and I'm not even trying to debate you on it. It's obvious to me that you just don't understand the liberty we have as mature men of God to enjoy this game with one another. So I'm done with that. But you've kind of opened up a new topic here, by affirming that men cannot take a life, even when it is necessary for the sake of others. I tend to think that it's because you are a lot younger and less experienced than us, and therefore a bit naive. (I promise you I'm not trying to sound harsh bro, we were all naive at one time, especially in our earlier years of faith when we were trying to figure everything out. It's almost always natural for a young Christian to do so) But it seems to me dear friend and brother, that you are engaged in a process of isogesis, and unable to simply discern the recognize the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” and associate it with it's proper application? (This too is natural for young Christians, but some never grow out of it, and end up becoming incredibly legalistic and miserable, for they curse their own lives with attempting to find righteousness in the Law)

Scriptural Legalists, that is, those who attempt to apply the bible and every verse against themselves and others, have a strong tendency to often engage in isogesis. They fail to understand that the born again child of God is free from the Law, no longer bound to the task of trying to maintain and execute these commandments in their lives. For the born again child of God, having been sealed with the Holy Spirit, and having been given a new nature, is no longer under the letter of rules and laws, which would have never resulted in righteousness anyways, but is free, having a living relationship with the Lord, and living out their faith and new life by walking in the Spirit, and not according to the letter of laws.

Legalists do not separate the old testament laws, (which were never intended to be relevant to the lives of gentile believers anyways), from the new testament law of liberty, grace, and love. Instead they read into things, (isogesis) and lump the entire bible together, foolishly believing it to be some kind of new law on top of the old law, that they, and others others are now supposed to live by and follow. They cannot see the new testament as simply a love letter from our Father, and as a commendation for a new life in the Spirit, and they ironically transform the very thing that assured them of their own freedom, into a law unto themselves and others.

Galatians 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. [interjection: what Paul is saying here, is since we are dead to the law, and the law has been crucified with Christ, if we attempt to find our righteousness in the law, we in a sense are rebuilding or reviving the law, and we put ourselves back under the burden of it. Thus we become like sinners again, having cast off the cross of Christ and His imputed righteousness to us]19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

Romans 7:1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.


Do not isogete dear brother, it's only gonna lead to frustrating laws in your life and a bunch of dead, unfruitful religion and legalism. You're free, so be free. God will give you discernment as you grow. I am confident of this.

Take care.

Oh and as a post script that has been added upon seeing many more responses here man, I highly doubt someone would be drawn by the Spirit, to suddenly turn away from their salvation, because they discovered some people were playing a computer game, whether considered violent by some or not. We want to live a new life yes, and we want to be a part of God's work and bringing others to His kingdom. But when it comes to someone actually becoming born again, it's really a matter of God doing it. "No one comes to the Me, unless the One who sent Me draws Him".

Salvation for others is something we want to be a part of. But at the same time, we have absolutely no power or ability when it comes to someone being called to light. "One plants, another waters, but it is God who gives the increase" In fact they themselves cannot even invoke this miracle, for it happens only as God chooses to do so. So again I highly doubt that a few Christians talking about, or playing counter strike is going to prohibit people from coming in to God's Kingdom. I appreciate your heart in the matter, I really do. But if that was the reality, I'd have to wonder what kind of power the God I served really had to save someone. It's not up to you, it's not up to me. And trying to look perfect in front of a world doesn't work either. You have to get your own righteousness out of the way, and become real in God's grace, then they'll be attracted to the light in you.

Again, you'll understand this as you grow in Him.

Yeah pwned. =P

Shane, you go man. Thank you so much for your input of the military ideals. I really didn't have a clue to where to begin with that. Being a soldier myself, I am greatful for your last input.

Well put in the last message, healer-xp, you have a way w/ words, no doubt about that, use it for God.

I am going to go get it right now !

Thank you guys very much for you encouragement, and compliments.

Ryan, glad I can bless and encourage you bro. Thanks for that, it blesses me anytime I can bless or help out someone with understanding something.

And Drive, thanks man, it really means a lot to me bro. You know you and Murray are awesome brothers. And I love the passion in both of you to please the Lord. There's no doubt in my mind that you guys are going to grow into awesome men of God. And you guys, as you are already being used, and desire to be used of Him, will look back at how much you've grown in Him, and use the experiences from your own lives and walks with God, for the delight of being a part of His work in other people's lives.

Like I've said before, if I ever I can help you with a question you might have, not that I'm someone who knows it all, but if you think I might be of help to you, please take me up on it. It would be a privilege to contribute to work of God in your life, and your growth with Him.

My name is shane, and you guys are welcome to call me that. Take care brothers.