BibleNet

This book typifies the fundamentalist Christian response to an evil world: withdrawal. Below is my response to Moody radio about their interview with the authors, and a collection of other Web reviews of this book.

The Book

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“The best kept secret in America today is that most video games, obsessively played as their creators program them to be, gobble up childhood, adolescence, and youth, then spit out depressed adult Peter Pans who are literally incapable of meeting the demands and complexities of adult life. A must-read for every parent in America!” - Joe L. Wheeler, Ph.D., author of Remote Controlled

Signs of Addiction

• PREOCCUPATION: When I am not playing with the video games, I keep thinking about them…
• TOLERANCE: an increasing amount of time playing video games.
• LOSS OF CONTROL: I have tried to control, cut back or stop playing…end up playing for a longer period than I intended.
• DISSATISFACTION: When I lose in a game or I have not obtained the desired results, I need to play again to achieve my target.
• WITHDRAWAL: When I can’t use the video games I get restless or irritable.
• ESCAPE: When I feel bad, etc. nervous, sad, or angry, or when I have problems, I use the video games more often.
• LIES AND DECEPTION: Sometimes I conceal my video game playing to my parents, friends, teachers, etc.
• DISREGARD FOR CONSEQUENCES: In order to play video games I have skipped classes or work, or lied, or stolen, or had an argument or a fight with someone.
• LIFE DISRUPTION: Because of the video game playing I have reduced my homework, or schoolwork, or I have not eaten, or I have gone to bed late, or I spent less time with my friends and family.

Web Resources

• http://www.videogametrouble.org/ - main Web site for this book.

“Read the blog of a young married man who nearly lost his marriage due to an online gaming addiction. Follow his journey as he describes the process of going cold turkey and what led to that decision.”

• What Parents Need to Know About Video Games - Part 1 of 2 - Focus on the Family interview with the Brunners.

My Letter

From: Keith McCallum [keith@neoxenos.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 12:37 PM
To: midday@moody.edu
Subject: An Impotent Approach

I couldn’t disagree more with your esteemed guests, even though their intentions are godly.

The “protect our children” approach is a proven failure, and it’s unbiblical. Evangelicals are losing their children to the World System at an uprecedented rate (91% of evangelical youth hold a low view of inspiration and innerancy, for example, according to both McDowell and Barna research). It’s time for Christians who love their children to reverse this decades-old “protection” and “withdrawal” approach, and instead play a proactive role in leading their kids into the World System. Jesus said, “I don’t pray you take them out of the world…” in Jn.17.

We could talk forever about the dangers of the World System, but Christian parents can never shield their kids from making their own decisions. Let them make mistakes! Let them learn they have “addictive natures” while you as a parent are available to help! Why let them find out behind closed doors, or worse, when they’re on their own without your leadership? If my kids must face a dangerous culture, they’ll face it first with me, side-by-side with them.

A much more significant and useful concern is this: how many of their friends are they reaching for Christ? I find evangelical parents rarely ask this question. Consequently, without having built a peer group of fellow Christians, we turn these kids loose into a most dangerous Kosmos unprepared, unsupported, naive and prime targets for assimulation.

Your Servant In Christ,
Keith McCallum

Response

Hello,

Thank you for your email to Midday Connection! Your feedback is very important to us, so we’re thankful that you took the time to contact us.

If you missed any part of the program, be sure to visit the Midday Connection website (http://www.middayconnection.org) to listen to the program again. You’ll also find other helpful information on the website about the book that the guest wrote:

Book: PlayStation Nation - Dangers of Video Games Authors: Kurt and Olivia Bruner Publisher: Center Street Web Site: www.videogametrouble.org

You might also be interested in our past guest, who had a different perspective on video games:

Book: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Video Games Author: Richard Abens Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

God bless you as you continue to listen to Midday Connection and grow in your relationship with Christ!

Lori Neff

Midday Connection Producer

820 N. La Salle? Blvd.

Chicago, IL 60610

midday@moody.edu

http://www.middayconnection.org

Web Reviews

It’s interesting to read the secular response from Parent Blogger Network. They get it.