Interests left behind

[Kojikun]

This just out of curiosity but did yall have things you had to leave behind when you became a Christian? I remember my first experience days after being born again was my enjoyment for gorey horror movies almost completely vanished. I went to a friends house and we watched horror movie clips (something I was a big fan of) and when certain scenes came on I felt sick to my stomach. I asked him to turn it off. I also lost interest in games like Mortal Kombat and God of War. Far too violent. When it comes to animes, games and movies I dont mind a little blood but anything gorey I refuse to watch. I like the horror genre still but I'm very careful with what I view now. Another thing I left behind was a number of card games. I'm fine with terms like magic and such if there in a pure fictional setting (theres limits to that too) but some of the card games I had literally have Lucifer as a playable character (you'd be surprised how common that is in some tcgs) I also gave up a good chunk of my music collection. I had alot of music that was by openingly Satanic bands. I dont listen to alot of secular music now.

 

[CharliRenee]

Ok in light of your transparency and forth coming lately (thanks, btw), I'll confess...

A few weeks ago I was wrapped up in a Netflix series. It is so entertaining and it wasn't this only one I had been allowing myself to compromise with lately.

Well a couple weeks ago, I got me some grub, got comfy and turned to the next episode. Right off the bat, I was hearing the f word and G.. D and JC spewed over and over. I had noticed it before, but just decided to tune out the aspects of the series that were definitely going against what I know doesn't honor Him.

Well, what was happening is I was becoming more and more desensitized by so much of the things that should have cued me to step away. Thanks be to the Lord, I finally chose to turn that off. I won't lie, temptation rises on lonely or boring moments in the still of the night to go back. It was a show that had me on the edge of my seat.

He is helping redirect me and encouraging me to not harm myself by choosing that which can be destructive to my well-being, to take captive my thoughts and what I choose to do.

I am so encouraged by your choice to lay certain things down. I also appreciate that you say, it isn't always easy. I get it, most all do, I believe. Thanks be to Him, our edge of the seat true joy combined with peace that surpasses all understanding comes only from trusting and honoring Him.

I love hearing how God is moving in the lives of others, in the big things and in the day to day choices.

Way to go young brother, may the Holy Spirit continue to prick our consciences everytime we grieve Him, and may be submit versus quench.

 

[1christian1]

Ok in light of your transparency and forth coming lately (thanks, btw), I'll confess...

A few weeks ago I was wrapped up in a Netflix series. It is so entertaining and it wasn't this only one I had been allowing myself to compromise with lately.

Well a couple weeks ago, I got me some grub, got comfy and turned to the next episode. Right off the bat, I was hearing the f word and G.. D and JC spewed over and over. I had noticed it before, but just decided to tune out the aspects of the series that were definitely going against what I know doesn't honor Him.

Well, what was happening is I was becoming more and more desensitized by so much of the things that should have cued me to step away. Thanks be to the Lord, I finally chose to turn that off. I won't lie, temptation rises on lonely or boring moments in the still of the night to go back. It was a show that had me on the edge of my seat.

He is helping redirect me and encouraging me to not harm myself by choosing that which can be destructive to my well-being, to take captive my thoughts and what I choose to do.

I am so encouraged by your choice to lay certain things down. I also appreciate that you say, it isn't always easy. I get it, most all do, I believe. Thanks be to Him, our edge of the seat true joy combined with peace that surpasses all understanding comes only from trusting and honoring Him.

I love hearing how God is moving in the lives of others, in the big things and in the day to day choices.

Way to go young brother, may the Holy Spirit continue to prick our consciences everytime we grieve Him, and may be submit versus quench.

So you went PG 13... Don't know if I would ever go there... But good for you...

 

[CharliRenee]

So you went PG 13... Don't know if I would ever go there... But good for you...

It was more than pg 13 to be honest. Not sure the rating but if it were a movie, it would be rated R. I am glad you would never go there. Wise choice, I am sure the Lord is well pleased.

Spirit of self control is a good thing.

 

[Mii]

For me it's been a slow process. @CharliRenee I've had moments like that. Compromise, ignoring...then finally something tips the scale and even though you still feel guilty (and accusations come later for me too often) you turn from it. Resisting the temptation until it disappears. I will say that there have been a few times where I have given in and gone back to things I know are filth (shows/games) and sure enough...the Lord was working in the background and however I was experiencing it before as far as enjoyment it's just boring.

I feel like we mature past it when we make the mature decision even though we dilly dallied.



It's coincidental that you mention Mortal Kombat @Kojikun because I turned on a SNES version and instantly felt vibes that I don't recall ever feeling. Did one fight with my bro and we went back to wii golf. Then I remembered all the finishing moves and just garbage violence in that stuff. I could give long lists of the reasons why I've stopped certain things

I have a blanket ban on films/TV at present but occasionally fall into gaming which is just as bad in a different way of poor stewardship. MMOs have become really dark.

It's been a LONG process like I said. I can't believe some of the stuff I watched when I was younger. I gave my life to the Lord young but it's like it's been this consistent process lifelong.


Even something like Crash Bandicoot I've been really wanting to play...but then tribal masks (Aku) my mother used to say it's said "Ohmigod" when they activated when we were children. I shrugged it off then, but nowadays...that's how she heard it, which says something. Even if I don't hear that, it still affected someone else (a parent) and caused a conscience conflict of some kind.

At least with CTR I can put a cheat in so that we only use potions when racing...so that's my middle of the road fix. I call these "hotfixes" for my flesh. I pray about them and eventually they become non issues...because I'd rather have a healing than a bandage

 

[Kojikun]

For me it's been a slow process. @CharliRenee I've had moments like that. Compromise, ignoring...then finally something tips the scale and even though you still feel guilty (and accusations come later for me too often) you turn from it. Resisting the temptation until it disappears. I will say that there have been a few times where I have given in and gone back to things I know are filth (shows/games) and sure enough...the Lord was working in the background and however I was experiencing it before as far as enjoyment it's just boring.

I feel like we mature past it when we make the mature decision even though we dilly dallied.



It's coincidental that you mention Mortal Kombat @Kojikun because I turned on a SNES version and instantly felt vibes that I don't recall ever feeling. Did one fight with my bro and we went back to wii golf. Then I remembered all the finishing moves and just garbage violence in that stuff. I could give long lists of the reasons why I've stopped certain things

I have a blanket ban on films/TV at present but occasionally fall into gaming which is just as bad in a different way of poor stewardship. MMOs have become really dark.

It's been a LONG process like I said. I can't believe some of the stuff I watched when I was younger. I gave my life to the Lord young but it's like it's been this consistent process lifelong.


Even something like Crash Bandicoot I've been really wanting to play...but then tribal masks (Aku) my mother used to say it's said "Ohmigod" when they activated when we were children. I shrugged it off then, but nowadays...that's how she heard it, which says something. Even if I don't hear that, it still affected someone else (a parent) and caused a conscience conflict of some kind.

At least with CTR I can put a cheat in so that we only use potions when racing...so that's my middle of the road fix. I call these "hotfixes" for my flesh. I pray about them and eventually they become non issues...because I'd rather have a healing than a bandage

For me it's been a slow process. @CharliRenee I've had moments like that. Compromise, ignoring...then finally something tips the scale and even though you still feel guilty (and accusations come later for me too often) you turn from it. Resisting the temptation until it disappears. I will say that there have been a few times where I have given in and gone back to things I know are filth (shows/games) and sure enough...the Lord was working in the background and however I was experiencing it before as far as enjoyment it's just boring.

I feel like we mature past it when we make the mature decision even though we dilly dallied.



It's coincidental that you mention Mortal Kombat @Kojikun because I turned on a SNES version and instantly felt vibes that I don't recall ever feeling. Did one fight with my bro and we went back to wii golf. Then I remembered all the finishing moves and just garbage violence in that stuff. I could give long lists of the reasons why I've stopped certain things

I have a blanket ban on films/TV at present but occasionally fall into gaming which is just as bad in a different way of poor stewardship. MMOs have become really dark.

It's been a LONG process like I said. I can't believe some of the stuff I watched when I was younger. I gave my life to the Lord young but it's like it's been this consistent process lifelong.


Even something like Crash Bandicoot I've been really wanting to play...but then tribal masks (Aku) my mother used to say it's said "Ohmigod" when they activated when we were children. I shrugged it off then, but nowadays...that's how she heard it, which says something. Even if I don't hear that, it still affected someone else (a parent) and caused a conscience conflict of some kind.

At least with CTR I can put a cheat in so that we only use potions when racing...so that's my middle of the road fix. I call these "hotfixes" for my flesh. I pray about them and eventually they become non issues...because I'd rather have a healing than a bandage

Indeed there are games that I had stop simply because characters showed to much skin. Also when the magic in games goes into great detail. I was playing a jrpg and one of the items I had to make was a voodoo doll. I'm like "Nope" and shut it off. I am apart of Christian game developers group and every once in awhile games they made would be released and its encouraging know that not ever game is not bending over backwards to include secular views.

 

[Mii]

Indeed there are games that I had stop simply because characters showed to much skin. Also when the magic in games goes into great detail. I was playing a jrpg and one of the items I had to make was a voodoo doll. I'm like "Nope" and shut it off. I am apart of Christian game developers group and every once in awhile games they made would be released and its encouraging know that not ever game is not bending over backwards to include secular views.

It's irritating (also good) when it's so clear that you have no choice. Vague lores that echo to deeper doctrines it takes longer to figure out and you can convince yourself it's just fantasy. I'm at that point with one game...the sunk cost fallacy is a hard one.

I saw a group like that on FB but it was closed. I think a very clean (but not cheesy) MMO could be created but I don't have the technical skills for it, just the ideas on implementation/content.

Slaying NPCs that aren't humanoid I don't have much issue with as that is hunting/fishing/etc in a nutshell.

There are ways to make a game educational and "semi" productive. I've learned things over the years but maybe 5% of what I could have because a lot of it is junk. An active community with skills that are realistically based off real world skills (where it could in a way function something like wikipedia knowledge/encyclopedic) has a lot of merit.

 

[CharliRenee]

Indeed there are games that I had stop simply because characters showed to much skin. Also when the magic in games goes into great detail. I was playing a jrpg and one of the items I had to make was a voodoo doll. I'm like "Nope" and shut it off. I am apart of Christian game developers group and every once in awhile games they made would be released and its encouraging know that not ever game is not bending over backwards to include secular views.

Do you develop Christian games or developers that are Christian? Cool either way, just curious. I play garden and home scapes, once in awhile. It isn't as fun if you don't pay. Anyhoooo, it would be neat if they had a Christian game like that, to maybe fiddle a bit on them and maybe learn something. To include him in developing, one way or another is a very good thing, right?

 

[Kojikun]

Do you develop Christian games or developers that are Christian? Cool either way, just curious. I play garden and home scapes, once in awhile. It isn't as fun if you don't pay. Anyhoooo, it would be neat if they had a Christian game like that, to maybe fiddle a bit on them and maybe learn something. To include him in developing, one way or another is a very good thing, right?

I've worked on a few card games in the past. I joined the group about a year ago and the members are christian and they usually have a christian theme to the games they make. If I find some videos of things they've made I will post them.

 

[Kojikun]

It's irritating (also good) when it's so clear that you have no choice. Vague lores that echo to deeper doctrines it takes longer to figure out and you can convince yourself it's just fantasy. I'm at that point with one game...the sunk cost fallacy is a hard one.

I saw a group like that on FB but it was closed. I think a very clean (but not cheesy) MMO could be created but I don't have the technical skills for it, just the ideas on implementation/content.

Slaying NPCs that aren't humanoid I don't have much issue with as that is hunting/fishing/etc in a nutshell.

There are ways to make a game educational and "semi" productive. I've learned things over the years but maybe 5% of what I could have because a lot of it is junk. An active community with skills that are realistically based off real world skills (where it could in a way function something like wikipedia knowledge/encyclopedic) has a lot of merit.

I'm fine with slaying monsters and such in games. (The Metroid series and Zelda are some of my favorites) when there are humans though I only fight back in self defense (on the game obviously lol) but yeah most fps games are a no go. I did play a Mortal Kombat 3 a few weeks ago and I turned the blood off but I couldn't do more than a few rounds. I'd rather play Street Fighter II

 

[CharliRenee]

I've worked on a few card games in the past. I joined the group about a year ago and the members are christian and they usually have a christian theme to the games they make. If I find some videos of things they've made I will post them.

Please do!!!

 

[Kojikun]

Please do!!!

This ones called Spiritual Warrior, old school side scrolling beat em up.

 

[ArtsieSteph]

Honestly yeah, there have been. Mostly my taste in anime and certain media had to change. Sadly in anime they often deal with “dark supernatural elements” up to and including demons and the like. Stuff like Inuyasha or demon hunter where they treat the demons as just a magical race of folk as opposed to...you know demons!! Again folklore treats these “devils” differently than western on the whole.

 

[oldethennew]

first of all, we had to begin/learn how to leave our 'old-bad-habits' behind, and then,
we began to learn how to put-on-wear our brand new clothes...
it has taken a very lllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg - tiiiiiimmmmmme.......................................
the 'in=between' has been very painful and extremely hard and telling, the releasing can be a very slow process...
PS. 101:3.
(((I will set no wicked thing before My eyes))): I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to Me.
we have found that all of the things that you have mentioned have a 'satanic-root'
this is a Godly principle given to those who can perceive - if you know in your heart/spirit
that it is evil/satanic, then, beseech your Saviour, for He is our Helper in ALL things, (((get-rid-of-IT)))...

 

[Mii]

I'm fine with slaying monsters and such in games. (The Metroid series and Zelda are some of my favorites) when there are humans though I only fight back in self defense (on the game obviously lol) but yeah most fps games are a no go. I did play a Mortal Kombat 3 a few weeks ago and I turned the blood off but I couldn't do more than a few rounds. I'd rather play Street Fighter II

Yeah street fighter is all people iirc. I'd be down to have that as an arcade game (the box thing) at some point if I ever put some of my ideas in practice. I liked old school arcades and you can still buy em.

One of the churches I went to as a child eventually had a game room with arcade games (DK) and the basketball shooting mini game (with the really little balls). Only time I realistically got to play with all the people was during a lock-in once.


There's a game I'm on the fence and just having a hard time giving up...where it used to be you didn't have to do anything "obvious" in quests but it's gotten a lot worse

 

[Kojikun]

Yeah street fighter is all people iirc. I'd be down to have that as an arcade game (the box thing) at some point if I ever put some of my ideas in practice. I liked old school arcades and you can still buy em.

One of the churches I went to as a child eventually had a game room with arcade games (DK) and the basketball shooting mini game (with the really little balls). Only time I realistically got to play with all the people was during a lock-in once.


There's a game I'm on the fence and just having a hard time giving up...where it used to be you didn't have to do anything "obvious" in quests but it's gotten a lot worse

Yeah I notice some games quest systems have rather unsettle themes. Like games with morality systems. I first became acquainted with these systems in the ps2 era with Darkwatch. The choices were do or dont situations. I usually avoid games with it as it feels restricting in a way.

 

[Mii]

Yeah I notice some games quest systems have rather unsettle themes. Like games with morality systems. I first became acquainted with these systems in the ps2 era with Darkwatch. The choices were do or dont situations. I usually avoid games with it as it feels restricting in a way.

Or when content is intentionally behind that wall if you make a choice that biblically makes sense.

 

[Lynx]

About all these anime and games with demons and magic and all... I can see it from the developers' side. To many people what we Christians believe is just another set of mythology, and they use it like any other mythology. Games like Titan Fall and God of War are based on Greek mythology. Jade Empire and the like use Japanese concepts of a celestial bureaucracy. (There have been SO MANY shows and games based on the Monkey King legend alone... cough-Dragonball-cough.) A game with angels and demons? *shrug* We can use that material too.

I don't watch anime but I have had to put down some video games. But I can understand why they were made that way. Sometimes it's not malicious intent to wreck Christianity. For some people it's just another set of mythological lore to use in the making of a new story for a new game.

 

[Lynx]

Then again, it doesn't have to have demons or witches in it to be bad.

I remember a set of youtube clips I was watching that starred a certain cartoon figure. They were short but entertaining clips, and the main character was witty, bitingly sarcastic and entertaining. But I had to stop watching those because it was affecting how I thought. I started thinking up a lot of sarcastic remarks of my own - catching myself before I said them, but still thinking them a lot - and I realized that paying deliberate attention to something so sarcastic and insulting was making my own thoughts a lot more snide.

 

[Lynx]

In fact, it doesn't even have to be necessarily BAD to be something you should leave alone. Sometimes it's just not profitable.

Once upon a time I thought I might start building computers. But when I talked to God about it, He said I shouldn't. What? What's evil about building computers? But desktop computers were on their way out, and it would have been a dead end. These days I can't even give away a desktop computer. Nobody wants them.