Soldiers and video games
Why is it that Christians are so quick to condemn playing video games that contain violence like Call of Duty, yet are so honoring and supportive of Christians serving in the military? I understand that the Augsburg Confession states that Christians can be soldiers, and I agree with this. I just don't get why if serving as a solider is not sinful and an honorable thing, why would it be a sin to play a video game like Call of Duty where you pretend to be a solider?
God’s fifth commandment has the purpose of protecting life and prohibiting murder. God has that concern for a person’s life because when earthly life comes to an end, so does that person’s time of grace (Isaiah 55:6; Hebrews 9:27).
In the Bible, God explains that only he (Deuteronomy 32:39) or his representatives (Romans 13:4) have the right to end a person’s life. If soldiers, in defense of their country and in service to God’s representatives in government (Romans 13:1-4) take the life of another person, that is not a sinful act.
In the case of some video games, virtual killing is presented as entertainment. Each Christian will have to determine the appropriateness of being involved in those games. What games like those can certainly do is desensitize people to violent loss of human life and to devalue human life.
Recognizing that the images and sounds that reach our minds can affect us, it is no surprise that the Bible gives this instruction: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). It would be helpful for Christians of all ages to ask themselves if the entertainment they are engaged in passes the “Philippians test.”