[DanielSlack]

"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."~Isaiah 1:17

When it comes to video games, cartoons, and violence, I think that we should be more "wary" of games involving playing a character that involves direct physical violence and intention of revenge or evil. As believer, we get caught up in the ideas of trying to teach our children peace and love.

Then, as children mature, reality sets in. The conditions of our nonviolent lessons get muddled with the fact that we as adults are very violent. We march off to war. We fight with our neighbor. We peacefully support leaders when deciding to go to war for the right reasons. Then we change the translation of the bible to support our position. (For example changing the commandment Thou Shall Not Murder to Thou Shall Not Kill) This lessons ours and GOD's credibility in our children's eyes with out even realizing it.

Though some claim that GOD is forgiving and Jesus is the "Prince Of Peace", the bible reflects a rather violent aspect to GOD's nature. God's violent tendencies are seen in some of the most fundamental and well-known Bible teachings.

The Old Testament claims that God damned the entire human race because of the acts of the first two people: Genesis 3:16-23, Romans 5:18. It also says he caused a worldwide Flood that drowned pregnant women, innocent children, and animals, Genesis 7:20-23. It reports he killed Egyptian babies at the time of the Passover, Exodus 12:29-30.

The New Testament states that God required the torture and murder of his own son, Romans 3:24-25. It promises he will send to eternal torture all who do not accept GOD as sovereign, Revelation 21:8.

Without accepting this and teaching the reality of the verses in the bible, without accepting the reality of the real world and the violence within it, it may undermine the faith of many youth in this day and age.

Anger is a real emotion. Violence is a reality in society. So the only alternative is to teach the difference between righteous and unrighteous anger, proper ways to handle anger, and when is action appropriate.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."~Proverbs 31:8-9

I am not a violent person, never have been. I rarely got into fights growing up, but the fights I did get into were a result of defending the less fortunate then myself, the small, the weak, the handicapped. Partially from Christianity Values, partially from comic books, but also partially because I only played video games that either involved strategy, or played gamed where the intention of violence was for somewhat "righteous" reasons.

We should not call a game "violent", if it is similar to chess, where the pieces battle, but your are just the general. Likewise, why do we try to deny teaching the "real world" truth of violence, consequences, and death. This will only leave our children unprepared for the realities of life.

As Believers, we may choose to "turn the other cheeks" for acts that are caused against us, but we do not have the moral choice to allow such violence, prejudice, and hate to occur to our brothers and sisters in humanity. How do you turn the other cheek to child molesters, rapists, con artists and deceivers?

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling"~Psalm 68:5

IN a perfect world, there would be no need for violence. We would be able to debate with words our difference and either change our minds, change the oppositions minds, or agree to disagree, and still be able to respect each other after the debate is done.

But, we do not live in a perfect world. I believe that the whole universe is essentially a Temple To God's Glory. We live in a temple that not only reflects certain aspects of God's divine wisdom and beauty:

" 37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
" 38"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"[b]
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
" 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
" 40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."~Luke 19:37-40

Even Jesus resorted to angry words and violent action when he saw what was being done in the Temple Of The Lord:

"12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” ~Matthew 21:12-13

As parents, we should not turn a blind eye the reality of the world, but use whatever tools are available to instruct our children to take the best, appropriate, action. We should not deny the fact that we get angry and that our children get angry.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."~Psalm 119:105