What Makes a “Christian” Video Game?

I’m becoming more and more familiar with the Biblical doctrine of vocation, especially since I started reading the Lutheran blog Cranach. In the words of Gene Edward Veith:

Luther’s doctrine of vocation says that God gives each of us different gifts, interests and capabilities. He also gives each of us an external calling to a particular avenue of service. We are to use all that in love and service to our neighbor and service to God…. In addition, the doctrine of vocation tells me that I don’t have to be a pastor or missionary or always doing church activities to be effective as a Christian. I’m called to live out my Christian faith in my calling in the secular world.

The doctrine of vocation helps us see the danger of creating a Christian subculture. For example, what makes a video game “Christian”? Blog poster Pastor Matt has this to say:

Where does the doctrine of vocation fall in all of this? I say a first person shooter about a US (or any nation's soldier for that matter) marine fighting for his nation is Christian enough. This is also true for the sports game - where you pretend to live out the vocation of an athlete and entertainer. Thinking that a “Christian” video game means fighting evil spirits with “swords of the spirit” encourages a false dichotomy between spirituality and “real” life. Being Christian is being a baker, a bus driver, and a father. Games that allow me to escape to another vocation are as Christian as it needs to get!

Dr. Veith wrote a recent post about using Labor Day to celebrate the Doctrine of Vocation. I think it’s a good idea.

Happy Labor Day, everyone!

NOTE: This article’s title has been adapted from the original (and less interesting) title of Vocation – A Doctrine Worth “Laboring” For.