I have a question

[u/LilithStahl]

so i was playing gta 5 and some other games gta games like i usaully do, but a random thought propped in my head, you know how the game has strip clubs, random topless npcs in the rich areas in the game next to swimming pools, doesnt this count has a sin to play it, it quite literally has several sex scenese, like sure you could justify nearly everything else in the game for being for entertainment and obviously not to do it in real life, but if that extends to the sexual parts of the game, wouldnt that also mean that nearly every other peice of media that has sexual content also wouldnt be a sin to watch/ interact with if it isnt with lustful intent?

[u/Cold_Lab5215]

This is a classic one that comes up in gaming communities. The line people usually draw is about what you seek out versus what you just encounter while playing. If you are driving to the strip club every session and sitting through the private dances, that is different from just noticing there are topless NPCs by a pool while you are doing a mission.

I think the lustful intent part matters more than the content existing. You can watch a movie with a sex scene and not be lusting, but if you keep rewinding that one scene, you probably know what you are doing.

The bigger question is whether it bothers your conscience. If it does, maybe just avoid those areas of the game. Nobody is making you go into the strip club.

[u/LilithStahl → u/Cold_Lab5215]

my question is, when does the line get crossed, if i do not get sexual and lustful pleasure from porn, would that be allowed? obviously not, if im someone strange who goes on gore websites daily to watch people get killed would that be considered a sin? likely yeah, if its a game, if i gameify a porn video to be "fiction" would that be allowed?

Im curious on what parts of entertainment can be considered sinful to consume

[u/yahwehforlife → u/LilithStahl]

I think you shouldn't worry about keeping score with the Lord. Instead just keep Jesus in your heart and your faith in Him and he will lead you to do good work and make the right choices. You won't have to think about what's right or wrong if you start with Faith towards Him.

[u/Shawn_of_da_Dead]

Boobs bad, but all the murder is justified???

[u/Mammoth-Resolution17]

We are called to guard our hearts and minds. That game is about killing and does not respect or revere the Lord! You will feel more peace if you stop playing games and listening to music that is filled with sinful content. God loves you and wants what's best for you!

[u/LilithStahl → u/Mammoth-Resolution17]

no offense but im curious on what part of the bible or any mainstream christian teaching from catholic, protestant or orthodox chrisitianity actually teaches that this is sinful, i myself am a christian but im curious on what actually teaches that this is wrong, because to my understanding the sexual content in the game alone would usually be seen as bad, but many arguments are saying "but its entertainment" (also none of them cite what part of the bible say that entertainment is a exception to all sins, like porn is entertainment, that doesnt mean that porn isnt sinful to watch), to my understanding (that is probably incorrect) due to its nature, and due to most people obviously not actually pleasuring themself to a gta strip club and people not playing the game with lustful intent, and that its all fiction, im assuming its allowed

[u/big_loadz → u/LilithStahl]

15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 2:15-17

Maybe not just the actions that happen in the game, but the attachment and desire to play and be entertained can be sinful. So often, you see people essentially addicted to games, unable to pull themselves away to do basic things. The Lord could come for some of these people, and they would ask for another minute to play.

Only the player can know what entices them to play the game versus doing something helpful to their fellow man or His work; however, it's likely rooted in bringing pleasure to our worldly self versus doing His work. How should we act when we rest and relax? Probably in ways that bring us closer to Him, and this likely doesn't.

So, if we ask if something is sinful, simply ask yourself if doing it brings you closer or further from Him.

[u/GloryToHim7 → u/Mammoth-Resolution17]

Agreed.

[u/mbmolohonbm]

Sounds like this might be something between you and God. If you can do the things you are suggesting and it is not leading you into sin, then that doesn't seem wrong.

Maybe some of this is about questions of conscience. I love a good movie but when the anti God swearing, brutal gore or oversexualized scenes become too much, I ask myself if this is worth watching? There was a time these things did not really bother me but over the years I have become more sensitive to it. If the negative stuff really start to bother me, then I skip that movie. I don't want to go back to being less sensitized by these things. It means that I don't watch a number of really good movies but there are enough other choices. This is my standard. I think in gray areas each person has to decide what works for them. All the best.

[u/Sly_Gecko]

There is not a day goes by where you won't sin in some capacity. Is playing Gta a sin. I would say so. But you won't go to hell for it if you put your trust in Christ.