Dear Watered
Here is what I wrote last night that I referenced in my pm to you. I am glad that you are not overwhelmed by all the posts.
One thing I know, and like about you, is that you already have a sense of the danger. Many don’t. At least some of your friends probably don’t. Where did that sense come from? How were you so quick to see the problem in the HP thread? 17 seems young to me for such discernment. At 17 I would not have even questioned that. I am praying for you this night. God must have something wonderful for you in light of your sensitivity to Him.
Now to some sisterly mothering. (Is that possible?)
[u]About percentages[/u]: Would you jump off a high cliff into wonderful blue ocean water, experiencing 1000 delicious feelings if I could only tell you for certain that 25% of the people who did that received spinal cord injuries that resulted in life-long paralysis? Even until you are 1000% certain, persuaded by the Word of God, how close to witchcraft do you want to come? Yikes!
[u]Even the World knows[/u]. Would it matter if I told you about the research findings even the World knows: It takes 18 seconds of viewing violence for a measurable difference in aggressive play to be observed in young children on the play ground. What do you think about, say, 18 hours for adults?
[u]Look for lessons[/u]. Now you have already encountered the pull to keep on going in “that” direction. That is your flesh, like craving but not quite that bad. I would not be surprised if, when you don’t play with your friends, a few of them make arguments about this not being a danger spiritually (if any talk about spiritual things). They could even make a joke about you. That will be like mild persecution by blind people or those less drawn by God that you are. Think ahead how you will respond and remember Psalm 1
[i]Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper[/i]. (There is more) [b]See the choices?[/b] See the progression: walk, stand, sit down.
[u]Real warcraft[/u]. I don’t know these games but you have described them well enough. They are built on imaginations – [b]"a lot of magic and stuff like that"[/b] – imaginations that are different from reality. Magic imaginations, that are different from the reality that a born-again believer learns to walk in. Have you ever thought it silly that adults dress-up like Darth Vadar? Spend buckets of money on stuff like that while they are deep in charge-card debt?
Magic imaginations lift themselves up against the [b]Knowledge of God[/b]. Your brothers and sisters here are telling you that a stronghold can be forming in you. We are talking about real spiritual things. Look at what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
[i]3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our [b]warfare[/b] are not carnal, but mighty through God to the [b]pulling down of strong holds;[/b]) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself [b]against the knowledge of God[/b], and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;[/i]
Think of the hours spent by everyone in these imaginations. And if you ask them, they actually say they feel like they did something, for real, real feelings of accomplishment. Hello! Better to become good at something real, something that will build your character, something that will last for eternity in the Kingdom of God. Did you hear in the Corinthians passage what the road-block to more knowledge of God was? Few ever notice that in themselves for years, if ever. They just don't grow in Christ, or worse.
Sorry to run on so. I know real, live, people that got sucked into magic imaginations. I also only recently “got it” that what Jesus said about there being two Kingdoms is true: Two: the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness. Somehow, I kept leaving open the possibility that there were more than two. Tell me, which Kingdom does this game World of Warcraft fit into?
As you fill up all of you with Him (Bible study, prayer, Godly sermons, autobiographies of young men God has used, etc.), the very things you need will stand out to you. Trust God. Many people here on this site are here for you anytime. You have discernment, as I said, even to be asking.
Edit: Good job young man! Now how can you get that claw-hold off your computer? Watch to see if there is more pull on your flesh, even through your friend, and respond immediately. A friend will find another place to store such things or maybe choose to walk with you another way, doing something else. Keep us posted.
