Video Games

Another area that is a common problem is video games. There is a reason I am writing about this on its own, and that is because of the nature of this medium. Other media are often passive, requiring little or no input from the viewer. But video games are immersive. 

This immersive nature makes them a substitute for reality. They require our near full attention, and can keep us entertained for hours. They draw us away from what is going on around us. They can challenge us and reward us, all without really accomplishing anything. Very often they require this investment of time in order to be successful. 

Playing games occasionally for short periods of time is fine, but video games are easy to go overboard on. This one hits close to me. There was a time in my life where I definitely invested far too much of my time into games. And if I don't guard myself, it is easy to fall back into them. I have found the best way to deal with it is to replace that part of my life with something else. 

Like other addictions, video games draw us away from the reality of our lives. We need to seek God and perfect our characters. We do that by facing and learning from reality, and seeking to know the truth, not by escaping from it. And in our relationships, addictions draw us away and make us distant and isolated. Video game addiction has become a major factor in broken relationships and dysfunctional marriages.