Roleplaying for Christ

by David C. Simon

There’s nothing new about the MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) it’s a concept well over a decade old. But with computing power achieving new milestones every month, and broadband becoming increasingly common, MMORPGs have taken off in a big way these past few years. There are now many tens of thousands of players across the world questing, looting and fighting in virtual communities.

I’m not so bold as to embark on a detailed, in-depth discussion of the pros and cons of fantasy roleplaying. Instead I want to look at how we play such games, as Paul writes:

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)

How then do we play a MMORPG in the name of Jesus? I offer a simple list of strategies which I have found helpful based on personal experience.

1. Don’t hide behind your anonymity
It is awfully tempting, when unseen and unknown, to behave in a way which we would never dream of in real life. While this can be liberating – we get to be heroes, champions, philanthropists – it can also result in boasting, cheating, exploitation and wilfully ignoring the plight of others. Treat every player as if they were your brother/sister, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col 3:12b) This doesn’t mean that you can’t take part in ingame thievery or player-killing, but remain sensitive to the needs of others and be a good sport: humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

2. Learn the rules
Each game has its own set of rules, some of them official, others unspoken. They cover everything from selling ingame items for real-world cash, to so called ‘kill-stealing’. Find out what is acceptable within the game’s community to minimize your chances of causing offence.

3. Keep a clock visible
It is incredibly easy to lose track of time, and neglect your family, work, sleep or church as a result. Decide, before you start playing, how long you can reasonably play without neglecting your other responsibilities. Make sure that you can easily see the time from your computer so that you have no excuse for playing too long. If you need to, set an alarm (some games have one built-in) to let you know when you’ve been playing long enough. Don’t embark on an epic, 3-hour quest when you know you have to get ready for church in ten minutes.

4. Don’t neglect the real world
While I have encountered several families who play MMORPGs together as a family activity, it is most likely that not everyone in a family will understand the appeal. As with everything, make sure that your family comes first. Maybe they would like to try and enjoy the game with you, so give them the opportunity to do so rather than shutting them out of your private little world. But if they’re not interested, then structure your gaming time around your family time… not the other way around. It can be helpful to specify in advance when you will play, and to keep regular hours.

5. Find other Christian players
Rest assured, there are other Christians playing your game, on your server. Just as it is helpful to seek out brothers and sisters in your real-life activities, so too it is wise to spend time with them online. It can be a great help to play regularly with other people who will encourage you in your walk with Christ, and who will not pressure you into playing to the neglect of your family.

Many games support ‘guilds’ or ‘clans’, and it may be worthwhile establishing one with your Christian friends. If the members of the guild are always humble, generous, respectful and helpful, then others may start wondering what makes the guild so special… which leads to:

6. Don’t be afraid to evangelise
It may seem to be a strange medium for evangelism, but I have had several conversations about the Gospel while playing MMORPGs. How this happens will depend heavily on your personality, the style of game and what happens in general conversation. Shouting the gospel in the town-centre will probably not win you many friends. But if you are sensitive and humble, then you will find that people are open to talking about Christ – people who might have no Christian contacts outside of the game.

7. Relax, it’s just a game!
It can be easy to get worked up, especially when things aren’t going your way. If you find yourself getting frustrated or anxious, it’s a good time to take a break. Games are meant to be fun, and if it stops being fun then it’s probably time to stop playing. At least for a little while.

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