Colossians 3:15-17

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Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 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. 
Clearly, I haven't got this daily journaling thing down pat yet. With any luck, I will have it within a month. This morning, I should have been writing about the second half of 2 Corinthians. Then tonight I read Paul McClain's post called "Stop the killing." McClain was noting the recent debates on gun control in the wake of horrific massacres and how the mankind's old nature longs for bloodlust. And he made passing reference to violence in movies, television and video games. He had my full attention. Then he noted this Scripture. I know this one well. And today, it bit hard.

See, I have been a gamer since I was about 16, when a quick-stop gas station installed "Space Invaders." That was back in 1980. I dropped seemingly a small fortune in quarters to shoot at rows of white robot-looking soldiers marching down the screen. I really got hooked on gaming after I bought my first PC 20 years ago. By the late 1990s, I came to know them all too well. Video gaming has long been a vice.

Knowing that, read Colossians 3, again. My heart sank: It dawned on me what I have been doing. Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Let's say that again, and whatever you do ...

I have to say, I don't think video games are the problem in our society. I don't think they are even a symptom of the ills that lead to Aurora and Newtown. And guns certainly aren't the symptom either. The problem is, we aren't living our lives the way God directs us to do it. Too often we are trying to escape our world. Too often we are feeding on our bloodlust nature. Too often, we are turning away from God.

So today, I am going to mediate more on Colossians: Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of Jesus.

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