childhood video games and child-like faith

& my case for the connection between the two.

And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven” Matthew 18:3

Peter Pan looked toward Wendy sternly and shouted, “Go on! Go back and grow up! But I’m warning you, once you’re grown up you can never come back.”

And once you grow up it’s nearly impossible to find your way back to Neverland. Adult life can bring a lot of change to our once child-like POV. More often than not the busyness of life and the anthems culture convince us to swap wonder filled mindsets to empty pursuits.

The greater danger being once we arrive into that emptiness we get stuck there. Because compared to our younger selves, we adults become skeptical. More calloused. Hardened. Put nicer, we become so sure of ourselves—logical, concrete—that we abandon wonder and discovery.

One of the ways this can be seen is an adult's tendency to struggle with fun—or in other words “wasting time.”

Relaxation? More like a guilt trip. Playtime with the kids is ONLY for the weekends, but not before chores are finished. Rest is for vacations, but vacation only makes more sense when the kids are older than 12. And before you know it, life has become mechanical, ran by regularly scheduled programming because it’s always grind time.

For many adults, it’s hard to be imaginative. To have wonder. Hunger for adventure. What is it about life that stomps out our desire to discover and wonder? I think there are several factors that can lead us to let go of wonder. One of the primary ways is by constantly pursuing material things, a strong desire to accumulate a bunch of stuff. A new home, nicer car, better wardrobe, latest gadgets, and all things that shine. People with wonder and imagination can have said things; however, the mind set on the material rarely has time to ponder the immaterial. That which lasts for eternity. Beauty, goodness, and truth. Throughout history we see these valuable virtues displayed in stories of adventure, love, heroism, glory, and humble servitude.

Story after story, from saving the princess to beating the final boss. A journey with friends to defeat evil forces cursing the kingdom. Stumbling into greatness after humble beginnings, or rising to the top to serve the lowly rather than stomp upon them.

Man, what wonderful stories have been told. Through books, yes, but for me personally also through video games.

I know, I know— video games? Seriously??

Yes. Seriously.

Often I hear many friends wanting to replay their favorite childhood video games. To revel in the glory days, a time of absolute discovery. Imagine buying an old Nintendo, Gameboy, Playstation, or Xbox, and spending hours on your childhood gaming console.

It made me begin to wonder if there is a connection between the desire to replay childhood video games and the way God has programmed our hearts to thrive from having a child-like faith? To become like the children. Able to change. Quick to receive. Less stressed about time. Full of imagination and wonder.

Allow me to make my case, and also talk about my top 3 video games as a child.

Open World, Open Heart

Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town was a young boy, 10 years old, set on the adventure of a lifetime, to become the world’s greatest Pokémon trainer. To catch all the Pokémon. To defeat his rival, Gary, to challenge and crush the Elite Four, and to go on to be the man. Leaving his home and his single mother, sorry mom, he gets his first Pokémon from Professor Oak and is set off on his journey.

I would say I was incredibly formed by Ash’s courage, determination, and grit as a child. I was convinced that I could become anything I wanted to be, just like Ash went from a literal child who left home, which is wild, to becoming the Pokémon champion. He would make new friends, defeat gym leaders who were far older and wiser than he, and he would travel the Kanto region by foot and bike which was incredible for his cardio.

In the Kingdom of God, walking in obedience to Him, the opportunities for adventure are endless. Obedience is an adventure. Through obedience, we are changed more into the likeness of Christ and then are sent on mission to do the wonderful works of Christ. It begins with a change of heart, repentance, and then a heart set on Jesus, obedience. We have the ability to become completely new. As Paul puts it, we become new creations in Christ Jesus our Lord (2 Corinthians 5:17). But not only that, we are always in the process of becoming, as Paul writes to the church of Philippi, “Being confident in this, that He who began a good work will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). So not only are we changed in Christ but are being constantly changed in Christ. This requires humble obedience and submission. This requires Child-like faith.

Like Ash, we have the adventure of a lifetime ahead of us. We just have to step out in faith. The adventure will shape us, we just have to walk in obedience to what we’ve been called into. For Ash, to catch ‘em all. For us, the Great Commission. Making disciples of all nations.

Guiltless Relaxation

We begin on Tutorial Island. You will learn how to mine. Cut down a tree. Catch a fish. Try and cook a fish. You burned it. You catch another fish and try again. Well done, you didn’t burn it. Learn some spells. Fight some rats. Say some prayers. Then you’re ready to play the game. Runescape. Now begins the most grindy game ever. You will do some cool quests. They will be awesome. However, you will also cut down 6,000 trees to boost your stats. And slay some cows. And fish a whole lot. Then more quests. You don’t want to go to The Wilderness if you’re a low level. You will get smoked by some high level player wearing Dragon armor. Then you lost all your gear you had on you and you spawn to the starting area. Way to go, noob. For whatever reason, despite the bad decisions with the bad repercussions, you keep playing. Because it’s Runescape and as a 12-year-old in 2006 this is peak entertainment.

All that to say, I wasn’t mindful of the time I spent on this video game. I would play right after I got home from school and was lost in the beauty of this open world. I learned to keep going even when things seemed monotonous. To try hard to excel even when everyone around me seemed like they already arrived at the finish line. I would lean back in my parent’s computer chair, drink a Capri-Sun, and relax in the vast world of Runescape.

In the Kingdom of God, rest is a core value. God instituted a day of rest to the newly freed slaves from Egypt (Exodus 16:23) and then commanded that they remember the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8), probably because they had a habit of not observing it properly. Seems like they forgot. Shown in the person of Jesus, rest is a core value in the New Testament as well. Jesus slept on the boat during a storm (Mark 4:38), He was often in a solitude place to rest in the Father’s presence (Mark 1:35), and He tells His disciples that this is what He desires for them by His presence, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest shouldn’t cause guilt, it should be the place where we are refreshed by God’s presence.

Sometimes rest feels like you’re not doing anything of substance. Like the grindiness of Runescape. But rest reminds us that we’re human. Children have no issue kicking up their feet and relaxing. Children had no problem with running into the arms of Jesus. They probably instinctively knew that’s where rest would be found. And joy. So much joy. The grind of life can be shelved for a moment in order to get our much-needed rest. We need to learn that from the kids.

May We Never Lose our Wonder

You wake up in a bed in a cabin and walk outside into the pouring rain. The princess is missing. You mob to the castle. Dad’s dead. Things are weird. You get set on an adventure and discover there’s another realm. You need a mirror to get there. Things are the same, but very different. It’s kind of like Stranger Things’ ‘upside down.’ Welcome to Legends of Zelda, Link to the Past. You’re going to go to this upside-down, inverted world and save the princess from an evil wizard who’s not actually a wizard but Ganondorf cosplaying a mage. You’re going to get the master sword and other cool items and do quests along the way. The music is fire and the gameplay is insane. Enjoy getting lost for hours in the beauty of this marvelous game.

Link taught me that there was so much more to the world around me than I could even comprehend. Even things beyond what the natural eye can see. I discovered wonder with this game. Awe, imagination grew. Adventure’s on the other side of risk. Leaving the comfort of the cabin to go into the tumultuous weather and trials that lie ahead. There’s always so much more out there, just waiting to be discovered. Just waiting to be enjoyed. With awe, with wonder.

In the Kingdom of God, wonder is an entryway to worship. Wonder inclines the heart toward praise. When we’re in awe of God’s creation, His character, His vastness, it turns our heart’s attention toward exalting Him. When we lose our wonder, our appetite for worship lessens and, therefore, our joy and contentment fail to reach great heights as we were created to worship the King.

In the monotony of life, it’s easy to just go through the motions; wake, eat, work, scroll, maybe gym or some hobby, sleep, repeat. Days fly by and life goes unobserved and, truly, unenjoyed. I believe wonder is the antidote for that. Wonder that comes from being in awe of God, what He’s created, and what He’s done. Playing Link to the Past set my heart on track to pursue that which inspires awe and wonder, and I’m forever grateful. That’s probably a good reason why I really enjoy listening to Legends of Zelda playlists on Youtube while I work on sermons, whether I’ve thought deeply about that connection or not.

Interview with Licensed Therapist & Gamer, Brian Dirks

austenn: do you believe there’s a connection between some adults wanting to replay their childhood video games and all humans intrinsic need to become “like the children,” as Jesus calls us to?

brian: I think there is this longing to feel once again a sense of peace and simple existence we once had as children. Growing up I played because I didn’t have anything to really worry about except for the homework I had to do. Once work was done I would game and just enjoy the story I was playing. Getting wrapped up in the action, story, strategy of whatever I was playing. I can begin to feel like I was tapping into a potential I always knew I had. To be what I know can be in the game that I was in. It’s funny if you think about it, we as children were taught to work hard so we can “have a life to live” and “not waste it playing games,” while today we are “living the life” while all along not truly living the life. So thus we are drawn to play those games again. To feel alive like the way children do. Existing in the moment. Trusting that we are being cared for in all the things that matter. While still being responsible for the work that is before us.

austenn: in what ways have you been shaped by playing video games as a child that, if you were to return to those core values, it would benefit you in your walk with Jesus?

brian: I have no shame in saying that games have shaped a lot of who I am today and how I walk with Jesus. Games of the 90s were brutal. I’ve learned how to flow with what’s before me and trust the process. Some games had really difficult puzzles or baddies to fight and all you had to work with is what was given you. Much like what Jesus has trusted me with. Reminds me of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. I can work with what Jesus has given me and make something of it. What’s great about that in games is once you pass the difficult part you’re sometimes awarded with more abilities. Sometimes you’re not. Sometimes you have to figure out that you really are lacking something and have to find a piece to help you. Which tells me that I would have to go find Jesus and ask Him for more. When you find that in games it empowers you to crush the level. As in my life today, I can crush anything with Jesus because He has or will supply all I need to do so.

austenn: what would be valuable attributes that are missing in many adults today that are gained through playing video games as a child?

brian: One of the greatest attributes video games can teach is how to fail. Failure today is something we try to avoid. Games in the 90s required you to fail to show you that you can get better and grow. I used this point with a client the other day. Brought up that he can make the calls and pursue his endeavors in the face of failure because he can keep trying. Though the failure may set place you back to square one, YOU as a person are not at square one. You have more information, more skill, an attempt at something difficult under your belt. These games taught patience, planning, and frustration tolerance. One of the greatest games of all time that taught how to grind and how to persevere is Pokémon. I’ve learned that if I can grind at Pokemon I can grind anywhere.

austenn: incredible. ok, bonus question. what’s the most goated video game from your childhood?

brian: Immediately Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the N64 comes to mind. When it was released in ‘98, all my friends had a copy and it’s all we talked about. It was the first game of its kind that was “open world”. I could ride my horse through Hyrule saving princess Zelda while stopping anywhere to fight baddies. I was free to explore and live the dream of being the hero of Hyrule.

A close second would be Chrono Trigger for SNES. Classic JRPG with turn based combat. A beautiful story about time travel and how each characters’ unique story links together to form companionship and transformation. The soundtrack also slaps. Check it out.

austenn: perfect. love you, brother!

Wrapping Things Up

Let’s end where we started, with the words of Jesus.

And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven” Matthew 18:3

For the most part, people desire to be a part of a grand story. To be a part of something bigger than themselves. To play a significant role. I think this might be why people, especially kids, gravitate toward playing video games. You enter into a world where you play (literally) a great part in saving, changing, fixing, rebuilding, or regathering things. It’s exciting. Exhilarating. It keeps the gamer invested.

If only everyone knew that we get to engage in the greatest story of all time, the Gospel. If only everyone knew that we get to play a significant role in this story, being Christians, a nickname for “little Christs” or those who act like Jesus, who welcome others into the grace they have found in Jesus and partner with God in bringing His Kingdom to earth. We enter the story with humility, receiving the free gift of grace. We continue the story with obedience and dependence, holding the Lord’s hand the whole way through. Like a child with their Father. With child-like faith.

I don’t think you need to play video games in order for this to be accomplished. Today, I don’t play any, though I wish I had time to. However, I believe there’s a connection between wanting to replay childhood video games and our creative design to thrive off of Child-like faith. There’s a lot that’s learned in playing video games, as I’ve said, and I believe adults can all benefit from a rewiring of how we view life, as we are forever children in God’s eyes. Children, who thrive off of Child-like faith. Whether you game or not, may we become like the children, for the Kingdom of God is theirs.

Allow me to pray:

Heavenly Father,

thank you for being our perfect dad

may we grow in child-like faith

increasingly more dependent on you

may the passing years only mature us

and that maturity lead us into humility

to receive from your nurturing hand

and cling to you every single day

we praise you, King Jesus

in your name, amen

God bless you, brothers and sisters