Video Games - Jesus Doesn't Work Any More
Posted: Saturday, July 21, 2007
by Mark Parsec
Wordcasters
Video games seem to be the great obsession of many teenagers these days, at least it is for our fifteen-year-old son. If he were to be paid an hourly wage for all of the time he spends playing video games he would be earning a fortune. Like most parents, his mother and I have attempted to monitor the amount of time he spends playing these games, but often to no avail. Regardless of the consequence or disciplinary action we take, our son seems to have a knack for circumventing the system to locate, acquire and engage in his video game addiction. Of course, such an addiction can become very expensive. Especially when the video game addict has the tendency to "forget" to bring the video game back to the video store and late fees are added.
Speaking to the video store clerk my wife announced, "My son has late fees for video games again! I want to change the password to our account."
"What would you like the password to be?" the clerk asked.
"Figure it out." My wife answered.
"Well the password is currently Jesus" the clerk informed her.
"Jesus doesn't work any more" my wife responded.
"There goes the church" I chided.
"Well, what would you like the password to be?" the clerk asked again.
"Figure it out" my wife responded.
"Jesus doesn't work anymore?" the clerk asked.
"No. Jesus doesn't work any more. Figure it out." My wife replied.
"O.K., Jesus doesn't work any more. So, what do you want the password to be?"
"Figure it out" my wife told him again.
"You want me to just make one up?" the clerk asked.
"No" my wife replied. "The password is... 'figure it out'."
"Oh!" the clerk said, finally understanding. "Figure it out."
"Yes!" My wife replied, "Figure it out! Jesus doesn't work any more."
As we laughed and left the video store my heart sank with the profound truth that had been spoken. Perhaps the current teenage obsession with video games is evidence that 'Jesus doesn't work any more' for youth. Just figure it out.
© 2007 Mark Parsec
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)You could always take his computer away, until such a time as he can agree to using it for a set amount of time each day only. Meanwhile, I can't see the connection I am afraid with an absence of Jesus and gaming. Your son is not out causing trouble is he? Surely that's a blessing? PC use can be addictive though , I know from my own experience so it is best to try to encourage him in other directions that can be equally stimulating for his mind and allow him to develop his social skills.
Mark, I loved this story. I laughed out loud at "there goes the church". Thanks for an entertaining read that leaves us with something to think about.
Good article. I have three teenage sons and so I know exactly what you mean as far as video games being addictive. We went thru the same kinds of problems. Here is what we decided to do. For each hour of reading they do, they get to play one hour of Xbox games. If they don't read they cannot play, period. At first they were not too gung ho on the idea of having to read, but when they saw that their dad was VERY serious about it, they changed their mind -- and this works! If they don't read, my husband takes away their controllers and hides them. We also do not let them have any electronics in their bedrooms.
You know that when I said that Jesus doesn't work anymore that I it came out wrong. Of course Jesus works. I have said it before...I believe that there a three absolutes. God, His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I even believe that when you raise your kids up in righteousness they and they shall not depart from it. It is written in the Bible, the book of Love.
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