Doom has been instrumental in developing the first-person shooter (FPS) video game genre as we know it today. Terms such as “gib”, “frag” and “deathmatch” all have their roots in id Software, the game developer behind Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Quake.
The Doom series is set on Earth, Mars and in Hell, featuring a marine who uses mostly a double barrel shotgun to blow up demons and undead creatures seeking to enter our reality. Add some heavy metal music and testosterone, and you have Doom!
Doom is extremely gory with many occult symbols and messages hidden within the game. Even the music has 666 and pentagrams baked within its harmonic spectrum! (source) These type of symbols are designed to be an affront to Christ. The original creators of the Doom franchise, id Software, have a fascination with satanism. Their offices are located on the 6th floor of a complex, with their offices labelled as “Suite 666” and demonic imagery behind reception. (source) I do not recommend Christians play or support this project. Look at the Doom trailer and then compare what you just witnessed with Philippians 4:8.
But just as Paul the Apostle used the contemporary pagan poets to springboard into biblical truth (Acts 17:22-31), we too can seize this opportunity for the glory of God.
Forgetting the newer installments of the franchise, I want to take you back to the 90s to the game called The Ultimate Doom. It is here we can turn any Doom or FPS conversation into an evangalistic opportunity.
Thy Flesh Consumed
The Ultimate Doom was an updated version of the original Doom game which added an episode with 9 levels. The interesting thing about these levels is that they are all named after Bible verses and the episode itself, which contains all the levels, is titled “Thy Flesh Consumed”.
The level names and Bible verses based on the KJV are as follows:
E4 Thy Flesh Consumed (Proverbs 5:11)
E4M1: Hell Beneath (Proverbs 15:24)
E4M2: Perfect Hatred (Psalm 139:22)
E4M3: Sever The Wicked (Matthew 13:49)
E4M4: Unruly Evil (James 3:8)
E4M5: They Will Repent (Luke 16:30)
E4M6: Against Thee Wickedly (Psalm 139:20)
E4M7: And Hell Followed (Revelation 6:8)
E4M8: Unto The Cruel (Proverbs 5:9)
Notice how Proverbs 5 tops and tails this game’s episode. Ironically, the principles of Proverbs 5 can be applied to the dangers of playing video games!
Unto The Cruel
The wisdom of this proverb is saying that men should not give their lives to adulterous women lest they:
“…give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed…” -Proverbs 5:9-11
Video games can share many characteristics with adulterous women. They are appealing to the eyes, they seek after men’s riches and they are licentious, promising the instant gratification of men’s lusts.
Give Proverbs 5 a quick read with video games in mind and you will see how you could use this as sound advice to those who have made an idol of video games.
This information can be used to inform Doom players that games can distract people from greater truths and that ultimately their inevitable emotional dissatisfaction with video games is a consequence of a desire for deeper fulfilment in God.
Use verses 21-23 to explain how God knows all our deeds and will not let the wicked go unpunished:
“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.” – Proverbs 5:21-23
In our foolishness our sins would kill us faster than a marine jumping through a portal blaring heavy metal music. Without Christ we are doomed indeed.
