Reflections on Pokemon Go

Reflections on Pokemon Go in response to this article: "A possible guide for Christians"
http://aldersgate.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/POKEMON-GO-REAL.pdf

Been musing about this whole Pokemon Go craze for awhile, and thought this article contributed by a few methodist pastors and leaders gave a very good balance christian response on the pros and cons about it.

If you ask me, I've been pretty intrigue about this movement, especially since this is one of my childhood games that I enjoyed playing with on the old school gameboy more than 15-20 years ago. I can also understand why so many people from the young to the old are playing it again with this augmented reality twist to it. One of my peers said, playing this game brings back a lot of nostalgia seeing those familiar creatures again. Although, I was once a fan of this game and I think I can still remember all 151 pokemon today, I personally decided not to download the game as I would want to be a good steward of my time and not risk the chance of getting fixated on "catching them all" everyday.

At the end of the day, I will not condemn this game, nor advocate it, but agreeing to this article, "Those who can clearly separate REALITY from FANTASY – play if you wish", and here are a few selected points raised from this article worth considering.

1. Do not be addicted to it. Stop and ponder regularly even as you play. As Wendy Chiang-Cheong suggest, Ask yourself regularly, “Does my time, invested in this game, help me please the Lord? I would add: “Does it help me grow in holiness of heart and life (which is the calling of all Christians and in particular, Methodists…)? 1 Corinthians 6:11-12 reminds us: “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

2. Be aware of the world view and values you might embrace as you play the game.

3. Consider the implications of playing such games in church, as a pastor shared, "God’s house is a sacred place, set aside for reverent worship of Him, gamers are asked not play it in church."

Do read on for the full context of this article in the link below:
http://aldersgate.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/POKEMON-GO-REAL.pdf