The Moral Obscenity Test For Christians Part 2: Multiplayer Edition

 In my last post, I address how a Christian on a personal basis can decide, from a moral standpoint, what media would be considered detrimental to their moral health.

However, when you are someone with moral responsibility for others, the rules change somewhat.

For starters, parents and legal guardians have both legal and moral authority over minors. They can and should use that power wisely to decide if their child until they reach the lawful age of majority, is fit to consume certain media.

In my own life, I was just shy of the age of majority when it came time to play Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. I remember the Walmart I wanted to purchase it from requiring my parents' assent before I was allowed to get it. They assented, thankfully, because they knew I was mature enough to handle the themes.

Of course, parents, in this case, have veto power, and they should exercise it accordingly if they do not believe their children are mature enough to handle certain media.

The same rule applies in a more broad sense for pastors or anyone in the clergy. As someone ultimately in the employ of God, you have a moral responsibility to the multitude, and thus your own behavior should cleave to the standards of Christ even more than usual because as His representatives, it would lead others astray in a manner that would harm the whole community. In the Books of the Law, a leader of a community who sinned had to make a much more expensive sacrifice than a commoner because his sin could stain many more people than just himself, the expense was to remind them their moral authority had a double edge that would wound them if they wounded those under their charge with immoral conduct.

As for the conflict between believers on what is morally proper, the following verses should be the guide of everyone in the event of a dispute:

From Romans 14:13-19, on how one's moral conduct should not be a stumbling block for another:

13 Therefore let us not judge one another [a]anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
The Law of Love

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in [b]these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may [c]edify another.

1 Corinthians 8:9-12 also contains some sage advice for those who wish to be sure, even if their conscience is clear, how to be sure they do not compromise the conscience of their brother by proxy:

9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a [a]stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.