Published October 27, 2007 IN THEORY Churches say Halo to kids Q: Pastors and ministers at churches across the country are reportedly using a violent video game, Halo 3, to reach young congregants. Ministers have held Halo nights, in which they use the game to attract youths. If young people stay to play the game, pastors hope youngsters will also stay for the biblical message. The first-person shooter game, which is rated M for mature audiences, depicts a cybernetically enhanced super soldier shooting at alien invaders in a lethal attempt to save Earth. Critics, including religious ethicists, say the approach to using the game for ministry could have a negative effect on children, because it connects the thrill and arousal with killing. What do you think? Do you agree with this approach to furthering a ministry? A: I definitely have a problem with the violence aspect of these games. While correlations to actual violence are always questionable, depending on whose statistic you follow, at the very least they desensitize us to violence, suffering and death. And since the church is that place which should uphold the sanctity of life, these games should not be endorsed by the church. But I have a bigger issue with this practice of deceptive marketing. Whether you use the Halo video or a standard game of basketball to bring youths (or people) in with the intention of giving them something else, shows a lack of confidence in your product. This bait-and-switch practice is used by different businesses to lure people to their showrooms. Think of the paid trips to exotic locations, which are given away just to have us listen to a 90-minute high-pressure sales pitch for a time-share. Or the one car that is offered below wholesale price and somehow is always sold before we get to the lot, just to lure us to a particular dealership. Wouldn’t you think that if these companies believed that their product had the quality and worth that they purport they do, they could bring us into their store on merit alone? I think the same is true for religious groups. When they appeal to these campaigns to recruit people, it’s a signal that says, “We don’t believe in our product, so we need to trick you in through the door with something else.” Reflecting on Jesus and his call to people, it was a straight-forward invitation to follow him. He never sugar-coated the invitation; in fact, just the opposite, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (New Revised Standard Version, Matthew 16:24) Sure, not everyone followed and “. . . because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.” (John 6:66); nevertheless, he kept his message as the center of his invitation. As ministers of the Gospel, we’re commissioned to do the same. Keeping Christ’s message of love and hope at the center of our invitation is the greatest call to the faith. FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN Armenian Church Youth Ministries