Hey guys. So recently I got back into TF2, it has been like 2 1/2 years, and I was very exited to see all the new content they added. I usually play on regular Valve servers, but yesterday my freind invited me into a community server. It was fun, as I didnt realize how many community maps there were. We were having a good time. Later an Admin came on. He was very nice and freindly and seemed like a good guy. But then, he got a request from somebody to summon "Merazmes" or somthing like that. At first I was confused, I had never heard of that and was curious as to what. Then out of nowhere a big satinic looking druid spawns in and starts chasing people around and turning people into crates and other objects. This immediatly broght back memeorys of my pastor talking to us in Sunday School about necromancers and dark magic, and how we should stay away from people and things that talk about them and it really scared me as a kid nowadys Im not as scared of "Dark Sorcerers" and "Black Magic" and Im pretty sure our pastor just did it to scare us (May he rest in peace). But Im worried that doing nothing about this will tarnish my reputation in Gods eyes. Any suggestions are appreciated. And No this isnt bait.

Here are some passages that make me think that this is satanic.

“If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people." - Leviticus 20:6

“You shall not permit a sorceress to live." - Exodus 22:18

Originally posted by bowerbank:

well, just because something looks demonic, desnt mean it is. are you sure it was supposed to be demonic. also, no one "goes to hell" for doing something. finally, this is just one admin. it doesnt mean the whole game is satanic

hoped this helped!

Thank you for you responce. But after some more research I found out that the evil druid was a big part of the game, he even was in some the comics and lore.

Originally posted by bowerbank:

Originally posted by Starfishio:

Thank you for you responce. But after some more research I found out that the evil druid was a big part of the game, he even was in some the comics and lore.

google search for Marazemes was mostly just facebook pages, i dont think it is connected to satan

Sorry I spelled it wrong it's merasmus.

Hi I know I might not be the best to talk about this but I know from experience as an admin server communities will joke a lot and might say something like "All hail the bread lord!" If there is a certain character that looks like bread. They aren't really saying they worship a fake God of bread they are just joking about it I've learned that the Internet especially steam loves to joke, however if you think they might not be joking just ask the admins what they mean or why people say something like that and if it's a character in game do some research on it. Most of the time it will be nothing since this is steam a place where people relax and hang out with friends but there are those few people out there that are not joking sadly so just always double check things if your not sure about them.

Originally posted by bowerbank:

Originally posted by Starfishio:

Sorry I spelled it wrong it's merasmus.

https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Merasmus
i dont think theres anything demonic about him, hes just your regular "bad guy"
i think

Well there's something demonic about the world itself man.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Cor 4:4

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because Greater is He that is in you, than ʰᵉ that is in the world. 1 John 4:3-4

And the devil took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to Him, “To You I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If You, then, will worship me, it will all be Yours.” Luke 4:5-7
(And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’” Luke 4:8)

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4

As for the original post, Starfishio, I would say:
If you are convicted of it, you should give it up, pray about it etc. A big reason I love online games is to be light and salt and to witness for King Jesus the Righteous One. If this is not your calling, then it is not your calling. I would say you shouldn't be feeling fear over these things though, not because they are evil, maybe fear of displeasing God. The [Holy] Spirit we have received is not a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind--The demons are subject to us.

No you won't. It's just like saying if playing a violent game such as a first person shooter with blood and gore is the same as you mentioned.

Merasmus is a Halloween character that summons demons (and the skeleton pumpkin head dude which I forgot the name of) during the event and you as the player are supposed to kill them. So is it satanic? No, but it does show the ritual of summoning it from the ground..

A lot of people play fps, does not mean that it is sinful because the video games promote violence and all.

I think some of us here are missing the crux of the matter, which is not the specific game or the genre but rather the OP's identification of it as 'satanic'... My brother Jack is absolutely right: if you feel convicted that something you are entertained by is satanic (literally: of or characteristic of Satan), why, why on earth would you not flee from it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Megami_Tensei

This is a lot like the issue the early church in Corinth seemed to have. The thing concerning the new Christians was that meat was offered to pagan gods, then subsequently sold in the markets at a reduced price. Paul was inspired to instruct the church on this:

1 Corinthians 8 (NET)

With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know. But if someone loves God, he is known by God.

With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol in this world is nothing,” and that “there is no God but one.” If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.

But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled. Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do. But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak. For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience be “strengthened” to eat food offered to idols? So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed. If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.

Paul was then later inspired to write his epistle to the Romans, where he incorporated this concept of adiaphora and what to do with them:

Romans 14:1-18 (NET)

Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions. One person believes in eating everything, but the weak person eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him. Who are you to pass judgment on another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike. Each must be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day does it for the Lord. The one who eats, eats for the Lord because he gives thanks to God, and the one who abstains from eating abstains for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for himself and none dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

But you who eat vegetables only—why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything—why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.” Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean. For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.

I'm sorry for the wall of text, but this is a rather complicated concept that has caused the various denominations of Christendom to spring up and schisms to form, and I think it's important to give the entire Scriptural context rather than pull a verse or two out.

TL; DR
So the upshot is this: How strong is your faith? If you are feeling convicted about playing this game, as Jack and Bradley have advised already: Turn away from it. It has become a stumblingblock to your faith. Or if you believe your faith is strong enough, continue playing it. Either way, you'll have to answer to God for your decision, not to us.

Hey guys. I just wanted your opinion on games like Doom? Do you feel that its okay to play games like that? I have played it before and liked the gameplay. I didn't like the theme. I inderstand that the demons are at all time shown as evil bt what I really dislike is the symbols in the game. Theres a lot of upside down pentegrams, upside down crosses, people crucified on upside down crosses etc. what do you guys think?

Purest answer is: I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. Psalm 101:3[biblehub.com] (Or as it is translated in the KJV, more apt: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalm 101:3[biblehub.com])

When I'm on the mountain top man, I don't even game, I don't want to watch movies, or do any entertainment, since I'm a dad/husband I'll get pulled in for family time, justifying it that way, In the valley floor I love Jesus but am lackluster, tend to use a lot more media then.

As for specific questions on the symbolism etc: I would not let impressionable or young people play it, it is very graphic and one guy was telling me how he was seeing evil things flash before his eyes all the time... Myself, personally, Spiritual Warfare is my calling and I can tell you at least some of the symbols/sigils appear to be real. I cannot imagine every Christian would want to be exposed to that, but I eat up the occult as a study, so that I can talk to others about it without them having to waste time on stuff.

At the end of the day it's a game, it's a violent gory shooter and I would lump all violent gory shooters together, it could have a negative impact sure, they say you are what you eat, we should all try and spend more time in the Word/prayer/worship/serving the King than in the world, so then when you do play a game or whatever, you're struck with the contrast instead of being drawn into it.

Just trying to help, counselling isn't my calling, ask me anything though. :)

A big No to that game, why would you let your mind get influenced by something evil and demonic? Do you think a human with a good mind created that game?

Just to clarify: i was talking about Doom 1 and 2 primarily. Thanks for the replys. The reason I ask is taht I have a lot of good friends (that have a amazing relationship with God that dowsn't have a problem with the game. Thats why i tried it. The gameplay was fun, but the symbols really bothered me. I just wanted different opinions of it. As for the question regarding the stae of mind the game creator had, I don't think its my place to make that call. From the content, it doesn't look like they where christians at the time of creating the game, but thats all I can say about them.

Sorry for the spelling mistakes. I'm using the steam app on mobile.

If it realy bothers you, then don't play it. I do the same.