By Brad Locke
July 23, 2004

(AgapePress) - I hear the newest NFL video game, Madden NFL 2005, is the most realistic to date. From the look and movement of the players to the action to the announcers to the choice of plays, it's as close to the game as a fan can get, virtually speaking. Heck, it even lets you be coach and owner, making trades and negotiating with free agents, which can be difficult if they're ticked about a lack of playing time (no kidding). There's also "Storyline Central," which brings the media aspect into the game.

It's impressive and ridiculous at the same time (and it hits stores Aug. 12!). It's admittedly high-quality, interactive entertainment. It requires actual football acumen and a fairly long memory. In the end, though, I imagine it'll be as mind- and thumb-numbing as its predecessors.

I've no problem with video games per se, but as with TV, abuse is easy and dangerous. Just look how fat our children are getting from slumping on the couch immersed in a fantasy world. Sure, Johnny's fingers are in great shape, but there's mold growing on his cerebral cortex.

Of course, these aren't just kids' games anymore. Today's young adults grew up in the Nintendo generation, and the games are so realistic that they're not viewed as child's play anymore. So adults have yet another way to distract themselves from the pressures of everyday existence. Sports itself is no longer good enough; we now need a simulation of our recreational endeavors.

Sports video games provide an advanced form of escapism. They move us a degree further from reality. And the further removed we are from reality, the further removed we are from God and His real truths. We forget that God is in control of all things. Madden, et al., give us what often eludes us in the real world -- control. Even in the realm of live sports, we have little to no control. All we can do is watch and cheer our hearts out, fuss at the coach, debate if so-and-so should be traded. Can't do anything about what happens on the field, though. As important as the game may be to a fan, there's a barrier that keeps him from connecting the way Madden allows him to.

Video games like this can also lead to a distorted view of the original intention of sports by promoting only indirect involvement. We'd rather play a football season on a PS2 than in the local rec league. God made us physical creatures, and most of us have an innate love of physical activity. That desire has been dulled, and we're missing out on the joy of crashing into the ground, feeling leather in our hands, being in a team huddle, arms draped around our teammates' sweaty, heaving shoulders. We've traded that blessing in for air conditioning and cool graphics.

In case you haven't picked up on the big irony yet, it's this: our love of sports is contributing to our physical apathy. It's also losing its place as an applicable metaphor for life. Real sports, as I hope this column has shown, can teach us much about spirituality. Virtual sports only caters to our autonomous nature.

Let me reiterate that I have no problem with Madden 2005 NFL itself or video games in general. It's the way our culture has so fixated itself on this virtual world that disturbs me. We've fallen asleep, and John Madden is singing the lullaby.