World of Warcraft: The Good, Bad, and Ogrely

World of Warcraft is well known for its popularity, as well as its infamy, as a giant among massive multiplayer online games (currently leading all its pay-to-play peers with 7,400,000 subscribers). For eight years of my life - from sixth grade until my first year of college - WoW was my favored game to play, producing profound and lasting effects on who I am.

Recently, I started looking more critically at the way video games can be overwhelming for some, and offer opportunities for the exploitation of players. While I personally found my playtime easier to control as I matured and developed stable relationships... the game’s combination of immersion, challenge, and community has highly addictive potential for rivaling reality, which can be contrastingly blunt, dreary, and lonely. As for exploitation, I am not referring to cheating in gameplay but mercilessly using social interaction to take advantage of other humans… which does occur, though I fortunately never saw this at its worst.

With the health of human hearts and wills specifically in mind, I’d like to write my own review on World of Warcraft. Where so many other voices have demonized the game as a whole from very limited research, in effect drowning out discussion and losing the attention of the gamers impacted, I instead hope to honestly identify from my own experiences which parts of the game are good, bad, or potentially anywhere in-between.

Lastly, though the focus of this post is only one MMO of many, I believe it concerns themes relevant to all other games too… which should be insightful for gamers and their parents, as well as designers in the gaming industry.

Radiant Vessels!

((This was originally posted on my church's Cambodia missions blog, just before my team arrived home at the end of July. As a reflection upon my adventure as well as my first project Rachel and I wrote together, it is special to me... but I want to share it with the darkness surrounding our Christmas-time celebration in mind especially.))

[Taylor:] When I first began this missions journey, I felt sorry for Cambodian Christians in a way that was unfair. It's not that I lacked respect for them; I certainly viewed the Fleenors with admiration in light of all they gave up to follow God's call. Still, without saying (or thinking) it in blunt words, my perception of Cambodia's believers before the trip was one based mostly on pity for their circumstances. I noticed at the outset of our trip a great overwhelming opposition for the country's Christ followers, but as I've interacted with this faithful remnant personally, I've learned to appreciate one thing most of all: in the midst of adversity and obscurity is where God's love shines brightest.

[Rachel:] My feelings before coming to Cambodia were similar, with the expectation that we were going to encourage our brothers and sisters and God was going to use us to shine His light- a startling contrast to the bleak surroundings. What I did not expect to see was God's flame of redemption burning relentlessly in so many of the individuals we would interact with- reflecting back strength, Love, and joy.

[Taylor:] Rachel and I want to share with you who these individuals are, and how they illuminated the way God's kingdom unexpectedly flourishes. Two men come to my mind in particular: Paul Fleenor and Soem.

Anticipating Adventure

Positive and exciting news:

In about thirty-six hours, I set off on my first overseas journey and missions trip, with many of my favorite people to Cambodia.

I will be going there with nine other members of Clovis Christian’s college-age group, including my godly girlfriend-best friend and two honorable men I count as brothers, along with the seasoned explorer and spiritual mother who serves as our church’s mission director.

Lucifer's Favorite Bible Terms

As a disclaimer, I admit that I am no longer acquainted with Satan, and cannot confirm these words as his personal picks. Nonetheless, because he is known by his title, “the father of lies” (John 8:44), the five terms and their respective verses below come to mind as favored deceptions in the devil’s arsenal.

These fallacies are especially effective against today’s Christians, who are separated from the Bible’s original audiences by language, time, and culture. Of course, I am not denying that the Bible is reliably translated, relevantly timeless, and revolutionarily transcendent to every culture… but I am saying there are nuances within its pages that our enemy enjoys exploiting. He’s practiced his talent in twisting God’s Word over multiple millennia (Genesis 3:1-6), and continues this assault in the modern age through skepticism outside the Church and perverse teaching within.

Fortunately, the clarity of these terms is easily restored-- by casting aside our hasty assumptions and considering their meaning in the larger Biblical context.

Eclipsing the Apocalypse

We as Christians have interpreted a passage of Scripture in error, but that is not the reason I’m writing this now. I wish to use my words with prudence-- speaking out when a matter of Truth is truly at stake, instead of making mere factual corrections at every chance to display my knowledge.

The topic at hand regards our understanding of the end times (eschatology in theologian-speak), which seems to threaten my aforementioned goal. Various Christian scholars before me, after all, use Scriptural logic to defend a similar diversity of interpretations regarding the world’s end; how am I supposed to distinguish Truth amidst such subjectivity… and why do I need to, if we’re in agreement on the most crucial point: “Jesus is coming back”?

However, my concern here goes deeper than surface issues of astronomy and hermeneutics, reaching at a subtle entity of falsehood that lurks in the shadow of innocent oversight. The mistake alone does not worry me, so much as the reason we made it (or were taught it) in the first place. What if our Biblical blunder reveals a larger deception-- our generation’s desires for dramatic doomsaying, eclipsing in opaque fear the originally radiant message of hope and restoration?

It is for this reason - a suspicion, but one serious enough to address - I am writing this now. The recent “blood moon” tetrad is not so much fulfilled oracle of the final judgment, but a merciful witness to us who missed the greater signs and apocalypse that already occurred.

A Battle-mage is Beckoned

The incline leading to Whiterun’s city gates, already a disorderly path along crumbling crenellations, was now truly a revolting mess. The broken bodies of Stormcloak rebels and Imperial loyalists alike filled the fractures between flagstones with precious lifeblood, ultimately flowing its way into brooks that had sparkled so brightly for this geographic and economic heart of Skyrim. The sun spared no delay in turning its face and hiding behind a mountainous horizon; such vile violence would no longer receive the light of its visage.

Ulfric Stormcloak’s army had been fully routed by noonday, and the emboldened defenders rallied inside to celebrate soon after. Their merry voices mixed with song to echo throughout the streets, spilling over the battlements and passing unheard through the ears of the fallen. Once the last rays of red were blotted from the night sky, even those hollow bodies would depart-- either into the hallowed underground hall of Arkay’s nocturnal priests if they wore “Empire” red, or should they be clad in “Sons of Skyrim” indigo, through the bellies of the wilderness’ savage scavengers.

Of all the living and the dead amidst Whiterun, only the Altmer battle-mage named Arye Azuron remained present... for he more than anyone else bore the blame for this day’s bloodshed.

Life is an MMO. Here is a different guide

This isn’t the game guide where I tell you the quickest way to level up in your job. It certainly isn’t a list of cheat codes for finding your dream spouse. If you’re searching for a bonus level with heaps of cash and an impractically large sword, I expect to disappoint you.

Strategies are helpful and specific choices important... but what’s most crucial now is your understanding of what sort of game you are in. Real life is an MMO (massive, multiplayer, online video game), and it’s currently a beta.

The Road Untraveled

Out of a winding crevice in the natural rock wall, two weary Wood Elves wielding bloodied steel emerged from a haze of shadow to the clarity of noonday light.

In typical circumstances, distinguishing individual characteristics within the pair would be a fruitless endeavor. Padded fur hoods concealed all but the key features of their faces-- prominent pointed chins, gaunt cheekbones, and ebony-coated eyes, which are all to be expected from the stripe of mer originally hailing from Valenwood (or in the case of the first two traits, common in all of elven kind).

On this particular day however, dusky armor failed to hide the two very contrasting spirits swaying each Bosmer adventurer’s demeanor. Faendal took long swaggering strides northeast - towards his hometown of Riverwood - that crunched over the wooded valley’s thin carpet of olive and umber. Trodding more lightly and several paces behind - yet not quite following - Teira hesitantly advanced while wearing a tense frown, making an arc north and northwest to the nearest river bank.

Despite the relatively temperate weather and pleasantly pine-tinged air, Teira sensed he was unwelcome in the northern countryside. War bled the warmth out of Skyrim.

Holy Spirit and Gifts

Imagine our world, if Jesus had not left after His resurrection. How would our surroundings be different?

Imagine our triumphant Savior - His body physically tangible, visibly marred with scars, and perfectly renewed all at once - marching into the Jerusalem Temple with eleven elated disciples following His heels. The dumbfounded religious leaders depart in shame, as the Gospel of the One who holds true authority is proclaimed. Would “Christianity” still exist as a common label, or would the movement simply be known as Judaism in its fulfillment?

Imagine our modern landscape, in this scenario where the immortal King faithfully guards Israel over two millennia and teaches other nations the way of His peace (the United States, of course, would be His favorite student…). Skeptical atheists, commanding no more attention than proponents of a flat earth, expose their blindness as they deny the Son of God broadcasted from television. Could a “relationship with Christ” be reduced to spiritualized jargon, if one has personally visited the risen Lord during a Christmas vacation, or had their online posts retweeted by their Redeemer?

Such an alternate history would be awesome, in the truest sense of the word, and it’s this sort of earthly kingdom (minus my modern flavor) that Jesus’ disciples once envisioned. Along with so many other Israelites, the twelve desired a warrior king to drive out foreign oppressors and return the nation to its golden years. However, Jesus shared to his followers an even greater plan-- for them and for us today.

New Chapter's Resolution

Hi there, and welcome to my new blog!

You, kind reader, have caught me at what I sincerely hope is the beginning of a fresh life chapter-- one where I treat writing as a purposeful and professional pursuit, even if it is not yet my job. I will explain, without using too many paragraphs, what this means to me… but first I feel an introduction is due.

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My name is Taylor Lewis, with T.C. Lewis being my pen name.

I am twenty years old, though as someone who has been called a mature adolescent but is now uncharacteristically youthful for an adult, I have to wonder what an objective age is meant tell about a person.

I’m trusted with (and paid for) the weekly set up of chairs and tables at Clovis Christian Church-- a humbly built yet modestly adorned structure despite the stained glass stereotype, which houses a similarly normal-seeming yet living and loving community. I also volunteer as a youth teacher and tech team member here.

I am the youngest of two sons, currently living with my parents and two birds (an Indian Ringneck and Cockatiel). God has blessed me with my captivating and strengthening girlfriend, who I have better befriended, persistently pursued, and delightedly dated, beginning halfway into this year after a frustrating (but far from meaningless!) season of singleness.

I was raised with Christian beliefs, but questioned them during high school, eventually considering myself an atheist. Since I was holding tightly to this skeptical stance even as my parents brought me to Clovis Christian, it came as a pleasant surprise that meeting real imitators of Jesus and finding genuine acceptance among them catalyzed the development my own faith. I found answers to my questions along the way, too, but mainly it was seeing God’s love through people that drew me in and transformed me.

I enjoy reading, writing, and video games… but in all three, what I love is immersing myself in a good story. Until now, I shared my writing in two blogs: one featuring works of fiction based in the Warcraft universe, and another dealing with weightier matters of Truth through apologetics and Biblical teaching (which contains my full testimony, too, if you’re one of those rare folks that does enjoy having a life story thrown at their face).

The Draconic Passage

The pale dragon stretched his iron jaw to its full expanse, broad enough for gulping three grown men, although at this time he needed only to motionlessly maintain said opening for admitting his clueless yet willing prey.

Meandering in a drone-like trance, a steady stream of human pilgrims, nomads, and thrill-seekers proceeded along a deceptively glowing tunnel which ended where the gaping maw began. It was at this very point that several serenely visaged guardians - descendants of Adam like the others and yet bound to the drake’s will by their livelihood - regarded their guests with a false warmth… encouraging them to continue through the monster’s gullet.

Even in the depths of the dragon’s stomach, the illusion remained unbroken. Pre-dawn light filtered in from a series of transparent plates in the dragon’s armor, deflecting the reality of every visitor’s cornered state. Consulting a shred of parchment given by strangers, these victims sluggishly settled into their own portion of the dense enclosure. Immaculate white scales across the organ’s ceiling swallowed each person’s possessions, while a row of dark, leathery glands underneath relaxed, then absorbed their temporary hosts.

The travelers assumed they had arrived of their own volition, and not by fate-- the first of three arrogant follies.