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Comic Cons, Geek Culture and the Mission of Christ

   Apr 1, 2019
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   people attended one of the three Penny Arcade Expos located in Seattle,
   Boston, and San Antonio. These are just a small sampling. There are
   literally hundreds of “nerd” or “geek” conventions, and these terms are
   no longer pejorative.

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   over.^3 Sci-fi, superhero, and fantasy are among the most widely loved
   and successful film genres. And yet, the church’s default reaction to
   geek culture in recent history has ranged somewhere between guarded
   skepticism and ignorance.

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   spiritual health.^5 It has been documented, however, that playing video
   games in moderation relieves stress, improves brain function, and
   boosts creativity.^6 While video games and geek culture certainly
   contain their share of graphic violence, sexual objectification, and
   addictive qualities, much good can be found in these mediums as well.^7
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   reflect simultaneously God’s goodness, truth, and beauty as well as
   humanity’s sinful excesses.^8 Our affection for goodness, truth, and
   beauty should compel us to investigate geek culture with careful
   discernment. However, the ultimate reason we should care about Comic
   Cons is much simpler. I am convinced that, given the opportunity, Jesus
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   A Massive Neglected Mission Field. Most Christians probably don’t think
   of the people at Comic Cons as their enemies, but when we default to
   ignoring or looking derisively on geeks and geek culture, something is
   amiss. Chris Gwaltney, director of Gamechurch, a nonprofit ministry
   dedicated to bridging the gap between the gospel and the gamer,
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   year, Gamechurch raises up missionaries to attend thirteen to fourteen
   conventions across the country. Each year, the missionaries pass out
   more than 30,000 Gamer Bibles and point thousands of geeks to the hope
   that is found in Christ.

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   as missionaries, where they pointed countless people to Christ.

   Gamechurch is not the only Christian organization that attends geek
   culture events. It’s not uncommon to find professing Christians outside
   conventions condemning people for their hobbies. Recently at Dragon Con
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   collectors” (Luke 7:34), but we will be accused of associating too
   closely with people who don’t align with the cloistered values of many
   Christians. We are a nation of geeks and gamers. It’s time to count the
   cost and prayerfully consider what we, as Christians, are going to do
   about that.