A Temple Tax on Video Games
Dragon's Lair, Donkey Kong, and Ms. Pac Man are a major teenage attraction—that often drive parents and pastors to distraction.
One pastor, however, learned not only to tolerate video but use it in teaching teens the disciplined joy of giving. "After each Wednesday night Bible study," says Tom Parrish, pastor of Oldfield United Methodist Church in Sylacauga, Alabama, "I go to the ice cream parlor with the 10 or 12 high schoolers, and they inevitably gather around the video games."
"In our middle-class church, most of them have no understanding of sacrificial giving. Their money is provided by parents."
So Parrish saw the video craze as a teaching opportunity. He discussed with the group the need for using money wisely, unselfishly, and for God's purposes. Then the group made a covenant: for each quarter spent on Wednesday night video, they must donate a matching quarter to help a needy family.
"Some had only two quarters, and this was a big sacrifice," says Parrish. "But no one really complained, other than some typical 'Do I have to?' moaning. In fact, they policed each other, often reminding me to get their quarters."
At the end of six months (June to December), the fund reached nearly $200. The group voted unanimously to give the money as a Christmas gift to a member of the church who had recently lost his job.
"It was a happy night when we all delivered the gift," says Parrish. "Our teens don't have regular incomes, but they did learn the joy of giving from what they had."
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