Minecraft- The Craft Beyond the Mine

Minecraft is a virtual world video game where players build, explore, mine, craft, gather and grow food, and even battle. Since its release on November 18, 2011, it has truly captured the hearts and minds of millions of people worldwide.

On the surface, Minecraft appears almost like a digital Lego game where players simply and creatively build and explore, and to many, that’s perhaps all it is. But after digging a little deeper, more of the darker elements begin to be unearthed.

Minecraft designers require players to use particular potions, elixirs, and other witchcraft inspired magic in order to craft tools, build portals, etc. There are also options for players to include dark creatures in the game, creatures such as zombies, giant spiders, skeletons, creepers, gollem, and tall, ghost-like figures called enderman.

One might argue that games like Minecraft are simply creative outlets for this generation, however, there is perhaps a very serious issue even with this. I would argue that this generation is quite susceptible to confusing creativity for one’s own god-likeness. In the technological/digital age in which we live, many of today’s youth truly see the world differently than even those born 20 years ago.

Today, we wave our hands under a faucet and water comes out. We stand in front of doors and they open. We speak to a cylindrical container called Alexa and automatically receive a response. We touch a smart screen and it obeys. Combine the self-centered technological advances with the self-esteem doctrines continuing to plague many books, movies, music, and classrooms, and then pour them into an already prideful, human heart and you have a recipe for disaster.

I have heard my fair share of students over the last few years boldly proclaim that they have power simply because the world around them seemingly obeys their every command. It used to be much easier for children to draw a line between fantasy and reality. I personally believe this line, for a variety of reasons, is no longer clear.

That being said, games like Minecraft, left unchecked, may have the very real capacity to blur that line between man and God even further. After all, players are magically building world upon world based upon their own desires and imaginations, and all that you need is literally at your fingertips.

Another thing worth considering is the many backstories layered within Minecraft. Like many modern video games, there are some pretty crazy chapters in its backstory which are revealed both within the game and throughout Minecraft’s animated stories.

Arguably, the most glaring example of Minecraft’s dark side is revealed only after completing the game. In order to end the game, there is a pattern performed in which a player opens a portal to the dark and mysterious ender world. After passing through the portal, one fights the ender dragon. Upon defeating the dragon, the player unlocks an eight minute long story carefully concealed until after the player has invested hundreds and thousands of hours of game time.

At first read, the extended story seems more than a bit confusing. Why have such a mystic sounding storyline at the end of an otherwise supposedly innocuous building game? Unless, of course, the intent of the designers is to carefully obscure the teachings within Minecraft, just waiting for players to dig them up and put them together, one piece at a time.

Below are screenshot examples of the end story highlighting the most unsettling and unbiblical doctrines blatantly proclaimed by the authors of Minecraft. Sadly, the ending is filled with nothing less than an occult/witchcraft centered concepts. The screenshots below read almost as if written by some demon possessed guru medium from India.

Unfortunately, many young children playing Minecraft have no idea of the designers’ intentions of teaching these dark and deceptive doctrines. I’m sure plenty of people who play the game have no idea what really lies beyond the mine.

May the Lord give each of us heavenly wisdom so we can carefully and lovingly redeem the time He’s given each of us to serve Him while on this side of eternity.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-13,19

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5