As a Christian, would it be appropriate for you to participate in a role-playing game with friends where each of you imagines a scenario involving a variety of sexual activities including fornication, adultery and homosexuality?

There would be no actual touching between the players or any nudity. The activities would all be in the imagination but each player would be assigned a character to role play and the progress of the game would be guided by one "accomplished" player using printed instructions.

The goal of the game would be to see who could obtain the most erotic pleasure.

Anyone who knows anything about the Bible, recoils in horror at such a suggestion. Why? Because we immediately recognize that this "game" would quickly enflame the powerful sex drives of the players, planting suggestions in their spirits that God condemns.

Addicts to the role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons, (D&D) would argue that this is an unfair analogy. They would argue that D&D gaming is purely for fun and fantasy.

William Schnoebelen, author of several books and articles on occult witchcraft, says this is a suitable comparison. Since D&D is rooted in magic, Schnoebelen describes magic as a "kind of spiritual lust...It is, however subtle, an itch for power. Magic, at its root, is about power and about rebellion. It is about not liking how God runs the universe and thinking you can do a better job yourself."

"This is not just chess, football or bridge. This is a game that envelops the player in an entirely different fantasy world in which the power of magic and violence is pervasive. It is a game with a distinct and seductive spiritual worldview that is diametrically opposed to the Bible.

"Yes, sorcery appears in the Bible. But it is NEVER in the context of a good thing to do. It is always presented as something dangerous and utterly contrary to the will of God," says Schnoebelen.

Sexual lust and lust for power are both products of man's carnal nature. The Old Testament is full of examples of kings who let power go to their heads. Saul, Solomon and even David spurned God's laws and tried to run things their own way. The Bible pulls no punches in describing God's opinion of their actions.

Who are we to think we can play out games that enflame our carnal lust for sex or power and not be likewise judged. It is clear in Scripture that God cares about our thought life. We are to keep our hearts "with all diligence" for "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

How can we "go and make disciples" if our hearts are filled with powerful images of murder, spell casting, magic and sorcery?

For more information, read Read William Schnoebelen's original article on D&D.