Christianity travels to some weird and dark places, pushing the envelope in worldly ways and spiritual ways.  And sometimes you can never quite tell if the Bride is being a model wife or a whore.  I have weird feelings about the whole Left Behind multimedia marketing empire and how they have found a way to push products to fundamentalists and evangelicals through hubris (''we fly away you die, suckers!'') and to non-Christians through wonder and fear (''all these religious people say I am going to die!'').  I went to a Christian college that proposed dispensationalism (the theological system on which the Left Behind series are based and exaggerated on) as a solution to all the theological dilemmas of Christianity, and in my refusal to ever come under that system I might be slightly jaded.  But I do not intend to discuss that now.

Recently I have seen some notes or articles that mention a Left Behind video game called Left Behind: Eternal Forces.  I didn't really care to see what it was all about, but once I saw this article in Christian Century: Group abandons plan to send troops 'Left Behind' games, and it piqued my interest.  For some reason, some fundamentalist military-advocacy group that supplies faith-based entertainment called ''Operation Straight Up'' thought it would be a good idea to supply our soldiers with a game that teaches the players (which would include soldiers) that sometimes the mighty arm of God uses ''peacekeepers'' with assault rifles to teach those tribulational evildoers and innocent bystanders some good old fashioned vigilante justice.  The Left Behind media umbrella has spent a lot of time diverting such atrocious questions as ''why does a Christian game let people shoot innocents?'' with some answers of their own.  These FAQs are pulled right from their website:

Why does this game have to contain violence at all? Why is it necessary for a fun and successful game?
Violence is not required to make a fun game. However, it is required to make a game about the end of the world in the Left Behind book series. We have taken great care to make certain that there are real consequences for poor gamer behavior, unlike most games in the market. For instance, unnecessary killing will result in lower Spirit points which are essential to winning.

Are guns used by Christians against non-Christians? Why or why not?
The storyline in the game begins just after the Rapture has occurred---when all adult Christians, all infants, and many children were instantly swept home to Heaven and off the Earth by God. The remaining population---those who were left behind---are then poised to make a decision at some point. They cannot remain neutral. Their choice is to either join the AntiChrist---which is an imposturous one world government seeking peace for all of mankind, or they may join the Tribulation Force---which seeks to expose the truth and defend themselves against the forces of the AntiChrist.

Does the violence depicted in the game run contrary to Jesus' message on ''love your enemy''?
Absolutely not. Christians are quite clearly taught to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies. It is equally true that no one should forfeit their lives to an aggressor who is bent on inflicting death. Forgiveness does not require absolute defenselessness. Apparent contradictions on behalf of Christians are often the result of them placing greater importance on the message, than in caring for others. LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces is a game which provides great entertainment while encouraging fascinating discussions about matters of eternal importance.

The violent and heretical undercurrent informing these answers is shocking, though they are not seen at first because the Left Behind marketing team, like any marketing team, is trying to spin this as best they can.  The first answer does not deny that you as a gamer are allowed to blow the heads off of innocent bystanders, but luckily the game development team has factored in works-based salvation so that as long as you don't blow too many heads off, you can move on to the next round.  Quantifying sin is never good.  Never mind the sin part, is the answer given in the second answer, because the tribulation is no longer governed by biblical morality---no one can ''remain neutral'' so you cannot be a nonviolent witness in times of tribulation like Paul in prison or the disciples when Christ was crucified.  When times are hard and you feel persecuted, pick up a gun and shoot someone, because as answer three says, ''apparent contradictions on behalf of Christians are often the result of them placing greater importance on the message, than in caring for others,'' and by caring they mean ignore Christ's message to be a peacemaker and really care for people by picking up a gun and fighting a guerilla war in cities worldwide.  Yet they would tell you they are being peacemakers as Christ always wanted them to be, for to be a true Christian peacekeeper means being a soldier dressed in riot gear holding an assault rifle....

God help us!