Pokemon Go and Church

Okay I have to get it out there, this whole thing is getting really ridiculous.  But for future readers or those who may be living under the most isolated rock in existence, a quick overview of Pokemon Go and the problem.

A couple weeks ago at the time of this post, the game released for free on Android and iPhone that has had a huge social impact on our country, Pokemon Go.  The concept is simple, take a known and loved brand "Pokemon", and make it so you can collect the characters from the game/show by visiting real life locations where they will appear, using your phone's camera to show the Pokemon in "real life" places.  The game uses GPS to generate the Pokemon at set locations to foster exercise and exploration.  Other than that, the game mechanics are simple.  There are locations in the world called "Pokestops" where players can restock their supplies for free, and meet with other players and attract Pokemon all while hanging out and making friends.  There's also gym locations, that one can use his/her Pokemon to battle for control of.  This means there is a constant battle for supremacy between the 3 teams you can choose to be a part of in Pokemon Go, happening in your city at all times.

And the response has been OVERWHELMING.

In the first week, the app topped twitter's daily user count (ridiculous), and searches on Google for Pokemon go related items outnumbered porn searches in the first week.  And as most internet users know, THAT'S CRAZY TALK!

In fact, one of the features in the game is called a "lure".  You can use a lure at any Pokestop to attract Pokemon for ANY players in the area for a set period of time (I think it's a half hour each).  Businesses that are pokestops have jumped on this and reported huge business gains in certain areas.

So what does this have to do with church, ministry, Jesus, any of it?  And why is there a problem?

Oddly enough, the game automatically finds locations of interest and historical value, and marks them using GPS as Pokestops and gyms.  What is odd, is that about 80% of these places seem to be Churches.  

Great!  A new way to engage people in the life of the Church!  A way to bring people to the place they usually try to avoid!

Wait...what?  You're mad?  ....Seriously?

It's been very disheartening recently, both as a youth worker and as a Pokemon Go enthusiast, as I have been talking with large and small local churches.  The reports have nothing short of shocked me.  Like in an angry way, not a cute Pikachu way.

I talked to one church that was fortunate enough to have 4 Pokestops in their parking lot.  That's crazy, and the only reason it was allowed in the game is because they have a walking trail that has monuments on it that registered in game.  Naturally they are SWARMED with Pokemon players every single day since release.  Church workers have reported to me that they have about 100-200 people every day/night that come to walk, drive in the parking lot, and play Pokemon go.  Again, not seeing the problem?

The church doesn't see this as an opportunity, but as a danger and a safety hazard.  They have reported incidents like the following:  Cars coming within inches of hitting the building since they are not paying attention while playing in the car, leaving beer and cigarette remains in the parking lot (and having that stuff around to begin with in the parking lot), and general noise complaints being called in by their neighbors.  During business hours, they have to put up cones to block the walkway for the staff to make them feel safer when walking in the building.  They have to triple check all the locks daily for fear of someone wandering in to catch a Pokemon and setting off the alarm, or worse.

So...as far as I can tell...that's it?

They are trying to get the Pokestop locations removed from the game to stop these people from coming and loitering.

Church...when did we become so anti-social, so paranoid, so focused on ourselves?  Listening to so many Christians try to justify why they hate Pokemon Go and don't want to use it or don't see it as a ministry tool, is like listening to a child try to explain their way out of a chore.  It's...just kinda sad and pathetic.

Jesus went to drinkers, gamblers, prostitutes, and sat and talked and hung out with them.  He flipped tables in the temple, knowing that it would bring attention to Him, and that it would lead to His Crucifixion.  I think we can all agree that we don't do the best job in the world of going out to where people are to talk about Jesus.  That's a fair and longstanding criticism of the Church.

But where do you get off trying to justify sending people away from church, when they're COMING TO YOU?  For any reason?  And why?  Because they're drinking?  Smoking?  Creating an environment you're not comfortable with?

I'm not saying that you should look at that behavior, and say that you condone it, or participate in it, and maybe there's some steps to take internally to facilitate a ministry like that, but you have no right
to shut down such an obvious ministry opportunity.

Some churches are not Pokestops, or gyms, and so this may not affect all, but what does it hurt to look into it?  And is it worth it (answer: yes)?

How can you harness this, turn something like this into a Jesus opportunity?  Download the game, learn a bit about it, and you'll see the implications!  Use Lures to make Pokemon meet up events, serve some refreshments to Pokemon goers, and talk about your upcoming bible study!  If you're a gym, lucky you!  Have a tournament and have all 3 teams represented to fight for control of your gym, with a prize to the winner!  Have fliers and pamphlets there, and some loving people to greet them!

Some of you don't want to see it because you're not a fan of the game, or the concept, or you've heard of people getting in wrecks because they were stupid while using the app, as if that were really the app's fault, or takes away from the opportunity in front of you.

Stop making excuses, and if you're sending people away from God's house:  Shame.  On.  You.


1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.  To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.  I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.