Gambling, a sin???????

Here is just a few:

Proverbs 28:19-20. He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty {pursuits} will have poverty in plenty. A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 23:4-5. Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration {of it.} When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For {wealth} certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies {toward} the heavens.

God bless

Felix

 

Click here for web page: Is Gambling Wrong?

Even though scripture does not specifically address gambling, it is a practice that is clearly condemned in numerous passages. The Bible provides us with sound principles to guide us in reaching a biblical answer to the question of "Is Gambling Really Wrong?"

 

Interesting principles from that website:

- God intended for man to acquire assets through diligent labor, not quickly through games of chance.
The passage cited is about greed and unethical behavior. Nevertheless, the principle offered would be a critique of any investment strategy that makes money off the labor of others.

- The Bible advocates earning a living through righteous means. Gambling is a process that takes advantage of those who are inexperienced. It often reaps its benefits from funds that would have benefited innocent mothers and children.
The number of businesses that make a profit solely because of the ignorance of others is mind-boggling. McDonald's, for instance, makes billions from people's willingness to sacrifice their health to convenience. Wal-Mart makes it's money likewise off people's willingness to sacrifice their community's economy for convenience and give up craftsmanship for financial savings.

- Wealth obtained by gambling does not endure, it diminishes, it is transitory.
Actually, the verse says "vanity," not "gambling."

- God gives us a clear admonition against being dominated by our sinful actions.
Which is only applicable if gambling is a sin.

- God instructs us to be content with what He has provided us through labor or His providence.
Actually, the passage cited warns agains all wealth. The author seems biased to allow for wealth "earned" through labor, but the text makes no such distinction.

- Ideas of getting rich quick (the motive behind gambling) are warned against.
Justifiably. Gambling makes a lousy get-rich-quick scheme.

- Gambling undermines and destroys the work ethic which God wishes to instill within us. It encourages the philosophy of "getting something for nothing" and encourages laziness and sloth.
This seems to be a continued concern of the author and a bias through which they read all of these passages. The texts cited do describe a healthy work ethic, but successful gambling no more undercuts that then early retirement through wise investment.

- It is clear that those who are driven by the sin of "covetousness" shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Yup, but this is more an argument for giving away everything we have to the poor than for not gambling.

- As followers of Christ we should shun the appearance of all evil.
But does gambling fall into this category.

- Gambling is fueled by covetousnes which is idolatry; and, idolatry is sin.
Seeking a promotion at work or a new car is also generally fuelled by covetousness.

- God's Word clearly tells us not to seek to be rich.
So what if you're gambling hoping for a little extra pocket change or just for the challenge? What if you don't care about becoming rich.

- Gambling violates the principles of christian stewardship.
This is hardly substantiated by the passage cited.

- Gambling violates the principle of "Loving thy neighbour as thyself".
Again, hardly substantiated by the passage. Assuming that one's neigbhor is gambling as well then it's hardly hypocritical to gamble with them.

- Gambling violates God's plan for the christian home.
The applicability of these verses completely escapes me.

- Gambling prevents us from demonstrating to others that we are Christ-like examples.
That would depend on how we gambled.

- Gambling is nothing more than a state-sponsored "Vice" that seeks to subvert the moral fabric of society through greed. Government is to be a minister to God. Those in government who should be seeking to promote order and virtue pursuant to God's plan, but promote disorder and disobedience will answer to God for their wrongs.
Really odd approach here. The verse says that all governmental authorities act according to God's ordination, but the "point" says that even though the government says that gambling is legal it's still wrong.

- Gambling tempts people to neglect their God-mandated responsibility to care for their own families. It is a major cause of family neglect and a growing social problem.
Abuse of gambling certainly falls into this catgory.

- Gambling attempts to circumvent God's plan and order!
Any of us with a white-collar job violates the first passage cited. This is actually a repeat of an earlier point (and citation).

I don't gamble at all, never even having bought a lottery ticket. Nevertheless, I think the "logic" underlying that particular website could use an awful lot of work.

Joshua
(I did put a quarter in a slot machine in an airport once. I made $2 and bought some popcorn.)

 

(sigh)

Josh, you made one statement in there that's worthy of debate: "Even though the government says it's legal it's still wrong."

Do you disagree? If the government says something's legal, then it's automatically right?

This is something I have to deal with on a daily basis with the military: What the regulations say, and what the right thing to do is. Sometimes they go hand-in-hand; other times, they do not.

For example: There are times that it's absolutely legal to shoot people (during peacetime), and claim "in the line of duty." However, the right thing to do is check the situation out a little more carefully. You would be fully justified in shooting the individual, and would suffer no adverse actions; but the right thing to do is to take just a moment or two longer, and really determine if shooting is necessary.

As far as gambling, drinking, et al being a sin: Look at the effects. For instance, in Biloxi, Mississippi recently, an elderly man called his wife, admitted that he had just lost their life savings, and then jumped off a sixth story balcony.

While that story is not an "ordinary" example of the effects of gambling, I also see the average underpaid Joe who makes a decision each week about whether to buy a lottery ticket for the promise of winning millions of dollars, or spending that dollar on a jar of baby food.

While I don't necessarily believe that drinking or gambling or a number of other things in themselves are sinful, I see the effects of those things being sinful.

 

Don,

I do not think that - just because the government says something is legal that it is right (and vis versa). I served as well, and I'm not unfamiliar with the kinds of ethical dilemmas that can arise in military service.

My point was simply that the author was dramatically twisting the verse.

As for gambling, I think that it can easily become sinful; but that it is not inherently so.

Joshua

 

If gambling "can become sinful," shouldn't it be firmly placed on our "thou shalt not" list? After all, at what point does it cross over from being okay to being sinful? I think it's best to be avoided. It may not be "inherently sinful" as Joshua states, but if it causes even one of us to sin, it is to be avoided.

 

I am still waiting for Scriptural proof that gambling is wrong.

As far as the website: http://www.wxan.net/gamblingpage.htm is concerned, this is a situation where the author has, evidently, already made up his mind concerning gambling and is looking to attach any Scripture he can find to justify his position.

If gambling is wrong, then so is buying stock.

 

Correct. Neither gambling or smoking, in my opinion a sin.

 

Driving drunk is a sin because the Bible is pretty clear regarding getting drunk.

There are similiarities between alcohol and gambling, though. You can do either in moderation without suffering ill consequences, whereas excess will be damaging.

The answer to the gambling issue is stewardship. If you have your bills and other obligations paid, and you'd be entertained by buying a few lottery tickets, then I have no problem with that.

If you take the rent money and buy a bunch of tickets thinking that you'll be able to pay the rent with the lottery proceeds, then I have a big problem with that.

 

Smoking? Temple of the Holy Spirit?

 

Gambling, in and of itself, is not sin. Abuse of it, however, is clearly sin.

 

When I was in college, me and a couple of buddies would play nickel poker. We never lost more than 10 dollars a night and got several hours of fun. No smoking, no drinking, just poker. You could win money, of course, but the "cost" was 10 dollars, which all of us could easily afford.

Personally, I didn't see anything wrong with this. I wasn't trying to get rich off of it, I wasn't spending hard-earned money, and so on.

Most anything not done in moderation can be sinful. Spending too much time with children at the expense of your spouse is wrong. Spending too much time at church at the expense of your family is wrong. Nothing wrong with spending time with your children or church, but when it comes into conflict with a command of God, then we have a problem.

 

How about praying for an inside straight?

"Did you hear about my pastor? He won $500 last night at Bingo."

First Baptist Church Of The Anything Goes Bulletin

"The Deacon board had a wonderful time Saturday at Churchill Downs...mint julips for everyone!!!"

The Jr. High Youth Group is having a fundraising crap game out back of the church this afternoon. They are hoping to earn enough money for a new roulette wheel.

The Young Marrieds Sunday School Class had a minor mishap down at the local pool room when someone knocked over a candle and set the punch bowl on fire. Luckily there were no injuries and the big winner, Slick "Snake Eyes" Jackson, in the true spirit of Christian charity offered to replace the adult beverages with a portion of his entertainment earnings.

 

Diane,

Be careful just how far you apply the Scripture concerning our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit.

I live in Houston, Texas; a city that has air pollution problems. Should I move away from this bad air because that too is harming my body?

BTW, I never said smoking was smart, but neither is eating pork chops.

 

Artimaeus, I take it you wouldn't come to one of our church's champagne brunches?

Joshua

 

To add my two cents......

thou shall not covet..... I believe this includes money, or the pursuit of. Sitting looking at Las Vegas drooling about what you can win, is coveting.

I always thought of a Casino as an adult arcade game. That was before the LORD led me to the light. Now I try to remain openminded. The Lord provides for his flock what he wants them to have, not what they want. kind of like a parent who gives you an allowance. You never get what you want. Someone in authority above you gives you what you've earned or he or she thinks you need