GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS

[bugslife]

What do you think about legal gambling establishments? Should we avoid them at all costs? Should we go to thier restaurants and attend their family entertainment activities?

I do not gamble, but is it wrong to spend money at gambling establishments if you are not actually gambling?

 

[ken]

Personely I say "yes", beacause the Bible tells us to stay away from all apperance of evil. The key word is appearence. Would you go to a bar just to have a soda?

 

[bugslife]

Actually, yes I would go to a bar to have a soda. I have done it many times and probably willl again. Although I do not frequent bars often, there are times that I meet freinds out after work at them. I have found that it can be a great witnessing tool. My co-workers are able to see me totally sober and not foul mouthed (like some others in the establishment) but I still enjoy myself and they seem to enoy my company.

 

[ken]

That says alot about you lack of Chritian character. Making an excuse to go into a bar and say you are wittnessing. It is the same thing to go to a whore house,"well, preacher I am only witnessing" yeah right!
You might not be drinking right now, but keep going to the bars and you'll probally end up drunk just like the rest of them. Have you no convictions? What's wrong with getting soda at a store, or pizza parlor? You see that is what is wrong with America. How are we supposed to help our country if God's people are just like them. The Bible(the only true Bible to KJB1611) still says "come out from among them and be ye seperate..." does that mean anything to you?

 

[Dr. Bob]

Nice act of judging, Ken. Think your KJV has something to say about THAT, too.

Many places I attend have casinos. All cruise ships do. Should I avoid all cruise ships because on the Lido Deck there is a place to gamble?

Most conference centers in Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City, San Juan have wonderful hotel facilities, meeting rooms, and restauants. They also have slots or even a full casino somewhere on the property. Should I not attend conferences there because nearby is a place to gamble? And too much further is a place of legalized prostitution . . .

Just where does one get off applying "come out from among them and be ye separate" to a hotel, grocery story (Safeway is owned by the Mormons, do we want to support them?), beverage (7-up is owned by the Catholics, do we want to support them?), and my car is a Hyundai from Korea where almost ALL the owners of that company are Taoist or Buddhist.

There are some rooms in monasteries in the deserts of Egypt . . .

 

[ken]

Dr. Bob thanks for the compliment!

 

[Brian]

It is most certainly sin for you to be seen in bars and gambling halls. Once we are saved all things are leagal for us all our sin is forgiven. The caveat here is we are required to avoid the appearnce of sin. Read Romans ch 14 esp verse 16 "Let not then your good be evil spoken of:" I have been in similar situations in my christian walk but if you study this you will realize that the potential damage you cause to your witness far outwieghs any advantages of sodas in bars or dinners in casinos. You have to know that anyone who sees you in these places will assume that you drink and gamble. What happens if you try to witness to them? I'm not talking about your friends who know how you really are I'm talking about the guy three table over that you don't know. At some later time you get a chance to witness to them and all they can think is "what is this hippocrate talking about?" Plus you bring reproach to the body and person of Christ, your church and every member of it. Consider this, You also impinge the witness of others. I try to tell someone about Jesus and they find out I attend church with you and you (in thier mind) are a drunk (because they saw you leaving a bar) now they might think I'm a hippocrate and not hear my witness. Satan uses the littlest things like this to prevent the Gospel from spreading. I'm not saying that you drink to excess or at all or that you waste God diven resouces gambeling but it is sin for you to even be precived as do so.
all for now

Brian

 

[ken]

Dr. Bob,
Should I attend clubs, parties, raves, even though I am not going to be drinking, drugging, dancing, I mean can I go there just for some soda and just to hang out? Should I go to the crack houses just to watch T.V. is any of that wrong, then?

 

[ken]

AMEN to that Brian G. it is nice to know there are still men in here that has character.
Ken

 

[Brian]

Dr Bob
you posted while I was typing my reply. No in the world we can't avoid every thing that belongs to the world. Staying at a hotel that has a casino or bar( they most all have bars)doesn't mean you support the bar or what goes on in it. No more than if you receive medical treatment at a Catholic hospital making you catholic.
Ken's attack saddens me in its example of how many hide behind Chritianity and use it to hurt others.
Bugslife though really needs to look closer at this and I hope he will and not get turned off by how Ken dealt with this.
Ken is right in that a Christian has no business in bars.
Ken you are reprehensible in your tactics.
Better go before I get real wound up

 

[ken]

Brian G.,
FYI I am not hiding behind Christianity but standing right next to it.
Thanks,
Ken

 

[ken]

BTW, Brian it is not I who is doing the hurting. It is bugslife by his own actions, I am just shedding some LIGHT on the matter. If the truth hurts is it not truth anymore? Truth does not always pampers us, but is sometimes hurtful. Either way it is truth and I do not intend to change my way of thinking. That might not sound right to you but I am not perfect and neither are you.

[ November 07, 2001: Message edited by: ken ]

 

[Brian]

Ken the truth does in most cases hurt. In no way do I comprimise the Bible I am a King James kinda guy. Bugslife has some real big issues with looking like the world. Our same bible tells us that when a brother errs that we are to treat him as such. I think that in my post I made very clear what the Bible says and what a Christian should do. I did so biblicly and in such a way as to be listened to not just heard. As a Christian I want Bugslife to really cansider what I have to say not turn me off as a rabid fundie which I am. I know that you could have made your point without attacking him.So yes the way you responded to him saddens me.
Just because the truth does hurt doesn't mean that it hurts all the time. Correction of an erring brother should always start off friendly and kind. If he hears us we gain a brother if not then you go from there as the Lord leads.
BTW it seem that we agree on more things you and I than many on this board. It wasn't my intention to offend you either but strong words and actions should be our last option not first.
Brian

[ November 07, 2001: Message edited by: Brian G ]

 

[ken]

I agree Brian, I had no intention of at least sounding like I was Attacking Bugslife, so with that I appologize to both of you.

 

[Don]

Walk into your average bingo parlor. See that woman over there? The one with the oxygen bottle and the three packs of cigarettes? She's got about 5 bingo cards in front of her, and about 20 pulltabs. That means she's spent at a minimum, $20 for the carton of cigarettes, I have no idea how much to get her oxygen bottle refilled, and between $40 and $60 for the bingo stuff. Let's call it an even $100. Which could have been spent on food, groceries, utility bills, clothes for her children....

Or how about that guy ahead of you in the convenience store? He's looking like he's got a big decision to make; yep, there he goes, handing the clerk a $5 bill and getting some lotto tickets in return. He hastily scratches all five cards, and apparently the droop in his shoulders means he didn't receive anything in return. As he pushes past you, you hear something about, "Hope I have enough gas to make it home...." As you're paying for your soda, you hear the second clerk shout, "Another gas drive off!" as he picks up the phone to call the cops....

There's that woman sitting at the slot machine--again. She's been there every night for the last three months. Gossip has it, her husband's leaving her because she can't get her gambling habit under control....

----------

The consequences of sin, folks. The appearance of evil.

What kind of message does it send when you, a Christian, frequent a place that literally breeds the kind of stories above?

 

[bugslife]

It seems as though we have deviated from the original topic, but i can work with that....

I try to NOT judge. It is not my place to judge. It is one of my jobs in life to win souls though. There are many ways to meet and mingle with people who are not Christians. As I said earlier, I do not often frequent bars -- and I DO NOT DRINK. So, if YOU want to cast a stone, I can not stop you, but I will suggest to you that you rethink your determination of my Christian character. This is not the time or place to get into a discussion of drinking. I would like to remind you that some religions do accept accohol consumption. I am Southern Baptist, and I convey those beliefs to my friends. I believe that if I am able to present them with an open heart and an open door, then they will continue to come to me and respect me. Who am I to avoid them because they are not inside of a pizza house? I will not judge them because they drink. I pray that they will not, and I invite them to my home and my church home. I hope and pray that the Lord will convict them to join his army --- even if it is as a Catholic.
In the following quote, you insinuated that I am a liar, a poor Christian, a future alcoholic and that I lack conviction.

In direct response, I will tell you that in my life I have lied. I can always become a better Christian. There is always a chance that any of us will develop a drinking problem (as far fetched as it may seem -- None of us knows what tomorrow holds in store). I feel do lack conviction on some issues. In addition, I would like to add: I have also told many truths, even when it was difficult and the truth hurt. I work daily on my Christianity thrugh my walk with Jesus. I feel no desire to drink, but instead, I feel convicted as part of my PERSONAL communication with my Lord to witness to people who are in addictive places. I pray and I listen to the Lord -- I seek his word. I do have convictions.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> " That says alot about you lack of Chritian character. Making an excuse to go into a bar and say you are wittnessing. It is the same thing to go to a whore house,"well, preacher I am only witnessing" yeah right! "
You might not be drinking right now, but keep going to the bars and you'll probally end up drunk just like the rest of them. Have you no convictions? What's wrong with getting soda at a store, or pizza parlor? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Now --- With all of that behind me --- I will also pray for you today. People never cease to surprise me, but, i Honestly did not think that I would find such heinous, cruel remarks on a board for Christians.

For those of you who were not quite so cold in your responses, Thank you. I certainly appreciate your input.

 

[bugslife]

oh --- and not that it may matter one bit to any of you, but --- i am a girl -----please try to remember that when you talk about me ---- i guess i spend too much time on the women's boards.

 

[Brian]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bugslife:
oh --- and not that it may matter one bit to any of you, but --- i am a girl -----please try to remember that when you talk about me ---- i guess i spend too much time on the women's boards.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well before I got to posting I did look at your profile and it doesn't indicate either way..In defense it seems that most posters to the forums I read are male.

 

[ken]

alcohol consumption is wrong no matter where it is done church or at a bar.
And no to me it does not matter that you are a girl. Your right people never cease to amaze me either. Who would have ever thought of going to bars just to have soda. I am sorry you think my responses were called, and like I said earlier I did not intend to sound like I was attacking, but you had asked to have peoples opions(sp), so I gave you mine,I also gave some truth from the Bible, if the Word of God doesn't convict us, what will?
Remember as Christians whose name you are carrying, Christs. How would you like it if somebody used your name and commited illegal or immoral acts. I think you would act coldy yourself. So before you go ahead and blow me off, remember your representing Christ everywhere you go, and I don't think HE will enter in a bar or some other established place that is wrong to hang out and witness.
For His Name Sake,
Ken

 

[SAVED4LIFE]

Where in the Bible does it specifically say the gambling is a sin? Hmmm?