Gambling vs. Candy

[12strings]

Here's the thing:

A pixie stick is a tube of paper, about 8 inches long filled with sugar and food coloring. Eating just one pixie stick is going to be bad for me, It will begin to rot my teeth, and the sugar will most likely be stored as fat. If I continue eating pixie sticks, say 10 every hour, I will will begin to have a sugar imbalance, my teeth will keep rotting, I will probably start to gain weight, and may end up with diabetes. I could get addicted to the sugar so that I can't stop even if I want to. This could ruin relationships, cost my my job, and even my marriage.

Why is it not a sin to eat a pixie stick, but it is a sin to buy a lottery ticket?

 

[th1bill]

1Cor. 6:19

It is a sin. The problem is selective reading of the scriptures less thought.

 

[12strings]

1Cor. 6:19

It is a sin. The problem is selective reading of the scriptures less thought.

So your saying Christians should not eat ANY candy? And if they do it is a sin?

Just checking?

 

[jbh28]

So your saying Christians should not eat ANY candy? And if they do it is a sin?

Just checking?

No, just you....now give me all your candy :laugh:

 

[Arbo]

No, just you....now give me all your candy :laugh:

:laugh: That's rich! Good one. :laugh:

 

[mont974x4]

1 Cor 6:19 does not apply. Romans 14 does.

 

[John of Japan]

Here's the thing:

A pixie stick is a tube of paper, about 8 inches long filled with sugar and food coloring. Eating just one pixie stick is going to be bad for me, It will begin to rot my teeth, and the sugar will most likely be stored as fat. If I continue eating pixie sticks, say 10 every hour, I will will begin to have a sugar imbalance, my teeth will keep rotting, I will probably start to gain weight, and may end up with diabetes. I could get addicted to the sugar so that I can't stop even if I want to. This could ruin relationships, cost my my job, and even my marriage.

Why is it not a sin to eat a pixie stick, but it is a sin to buy a lottery ticket?

Putting something in your mouth is never a sin.

Matt. 15--
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

But seeking to be rich (the motive for buying a lottery ticket), is a huge danger:

1 Tim. 6--
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

 

[HAMel]

John of Japan, this forum is filled with folks who desire to keep you down at their level. They think it - therefore it is - with scripture to back it up.

Should Believers venture out for a night on the town buying rounds for everyone, gambling their hard earned money away..., dancing to the latest tunes, buy lottery tickets. Absolutely not.

...but a lottery ticket? I was provided with a lottery ticket inside a birthday card a couple of years ago. Had that sucker been worth money I'd have cashed it in. :thumbs:

...it should not be a burden to be a Christian.

 

[John of Japan]

...but a lottery ticket? I was provided with a lottery ticket inside a birthday card a couple of years ago. Had that sucker been worth money I'd have cashed it in. :thumbs:

...it should not be a burden to be a Christian.

Don't tell the mission board, but we received a couple of free Japanese lottery tickets once and checked them out--nothing.

But why in the world would a Christian buy one? That's just as much as saying, "God can't take proper care of me, and I think I should be rich even though God hasn't made me so, so I'll try to get rich on my own."

 

[12strings]

Putting something in your mouth is never a sin.

Matt. 15--
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

But seeking to be rich (the motive for buying a lottery ticket, is a huge danger:

1 Tim. 6--
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Yes, there are warnings about seeking to be rich, and so we should be mindful of them and fully expect to lose anything we gamble.

However, there are also warnings about gluttony, and while what goes in does not defile a man, The manner, attitude, and quantity in which he takes it in could be sin.

 

[John of Japan]

Yes, there are warnings about seeking to be rich, and so we should be mindful of them and fully expect to lose anything we gamble.

However, there are also warnings about gluttony, and while what goes in does not defile a man, The manner, attitude, and quantity in which he takes it in could be sin.

Please share with me the passages (plural) which warn about gluttony. I only know of one warning in the entire Bible. It's an extremely minor issue.

And please share with me how putting a piece of candy in my mouth, or even ten an hour as per the OP, rises to the level of gluttony. Thanks.

 

[HAMel]

But why in the world would a Christian buy one?

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with buying a Lottery Ticket. Should purchasing these things become an obsession, then a problem exists. I really don't believe it has anything to do with a thought of the Lord not being able to take care of any of us.

As a verb, gambling means to lose or squander by betting. Do we gamble with our very lives every time we drive our car on a public highway?

 

[John of Japan]

But why in the world would a Christian buy one?

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with buying a Lottery Ticket. Should purchasing these things become an obsession, then a problem exists. I really don't believe it has anything to do with a thought of the Lord not being able to take care of any of us.

It's all in the motive. We'd have to ask individuals, "Why are you buying that ticket?" There may be other reasons ("It's just fun."), but I daresay getting money without having to work for it is the main one.

As a verb, gambling means to lose or squander by betting. Do we gamble with our very lives every time we drive our car on a public highway?

Nope, I never gamble with a car. :smilewinkgrin: If we're walking with the Lord and trusting Him to protect us when we travel, how can it be a gamble?

We've traveled over 21,000 miles on furlough since Sept., praying for safety each time we set out. We've had close calls: a toxic materials truck spill, accidents, almost hitting deer, tailgaters and other dangerous drivers. But traveling with a car is not really gambling. Try again.

 

[Winman]

Putting something in your mouth is never a sin.

Matt. 15--
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

But seeking to be rich (the motive for buying a lottery ticket), is a huge danger:

1 Tim. 6--
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

The problem with gambling is that a man is trying to get money he didn't earn. The scriptures tell us to work diligently to support our family and others.

Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

2 Thes 3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Though Paul worked relentlessly to spread the gospel, he would not take handouts or charity but worked to support himself.

There are dozens of verses that tell a man to be diligent and work hard. We aren't supposed to get money for free.

 

[12strings]

Please share with me the passages (plural) which warn about gluttony. I only know of one warning in the entire Bible. It's an extremely minor issue.

And please share with me how putting a piece of candy in my mouth, or even ten an hour as per the OP, rises to the level of gluttony. Thanks.

Philippians 3:19 - Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Proverbs 23:20-21 -Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Proverbs 23:2 -And put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.

Proverbs 23:21 - For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.



...But that's not really the point. I'm not really saying I think eating a pixie stick is sin. I'm saying the bible does not say it is a sin, so we shouldn't either. The Bible does not say that gambling is a sin, so we shouldn't either.

Now, I think there are probalby MANY cases in which it is biblically warrented to counsel and individual, knowing thier propensities and motives, to say, "I believe that if you continue gambling, you are sinning against God by your coveteousness and your neglect of giving and providing for your family."

Just as it would be biblically warranted to counsel a drunk: "If you do not stop drinking, you will be continuing in sin, placing alcohol before God and letting it control you, rather than being controlled by the holy spirit."

HOwever, I would not feel biblically justified to tell a man who has no drunkenness problem that he is sinning if he drinks a glass of wine, just as I would have no biblical basis for telling someone they are sinning if they have a small-stakes poker night with their friends.

 

[gb93433]

Here's the thing:

A pixie stick is a tube of paper, about 8 inches long filled with sugar and food coloring. Eating just one pixie stick is going to be bad for me, It will begin to rot my teeth, and the sugar will most likely be stored as fat. If I continue eating pixie sticks, say 10 every hour, I will will begin to have a sugar imbalance, my teeth will keep rotting, I will probably start to gain weight, and may end up with diabetes. I could get addicted to the sugar so that I can't stop even if I want to. This could ruin relationships, cost my my job, and even my marriage.

Why is it not a sin to eat a pixie stick, but it is a sin to buy a lottery ticket?

If sugar would do damage to your body then it certainly is not good. I know a man who left his family fatherless and husbandless because of no5t taking his diabetes seriously. Sin a perversion of God's best.

 

[Havensdad]

Don't tell the mission board, but we received a couple of free Japanese lottery tickets once and checked them out--nothing.

But why in the world would a Christian buy one? That's just as much as saying, "God can't take proper care of me, and I think I should be rich even though God hasn't made me so, so I'll try to get rich on my own."

It doesn't necessarily have to be that. It could also be, "God is sovereign. Maybe in His sovereignty, He wants to bless me with lottery winnings. Let me buy a dollar ticket, and check!"

:thumbsup:

 

[John of Japan]

Philippians 3:19 - Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Proverbs 23:20-21 -Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Proverbs 23:2 -And put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.

Proverbs 23:21 - For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Thanks. So we've got three (you said one twice). Still a very minor issue. For the record, I think gluttony is a lifestyle, not a one time choice. When discussing gluttony, the concept of feasting must be included.

...But that's not really the point. I'm not really saying I think eating a pixie stick is sin. I'm saying the bible does not say it is a sin, so we shouldn't either. The Bible does not say that gambling is a sin, so we shouldn't either.

Now, I think there are probalby MANY cases in which it is biblically warrented to counsel and individual, knowing thier propensities and motives, to say, "I believe that if you continue gambling, you are sinning against God by your coveteousness and your neglect of giving and providing for your family."


Just as it would be biblically warranted to counsel a drunk: "If you do not stop drinking, you will be continuing in sin, placing alcohol before God and letting it control you, rather than being controlled by the holy spirit."

Thanks for the clarification. I too don't believe that gambling per se is necessarily a sin, but the motives behind it are sinful virtually all the time.

HOwever, I would not feel biblically justified to tell a man who has no drunkenness problem that he is sinning if he drinks a glass of wine, just as I would have no biblical basis for telling someone they are sinning if they have a small-stakes poker night with their friends.

Once again, it is not what you put in your mouth, it is the motive for the action. I think Christ was very clear about that.

 

[Havensdad]

The problem with gambling is that a man is trying to get money he didn't earn. The scriptures tell us to work diligently to support our family and others.

Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

2 Thes 3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Though Paul worked relentlessly to spread the gospel, he would not take handouts or charity but worked to support himself.

There are dozens of verses that tell a man to be diligent and work hard. We aren't supposed to get money for free.

Great. We need to call all of the missions agencies, and tell them, "NO MORE CHARITY." We are not supposed to get money for free. Also, we need to tell our members to refuse any inheritance from dead relatives, Earned Income Credit on their taxes, and any "buy one get one free" offers at the store...

:laugh:

Now, with tongue out of cheek: The principle is NOT that we are not supposed to get money for free. That is nowhere in the scriptures. The principle is that we are supposed to work hard. There are plenty of missionaries, which live on donations, yet work hard. There are plenty of rich people, who inherited money, yet work hard. There are even lottery winners, who won the money, and yet work hard.

There is no Bible verse which makes gambling wrong in and of itself.

 

[John of Japan]

It doesn't necessarily have to be that. It could also be, "God is sovereign. Maybe in His sovereignty, He wants to bless me with lottery winnings. Let me buy a dollar ticket, and check!"

:thumbsup:

Riiiiiight!

Reminds me of the bar tender who walked up to the old time preacher to test him. He said, "Preacher, I want to make an offering to the church. But you have to know that I got this money selling liquor." The preacher grabbed it and said, "The Devil's had it long enough!"