Gambling vs. casting lots

well, I think that the stock market, unless it is your job, is somewhat the same as gambling. You put money in expecting a return or loss.
In Christ,
Peggy
Is. 6:8

 

...that which is not of faith is sin.

Can you play the Lotto knowing this principle?
The stock market? (has ruined many a poor soul)
Buy life insurance? (won't God take care of your family?)
Health insurance? (don't you trust God for good health?)
Get a mortgage? (Hasn't He promised to supply all our needs)?
A loan for a car?(ibid).

The just shall live by faith?

HankD

 

You mean like Enron?



Actually most Lotto's are lucrative systems to bolster the State's economy. Here in WA we are often told of those who benefit from the proceeds of the Lootery (oops).

Found at : http://www.walottery.com/wherelotterygoes.asp

Yes, the children benefit.
So, think of it as a voluntary tax.

HankD

 

Ridiculous. If that's the case, then, at our next church carnivals, we should return the cakes we win. If we play McDonald's Monopoly, we should return the free coke or free fries we win. If we appear of Jeopardy or the Price is RIght, we should return anything we win.

Likewise, Sue should return any Cheerios she wins. BTW, for me, it's Apple Jacks.

 

Make up your mind, Johnv. Is the purpose of the game the "entertainment value," or the aquisition of freebies? You originally said the former, now you are trying to argue for the latter.

 

It is both. However, so far, it has not been shown that either is what makes gambling a sin.

 

Hi Helen,

Im going to play the "devil's advocate".

"Greed -- looking out for yourself is exactly what Christ has taught us NOT to do"

We covered this one with the idea of insurance.
Life insurance, health insurance, property insurance; these are all ways of looking out for ourselves (and the extension of ourselves, our families).

"Predation -- gambling feeds off the losses of others. We have been commanded to love others as we love ourselves."

Again this is the way insurance works (health for instance): a bunch of people pool their money. some will not get sick, some will. The surplus money is used by those who get sick.

"Support of criminal element -- gambling in such places as Las Vegas, Reno, etc. is mob controlled. Lotto in various states and other 'legal' gambling only feeds into the illegal aspects, whetting the appetite of those who play and inviting them to get in deeper."

State lotteries work just the opposite. The mob leaves town because they cannot compete with the legal aspect of the Lotto. People are involved in a legal form of gambling and are not subject to fines and jail (remember I'm playing a role here).

"Gambling is something no Christian should ever be involved in. What you are doing is wrong, the reasons are wrong (if you really think it is just for entertainment, you are lying to yourself), the testimony of life is wrong, the use of precious time is wrong. In fact, I can think of nothing even remotely resembling 'right' in gambling. "

This is the closest idea to my reason for not gambling:
"...that which is not of faith is sin"

"If you want to support the schools and such, do it directly. Give them the money you would spend on lotto. That way none of it is wasted on any middlemen."

"That way none of it is wasted on middlemen"
And in what State might that be?

HankD

 

OK Helen, I just wanted to draw out your thoughts on this matter.

Many Christians do consider some forms of insurance and preparing for the future as a trust in man and not God. But I said, I would play the role of devil's advocate, not that I necessaily believed that all forms of insurance are gambling.

I have them all, Life, health, property, automobile, etc...
I like term life because although you lose all, it is very inexpensive.

I also have an IRA which is based upon the willy-nilly fickleness of the stock market (although mine has realized a nice increase, thank the Lord).

"...That which is not of faith is sin".

Personally, I don't have a faith problem with insurance or retirement accounts even though the basic premise of insurance is the redistribution of funds pooled to those who need it but invoking a loss to the others and the remainder a profit to the insurance company.

As an IT computer person I can verify that insurance is one of the most lucrative businesses in the world.

And the basic premise of an IRA or investments of any kind is to prepare for "tomorrow" when Christ has said not to take any thought for the morrow.
My assumption is that He meant the WORRY kind of thought.

If I leave planet earth before my wife she will have it. This is good.


HankD

 

Then is the church picnic's cakewalk or raffle, or a penny poker game with me and a few of the guys from church, or playing McDonald's Monopoly sin? They all have elements of greed.

Anyone who plays a hand of poker or blackjack, be it in vegas, a tournament, or in the living room, knows that, to play, you must put in the minimum. That's not the same as predation. However, the church picnic cakewalk is.

That's an innate fallacy. While it was true in the past, it is no longer the case. If that were the case, however, then it would be a sin simply to stay in a hotel in vegas, or buy lunch in a hotel restaurant in vegas, since they'd be "mob controlled". But, if mob control is the issue, you would easily remedy that by gambling at an indian casino. Still, assuming you were correct, it still doesn't address the church picnic cake walk, or my penny poker game.

Which are?

You've never watched a poker or blackjack tournament, have you? It's incredibly entertaining.