Dunamis XX
New Member
What does the Bible say about gambling? Is gambling a sin?
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Is gambling a sin?
- Thread starter Dunamis XX
- Start date
Summary
Pro:
There's no verse in the Bible that says "thou shall not gamble". Mark 7:18-23 says it's not that which goes in, but it's that which comes out.
Con:
Gambling shows lack of wisedom and stewardship. Proverbs 13:11 warns us about getting rich quick/easy, and 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil.
My view:
Just like alcohol, gambling can and does destroy many lives. How do you avoid becoming a drunk- don't take the first sip. The same applies to gambling. Some people can handle it. Others cannot. The act of gambling (just like the act of drinking) may not be a sin. But it can and does often result in sin and destruction.
Pro:
There's no verse in the Bible that says "thou shall not gamble". Mark 7:18-23 says it's not that which goes in, but it's that which comes out.
Con:
Gambling shows lack of wisedom and stewardship. Proverbs 13:11 warns us about getting rich quick/easy, and 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil.
My view:
Just like alcohol, gambling can and does destroy many lives. How do you avoid becoming a drunk- don't take the first sip. The same applies to gambling. Some people can handle it. Others cannot. The act of gambling (just like the act of drinking) may not be a sin. But it can and does often result in sin and destruction.
Bro. Ruben
New Member
We risk money when we gamble; being a Christian, we know that anything the Lord gives to us is actually not ours, for we are just a “custodian”. So never risk anything which was entrusted to us.
The obvious goal of gambling is to win and to get hold of other’s money. In this case it falls in the category of what the Bible prohibits to stay away from the love of money (I Tim 6:10; Hebrews 13:5).
Truly, the Bible does not condemn gambling, lottery, or betting. At first, it doesn’t look bad because a little of it doesn’t hurt anything if it is in moderation. Take note that no alcoholics had right away started with 10 bottles of beer; normally, a sip or two.
Then how about smoking Marijuana and/or taking drugs, is that wrong? Where can you find that in the Bible? If one would somehow tells me that these things are sinful based from the Bible, then for sure I will ask him about gambling. Show me the verse.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers..” And try to think of this, what if God catches you gambling the moment the rapture occurs, is that pleasing to Him?
The obvious goal of gambling is to win and to get hold of other’s money. In this case it falls in the category of what the Bible prohibits to stay away from the love of money (I Tim 6:10; Hebrews 13:5).
Truly, the Bible does not condemn gambling, lottery, or betting. At first, it doesn’t look bad because a little of it doesn’t hurt anything if it is in moderation. Take note that no alcoholics had right away started with 10 bottles of beer; normally, a sip or two.
Then how about smoking Marijuana and/or taking drugs, is that wrong? Where can you find that in the Bible? If one would somehow tells me that these things are sinful based from the Bible, then for sure I will ask him about gambling. Show me the verse.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers..” And try to think of this, what if God catches you gambling the moment the rapture occurs, is that pleasing to Him?
No, I would not call anything that goes on in the business world gambling. Investing is taking a calculated risk and in that sense you could compare it to gambling but that does not mean it is the same thing. In any "game of chance" you are putting your money down and "win" when the other guy looses. In investing, the goal is for everyone to win. You put your money down and the company does well, people buy their products or services and everyone benefits. Sure, sometimes you lose but that is not an intrinsic necessary part of it. Gambling is unwise and poor stewardship. Investing can be quite wise. Jesus scolded (in parable) a guy for NOT investing money. He did not scold him for not gambling.
The question "IS gambling aa sin"; I will make my case by stating that gambling is wrong for the following reasons. Where you have gambling you have two other elements that are closely associated with it, alcohol and prostitution and certainly these two are synonymous with crime and rarely do you find one without the other two.And as a general rule the ones backing and financing it are the same people suppling drugs to our children. Ask the people of Tunica or the Mississippi Gulf Coast about the increased crime rate and the increase of divorces since gambling was legalized. I did not get this insight from reading or from a the pulpit of a Baptist Church. Thanks to the Grace of God I am free from a sinful past where I spent many a day and night in gambling establishments.GAMBLING is an ADDITION just as serious as alcoholism.
I really don't think it's a sin but anything in excess can become one. I'm personally not into it but I wouldn't call someone a sinner who bought a lottery ticket or put a quarter in a slot machine. It's an irresponisble way to handle money but so is buying lots of material items for kicks and the majority of us see no harm in that!
Marcia
Active Member
I think asking if gambling is a sin is the wrong question.
Technically, it may not be (though using the principles of stewardship, it could be seen as a sin in that light perhaps), but the point of living the Christian life is not just to avoid things that are technically sins.
We have freedom in Christ but that does not mean everything that is not technically a sin is okay. Some things might be technically "lawful" but are not profitable and do not edify (see 1 Cor 6.12 and 10.23). I think gambling at least falls in that category and possibly is over on the sin side of the borderline.
Technically, it may not be (though using the principles of stewardship, it could be seen as a sin in that light perhaps), but the point of living the Christian life is not just to avoid things that are technically sins.
We have freedom in Christ but that does not mean everything that is not technically a sin is okay. Some things might be technically "lawful" but are not profitable and do not edify (see 1 Cor 6.12 and 10.23). I think gambling at least falls in that category and possibly is over on the sin side of the borderline.
UnchartedSpirit
New Member
what about the story about the roman soldiers gambling over Christ's garment? Is that a statement against gambling?
Brother Ian
Active Member
There is a difference between gambling and investing.
Remember the parable of the talents? Jesus commended those that made the talents increase. The Bible says the talents were increased by trading which comes from the word that means working or trading. Study Matthew 25 for more in this.
Here are some other thoughts on gambling that I got from So That's in the Bible?:
-It can result in a destructive lifestyle (1 Tim 6:9)
-It harms the poor and families (1 Tim 5:8).
-It is a poor example for those who may become addicted (1 Cor. 8:13).
-It stems from covetous (Luke 12:15, Phil 2:3-4, and 1 Tim. 6:10).
Remember the parable of the talents? Jesus commended those that made the talents increase. The Bible says the talents were increased by trading which comes from the word that means working or trading. Study Matthew 25 for more in this.
Here are some other thoughts on gambling that I got from So That's in the Bible?:
-It can result in a destructive lifestyle (1 Tim 6:9)
-It harms the poor and families (1 Tim 5:8).
-It is a poor example for those who may become addicted (1 Cor. 8:13).
-It stems from covetous (Luke 12:15, Phil 2:3-4, and 1 Tim. 6:10).
T
TexasSky
Guest
I'm sorry, but I think God was always very clear on what He called a sin.
He doesn't call gambling a sin anywhere in His word.
He does call it foolish.
Since blaspheme is attributing to God the things of man and to man the things of God - I think attaching the label of sin to every foolish act is dangerous.
He doesn't call gambling a sin anywhere in His word.
He does call it foolish.
Since blaspheme is attributing to God the things of man and to man the things of God - I think attaching the label of sin to every foolish act is dangerous.
T
TexasSky
Guest
Just an added thought.
I know a lot of people who were once upon a time, very devout Catholics. Meaning, they believed every word that the Catholic church taught them. They also believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that Salvation came to earth through Christ, and that God is the creator.
Mixed into that were a lot of false nonsense taught to them as "bible". They were taught they couldn't eat meat on Friday. They were taught that certain rituals mattered, which were no actually IN God's word.
Then Vatican II came along. The Catholic Church cleaned house and said, "We admit it, this is NOT biblical. This is just what a church elder thought was the best thing. We should never have taught you this was God's law."
And MILLIONS of Catholics stopped praying, stopped bible reading, stopped even trying to learn about God. Their words are, "They lied to me about all of that all of my life. They are probably lying about all the rest."
If you cannot point to a scripture that supports what you say about God's law, God's will - - DON'T TEACH IT AS GOD'S law. Eventually that innocent believer is going to ask, "Where does the bible say we can't use a piano and where does it say dancing is a sin?" And you are going to have admit it doesn't say that. And you will have lost all credibility with that young believer about EVERYTHING you EVER taught.
Instead, be HONEST.
The book of Proverbs says this is foolish.
The book of Exodus calls this a sin.
If you do this, you might end up falling into a lot of other temptations. Gambling will expose you to thieves, it will expose you to people who have absolutely no love for God. It will expose you to people who drink and commit adultry and deal in illegal things. So it is better, for your sake, that you avoid gambling so you don't end up sinning.
But don't lie. Don't say it is a sin when you can't back it up with scripture.
God doesn't need us to lie for Him.
We can discourage stupidity and caution against tempation without lying.
I know a lot of people who were once upon a time, very devout Catholics. Meaning, they believed every word that the Catholic church taught them. They also believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that Salvation came to earth through Christ, and that God is the creator.
Mixed into that were a lot of false nonsense taught to them as "bible". They were taught they couldn't eat meat on Friday. They were taught that certain rituals mattered, which were no actually IN God's word.
Then Vatican II came along. The Catholic Church cleaned house and said, "We admit it, this is NOT biblical. This is just what a church elder thought was the best thing. We should never have taught you this was God's law."
And MILLIONS of Catholics stopped praying, stopped bible reading, stopped even trying to learn about God. Their words are, "They lied to me about all of that all of my life. They are probably lying about all the rest."
If you cannot point to a scripture that supports what you say about God's law, God's will - - DON'T TEACH IT AS GOD'S law. Eventually that innocent believer is going to ask, "Where does the bible say we can't use a piano and where does it say dancing is a sin?" And you are going to have admit it doesn't say that. And you will have lost all credibility with that young believer about EVERYTHING you EVER taught.
Instead, be HONEST.
The book of Proverbs says this is foolish.
The book of Exodus calls this a sin.
If you do this, you might end up falling into a lot of other temptations. Gambling will expose you to thieves, it will expose you to people who have absolutely no love for God. It will expose you to people who drink and commit adultry and deal in illegal things. So it is better, for your sake, that you avoid gambling so you don't end up sinning.
But don't lie. Don't say it is a sin when you can't back it up with scripture.
God doesn't need us to lie for Him.
We can discourage stupidity and caution against tempation without lying.
T
TexasSky
Guest
John,
Alright. I concede that. They "said" they believed it all.
Alright. I concede that. They "said" they believed it all.