Is Gambling Wrong?

I have to be honest and say that I do gamble on occasion but I don't see any scriptural admonition against it. The Bible seems to be silent either way.

I think mostly, it's a lot like alcohol in that there's nothing wrong with it in moderation but for some people, it can become an idol and that's where it can become sinful.

 

Well, to me, it seems to trigger a "get something for "little or nothing" attitude. It breeds greed and greed is wrong.
I have wondered about the issue as well. We have many church members that go to casinos "just to eat", but I am sure if we went (pastors family) we'd get run outta town on a stick.

 

I'll bet that it isn't wrong.

 

Anyone who actually thinks they can get something out of gambling is an idiot.

 

Anyone who actually thinks they can get something out of gambling is an idiot. </font>[/QUOTE]You'd be surprised. There are a lot of guys who do this for a living and make a ton of money at it.

 

haha. true

 

Your right, I wasn't being exclusive enough. You can make money gambling as long as your gambling versus others. You just can't take the casino. Every casino game is set with the odds in their favor. Anyone can win money at any random time, but over the course of many visits the law of averages plays out and the customer always loses.

 

Well, so much then for salvation "not of works," or is it greedy to want that?

 

Its a trick question, Brother Reed! You won't find what you're looking for in the word---"Thou shalt not gamble!"---so that gives license to do it, right??

But the word does say this: "An unjust(false) weight is an abomination to the Lord."--Proverbs 11:1 And in my eye---with odds stacked against someone to where they find themselves holding "the short end of the stick"----to where it winds up not being "fair" to one or the other---that, to me is an unjust weight!

Gambling is robbery in slow motion! Its a tax on people who are bad at math! Its a tax on people who don't care if they're bad at math or not! Its a tax on folks who are "wizzes" at math--but who don't care!!

I pass by those giant casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast---its like a big vacuum cleaner--suckin' in the suckers! Then you read the signs----they'll say something like--"Up to 97% return on slots!"---and the suckers are sucked into it!! How does that work---up to 97% return on slots???----well---if you and I had a bank full of money----and you came in and gave me $100.00 and I gave you in return--$97.00 and we kept that up---at first, nothing would be noticeable--would it?? I mean, a sucker is born every minute, right?? But sooner or later---somebody's bank is gonna go "belly up" and it ain't gonna be mine---its gonna be the First Sucker Bank--am I right??

Brother David

 

I believe that if you gamble, you are one, stealing from the Lord and two, not allowing the Lord to work in your life by faithfully trusted the Lord for your needs.

Also, Mike McK, drinking alcoholic beverages is sinful just like gambling AND smoking. Obviously you think differnent because you indulge in these activities (smoking excluded, maybe).

 

I don't have direct scriptural evidence against gambling, but Christians should be a good stewards with the resources God has given them. "Games of Chance" are poor stewardship.

Gambling may be permitted for the Christian, but it is never beneficial. As he matures in his walk with the Lord, he will realize the folly of his activity and will begin using better judgment.

Gambling is parasite on the economy. It's bad business because it does not create any REAL goods or products. It simply transfers wealth from the surrounding area into the local casinos. There is no true economic growth, just wealth transfer.

It is also highly addictive for some people and like alcoholism, a destroyer of homes.

 

I have often wondered about stocks and day trading. One of the thing about gambling such as casinos is the fact that property values of the homes near the casinos goes down. Crime goes up. More police are needed. Traffic increases in the area.

 

Good question. Buying stocks and day trading could be gambling, but not always. It depends if you've researched the companies you're investing in and you understand whether the investment risk is conservative or speculative.

Buying stocks is an investment in companies that helps them create jobs and grows the economy. There is always a varying degree of risk in holding stock, but it would not qualify as a "game of chance" (gambling).

 

All these things happened when a Wal*Mart opened near us.

HankD

 

Why not?

From Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

1 a : to play a game for money or property b : bet on an uncertain outcome
2 : to stake something on a contingency : take a chance http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=gamble

 

See, Handy Hank!! When you buy stock---that stock will always be yours!! Say I buy 10 shares of ExxonMobil selling for---say---$20.00/share! I've now got ten shares worth $200.00!

I will always have those ten shares---they belong to me!

Tomorrow--at the close of the Dow at 4pm CDT---I notice that Exxon closed at $21/share---the value of the ten I hold in my hand is now $210! See??

The ten shares will always belong to me--and I have the option to sell those---or to buy some more!

Now---I can be a big ole fool and take those ten shares to the casino----and use them to gamble---the "House" would love to get their greedy "Paws" on my merchandise

See??

Big ole fools play the casino---it don't take brilliance or a high IQ to accomplish that!!

Take the average casino "player"-----wonder what their net worth would be---if they'd had plunked that bula-bula in the Dow Jones instead of Lady Luck??? All you have to do to find out what their net worth would be---would be to find out what the net worth is of the casinos they play in!!

See?? Only big ole fools play casinos!

 

Well, the "stock certificates" may always be yours, but the value of the stocks can disappear as fast as chips on a casino table! The value of the stock may rise... or it may fall. That's the risk (or gamble, if you will) you take.

Playing the stock market is simply a higher class form of gambling.

 

No. There is none. However, there's ample scriptural proof that give the implication that abuse of things like alcohol, gambling, etc, is wrong.

In other words, Gambling is a sin when it's abused. It is not, in and of itself, a sin.

 

I don't quiet understand your last statement, GloryB!!

The certificate indicates a portion of a company! I understand the profit/loss sceme accompanying any company that sells stock---the way I see it though---buying into company stock makes one an owner!! Playing into a casino makes one a looser!