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Author
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Topic: Is Gambling UnChristian?
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helpforhomeschoolers
Advanced Member
Member # 15
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posted
Excellent post FM! I live in a state where video Lottery is a big thing. WE have slots too but only in one town Deadwood. Video Lottery is a scary thing. Infact there are some studies now being done on it's physiolgical additive affects. It has something to do with how the brain/eye/hand coordination thing affects the brain. It is the same principle that has caused some worries for people over video games for kids.
But in this state I can tell you that it would bring you to tears to see the innocent lives that are destroyed by gambling addictions.
I used to have a driver that worked for us back when we still had our towing business. His wife got caught up in video lottery and it became such a force in her life that she caused them to lose everything that they owned, home, car, and more. It was heartbreaking to watch. She ended up in jail and their creidt was ruined for bad checks cashed to support her habit. He ended up trying to work and raise kids alone because she was gone to jail. It was incredible. And it all began with one trip to the local casino for a little harmeless entertainment.
I think the principles from a Biblical standpoint are clear. Gambling amounts to your gain at the expense of another...and also as you have pointed out the gain of wealth without Labor. Both these things are against GOD's way.
It is like all things a personal decision that our new friend in Christ will have to make for himself. This life is a walk that we all have to walk in our own shoes, but leaven is an odd thing...a little bit seems harmless yet it leaveneth the whole lump.
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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Ripp
unregistered
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posted
I see your point Favor. I have always played for the enjoyment. I love card games including spades, poker, cribbage and the like. For me it is about the competition. But I can understand how it can be a problem.
![[1zhelp]](graemlins/1zhelp.gif) ![[clap2]](graemlins/clap2.gif) ![[dance]](graemlins/dance1.gif) ![[Cross]](graemlins/cross.gif)
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Favor Minded
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posted
According to a recent report by the Employee Assistance Program at the University of Texas at Austin, since 1997 billions of dollars (approximately 14 billion per year) worth of productivity was lost by business and industry through absenteeism, wasted time, poor work performance, loss of income, criminal acts such as theft, accident, rehabilitation and recovery, and medical treatment, due to gambling and gambling related problems.
In addition to this and unseen to most, more than 25% of all family disruptions, neglected or abused children, divorces, impoverishment, mental breakdowns, and suicides were able to be traced back to the negative effects of gambling.
In light of these statistics, why have so many bought into the notion that gambling is nothing more than harmless entertainment? What is gambling and why do people gamble?
Gambling, in the strictest sense, is a method by which a person can get rich quick without having to earn the wealth by labor. Solomon said in Proverbs 14:23, “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads to poverty.”
Whereas attaining wealth by working is scriptural, attaining wealth by enticing someone to gain money at the certain loss of another violates every principle taught by Jesus.
In short, it is deceptive and sinful. It breeds selfishness, greed, and covetousness and, in fact, promotes them.
Regardless of how socially acceptable the practice of gambling has become, it is still preying on the weaknesses of others, contrary to the instruction of Paul recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15.
Many people gamble because they feel that they have needs that cannot be met through earned income. Gambling to them is their “opportunity” to acquire material wealth and comforts.
Another group gambles just for the fun of it; they call themselves social gamblers.
A third group is compulsive gamblers. To them gambling is a disease that wrecks their finances, families, and careers.
At first glance, each group appears to have a different motive for gambling but, in reality, they all have the same motive: gaining materialism without labor - Proverbs 14:23 — the ultimate in get-rich-quick schemes.
The following principles can help Christians evaluate whether gambling is an activity with which they should be involved -
Many times gambling is connected with other vices, such as prostitution and drugs -
Gambling is always associated with get-rich-quick motives -Proverbs 28:22
Gambling discourages work - Genesis 3:19
Gambling often will offend a brother or sister in Christ -1 Corinthians 8:11-12
Gambling manifests a heart of greed and love of money, which Scripture says is the root of all evil. “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction” -1 Timothy 6:9
Many Christian leaders feel that state lotteries, operating legally in at least thirty-eight states, are a form of gambling, although some Christians do not think so.
Yet, if the above principles for evaluating gambling are considered, the state lottery is, most definitely, gambling.
States generally claim from 35 to 45 percent of the money raised by lotteries.
Administration and promotion takes another 10 to 20 percent, leaving less than half of the money collected to be paid to winners.
According to the California Grocers Association, 66 percent of the food stores that sell lottery tickets reported a decline in food sales after they began to sell tickets.
It is estimated that since 1990 more than half of California’s lottery ticket sales come from customers whose income is near or below the recognized poverty level.
The poor tend to be the greater victims of the lottery simply by virtue of the fact that they have smaller incomes. “For the poor, lottery is not harmless entertainment,” says Dr. J. Emmett Henderson, head of the Georgia Council on Moral and Civic Concerns. “It is a desperate but vain attempt to survive. But odds of winning are so cruel - roughly 13 million to one is typical for state lotteries throughout America - that lottery turns out to be theft by consent. Almost all players lose money.”
Jesus said that all the commandments can be summed up in the first commandment - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind - and in the second commandment, love your neighbor as yourself.
As such, the questions must be asked - Would Jesus participate in this game of chance? Would He bet money on His chances of winning? Would His Father be pleased with His decision to bet? Would His involvement cause the other participants to accept Him as their perfect example? How a Christian answers these questions should determine their course of action.
Christians are the only Christ that many outside of Christ will ever see. Our actions and our decisions will more times than none testify of what should be the true nature of Christ.
“For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed” - 1 Samuel 2:30
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Endoxos
Advanced Member
Member # 2929
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posted
My opinion, and mine only, is that everytime a person gains, the loser must gain equally... Consider King David, when he went to buy a threshing floor to build an altar... the owner insisted he simply gave it to David, but David told him that'd he'd accept nothing for free that was to be a sacrifice to God (2 Sam. 24:18-25)
On top of that, there's when the Roman soldiers gambled (cast lots) for Jesus' robe... In my eyes, it's terrible enough that Jesus had to go through what He did for my sins, but why add insult to injury by also becoming as the Roman soldiers who left Him naked, as well?
But as others have said, it is between you and God ALONE. Our opinions on this really doesn't matter one iota. Whether you do or don't is what you are led by God to believe. There is a calling, though, a purpose as to why God has called a pro gambler... why he has called you. Perhaps your calling is to witness to or give help gambling addicts recover, maybe to speak about game-theory or "luck of the dice" as it applies to salvation or other Biblical topics... Who knows. Only God, and soon, you too.
As long as it's not an addiction, then at least it's in the "iffy" section.
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My signature is apisdn umop.
Posts: 362 | From: HELP! I'm stuck in a DOS window! | Registered: Mar 2004
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wonderful_sky
Advanced Member
Member # 1808
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posted
Welcome new friend. I have to agree that it is between you and God. Can you use your profession to bring others to Christ? Will you witness to those that you play with? I love poker, have a blast at it. I, like Betty, play with what I can afford to lose and I also look at it as entertainment. I never gamble with money I don't have...as in the bills are paid, the kids are fed and all the needs of our household are met. In the end, YOUR judgement doesn't come from man, but from God. Follow what HE tells you....
In Christian love,
Sky
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He who kneels down to God, can stand up to anything ![[Prayer]](graemlins/prayer.gif)
Posts: 220 | From: Missouri | Registered: Jul 2003
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TEXASGRANDMA
Advanced Member
Member # 847
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posted
I forgot to add. That I am leaving this morning for Montana and won't be back until Monday. (No, I won't be gambling, those where the days when hubby worked, fixed income now, ![[spiny]](graemlins/spiny.gif) ) We are going with our son to Glacier National Park.
I hope everyone has a great weekend.
love,
betty ![[Kiss]](graemlins/Kiss.gif) ![[youpi]](graemlins/youpi.gif)
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/mm (son-in-law)http://www.myspace.com/mireles
Posts: 4985 | From: Washington State | Registered: Jan 2003
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TEXASGRANDMA
Advanced Member
Member # 847
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posted
I suggest you pray about it. As a Christian, I have
mixed feelings about it. I myself, play the one arm bandit twice on vacations. I set a 20 limit and when it was gone I stopped. I can see that it could be a problem doing it for a living because of all the people you hang out on a daily bases. But, many Christians including myself buy a lottery ticket. There have been several winners who paid their tithes and gave generously to several Churches. If we were ever to win, I would love to give a generous gift to every Bible beliving Church in my town.
But, the best advice I can give is to pray about it.
If you don't have a peace about your job, then pray that God will open a new door for you.
love,
Betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
http://www.indieheaven.com/artists/mm (son-in-law)http://www.myspace.com/mireles
Posts: 4985 | From: Washington State | Registered: Jan 2003
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helpforhomeschoolers
Advanced Member
Member # 15
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posted
Hi: I am so glad to hear of your joining the family of Christ!
Here is how I would address your question...
Jesus taught that there were two commandments that we have and all the Law and the Prophets hung on these two.
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
So your question becomes this... Does your gambling interfere with these two commandments?
Well, I would ask you do you play to win? If you win does your winning mean that someone else loses?
If your gain comes from someone else's loss, then have you loved your neighbor? Have you loved God the way he deserves to be loved?
Here is another scripture...
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Can you do this, when you profit from another's loss?
How about this one?
1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
I could give you more, but this will give you some food for thought.
I would ask yourself some other questions...
1. Does gambling bring honor to God? The way we attain wealth should be in a way that brings him honor. The way we spend our leisure time should bring honor and glory to God. The places where we spend our lesure time should bring honor and glory to God.
2. Does gambling contradict God's economy in which blessing comes through giving.
3. Does gambling harm your witness? If someone sees you (a Christian) gambling, might you cause him/her to stumble in thought, action or speach?
4. Why are you asking the question in the first place? Is there something that the Holy Spirit is already convicting you of that you are questioning the rightness or wrongness of gambling?
5. Assuming that you have a healthy approach to gambling and that for you it is not adictive, does not lead to hardship for your family and does not take you away from time serving God or your family, what about the people you gamble with? Are they ALL equally as healthy about gambling? Does your participating in gambling encourage someone who is not healthy in their approach to gambling to continue to do something that is hurting them or their families?
Lastly, I would suggest that you honestly ask God in prayer about your participating in gambling.
I hope this helps...
Linda
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87
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posted
giftedbygrace, welcome to the Christian BBS, according to most here on the BBS, I am the resident legalist.
I don't preach an easy believism. I preach a straight and narrow path, I think that is the same message Yesua/Jesus preached.
Please read the scriptures for yourself and pray and see what truths the Holy Spirit leads you too, many on that day (The Day Of The Lord)will say Lord, Lord, and Jesus/Yeshua will say depart from Me I never knew you. Many will weep because they believed a lie and have been damned / lost for eternity.
Yeshua spent much time with the tax collectors, prostitutes, winebibbers, and other sinners of all sorts, but Yeshua was not taking part in their sin.
The setting most gambling takes place in are not the kind of places that would be conducive to spiritual growth for a new Christian, even a very mature Christian would find it difficult to keep his/her heart pure before Yahweh in such places.
If the Church you are attending doesn’t have a problem with you making a living gambling or just gambling for fun, I would advise you to find a new Church,
You might also follow the Apostle Paul’s advise “2Cr 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
http://www.bible.com/answers/agamblin.html
quote:
Video poker has become so popular it is now referred to as "the crack cocaine of gambling." Some do not realize the gravity of their sin. They justify gambling
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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Ripp
unregistered
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posted
Welcome giftedbygrace and God bless. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
quote:
I do know a couple of poker pros who are Christians and they seem to be able to balance their faith which what they do for a living so I'm hopeful.
I think the key word there is balance. As long as it doesn't rule your life, I don't think there is a problem. I also enjoy poker but have put it off in order to grow more rapidly Spiritually. I doubt I will go back to it. I am not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying be carefull.
Mind your heart
Keep your eye on Him
Make no other gods
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Bat Elohim
Advanced Member
Member # 3739
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posted
As far as I'm concerned, it IS between you and God. I don't gamble, but that's because what little money I DO actually have, can be put to better use.
Some people waste their money on the lastest fashions, some on a new car every year, some gambling. Everyone has hobbies that they waste money on. Just don't let it be an addiction or obsession. God first. In everything at all times, God is to be first.
When I have extra cash in my bank (very seldom), I give extra to missions at church and then buy something nice for my son and I, like a movie or something.
What you do with your money is up to you. Just pray about it and let God lead you down the path that HE has chosen for you.
Blessings,
Joanna.
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Numbers 6:24 May ADONAI bless you and keep you. 25 May ADONAI make his face shine on you and show you his favor. 26 May ADONAI lift up his face toward you and give you peace.
Posts: 704 | From: Louisiana | Registered: Aug 2004
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giftedbygrace
First Post
Member # 3902
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posted
Hi everyone, I'm a new Christian of less than 2 weeks but I'm also a professional gambler{poker} and I'm wondering if that's going to be a problem for me. My new church, a CMA one does not take issue with it and says that it is between me and God but i suspect that some Christians might not be so open minded about this and I'm curious. I do know a couple of poker pros who are Christians and they seem to be able to balance their faith which what they do for a living so I'm hopeful. I don't drink or smoke and have always tried to conduct myself properly in or out of the poker world. Just wondering what folks here think? God Bless.
Posts: 1 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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