There has been a lot of talk recently in my state of Kentucky to have gambling legalized to the point where casinos could be built. Some people say "Yes...It will add revenue to the state budget!"; others say "NO! It is a sin and will make crime go through the roof!"
What do you guys think? Is it a sin to gamble with real money? Should my state be going down this alley? I believe that we need to add revenue to my state that DOESN'T involve tourism...like stop shipping our jobs to foreign countries and bring them back here in the USA.
I have personally never been opposed to gambling. I know that it raises revenue for the state. I believe that the problem, as with most anything, is the abuse of the priveledge. I am probably the only man who went to Vegas with two hundered dollars in his pocket, earmarked for the sole purpose of gambling, and coming home with a hundred dollars left. I wasn't up that much, I was just to cheap to try. I believe that is in up to the individual to restrain and control themselves when it comes to gambling.
I agree...I think that gambling is really only a problem when it becomes an addiction that you can't control. But they don't stop selling cigarettes or alcohol or coffee because people are addicted to them and the state makes plenty of revenue from tobacco and alcohol sales as well. Gambling is a choice. And it's a great source of revenue. I wonder how many people that think Vegas style gambling is a sin buy lottery tickets? I'm with you Teddy, I go to Las Vegas with a couple hundred dollars in my pocket and I usually come home with nothing in my pocket or what I left with give or take a few dollars. Where else can you go away for the weekend and not spend at least a couple hundred? I look at it as entertainment money. I usually don't have to pay for my room or food - it gets comped if you stay at one place and just keep gambling there - so sometimes it's a totally free weekend. They aren't making too much money off ME!
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Going cold turkey isn't nearly as delicious as it sounds - Homer Simpson.
Why do people think it's sinful to gamble? I think it's risky, for sure, but I don't think there's really any Biblical support for the belief that it's a sin. Any perspectives on this?
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
I can't give any biblical support of this, except that the soldiers cast lots for Jesus' robe, but I don't have a problem with gambling. I think the sin comes in when it becomes an obsession. If someone has a gambling problem, or a drug or drinking problem, etc, then that "thing" becomes their god. That is the sin.
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Grace is the acceptance of that which is rejected. ~Paul Tillich
That makes sense; I guess it's like any of those other "borderline sins" that aren't really a problem unless it becomes an obsession. But there are people who absolutely think it's wrong under any circumstances, and I wondered what their basis is for that belief.
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
Some people can find "sin" in a game of tiddly-winks.
I love to watch the poker games on the World Poker Tour! This week's show was the best of all time! I used to play a lot on the computer...and THAT was my problem: I was on it almost all of the time playing that no limit Texas Hold'em. So I had to quit and get my life back from it.
Every time that my mom asked me if I could raise a window, I would say, "Nah! I'm going to slow play this hand...I'll wait for the river before I will do any raising!"
Proverbs 13:11 *KJV* Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Those are two Biblical verses I came across. It isn't necessarily calling gambling a sin; however, in my opinion, it is calling the possible emotional connection/dependency we could attain by gambling, a sin.
Also, in the Bible, throughout the Old Testament, and only in a couple of spots in the New Testament, was the act of casting lots. Basically, they had two stones, the Urim, and the Thummim. They'd throw them up in the air, and whichever way the fell to the ground--that is the way they acted upon. In the Old Testament, they felt it was the will of God. In all actuality, in some instances, it was. You see, in the OT, they weren't endowed with the Holy Spirit to guide them to make decisions such as: dividing the land, fulfilling positions, going to war, paying your debtors, so on and so forth--so, basically, it was a game of chance to keep the peace. In the NT, the Apostles cast lots, when they were trying to find the other to take over Judas' spot. I think that's where Matthais came into play. Casting lots was a lot less used in the NT, cuz more and more people relied on God, and the Holy Spirit, to make the decisions for them, and not to leave it up to chance. Basically, God wants us to rely on Him, and not on some stones to help us with our everyday lives.
Also, people who gamble (a few), say they will use the money for Godly purposes. Such as helping out with education, or funding a church, or donating to a shelter...yet, when they win the money--they go out and buy new cars, and new electronics, so on and so forth. I believe the truly spiritual people wouldn't even risk having their hard earned money possibly taken, and returned without interest. That is where they will turn to God for the help in which they need...it makes me think of this. A Christian dude goes in a casino, cuz he's broke, and down to his last dollar. He says a prayer before, and wins $20. He praises the Lord! Two days later, he goes back to the casino...he says a prayer...and wins $50! He praises the Lord! The next time he goes in, he risks more and more money--however, he has stopped winning...
Why? Because he is forgetting where the money REALLY is coming from. The Lord Jesus. In his mind...it is coming from the slot machine.
Well...that's my take on some things, this morning. Basically, don't let money control you. Don't let money have power over you. The only thing that should have power over you, is God and His Son.
And, if you are ever broke, pray to Jesus...and if you get money...don't ever forget who answered that prayer. And, no...you don't have to keep on inserting nickels to have your prayers answered, either.
*Christian Hugs* Darrel
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That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Thanks, Darrel. I never saw those verses in that light before. I can see more proof of how mankind has grown in his religious faith: from relying on dice to trusting the Holy Spirit. You are especially correct about that emotional dependency stuff. I would play those internet casinos for HOURS and felt completely DRAINED when I was done...even when I won a lot of play money. It can draw you win to play for real money if you're not careful. That's another reason why I stopped: I could feel the growing temptation to use my real money to play with...and my family can't afford that!
"A man has got to know his limitations..." - Dirty Harry
Darrel wrote: they had two stones, the Urim, and the Thummim. They'd throw them up in the air, and whichever way the fell to the ground--that is the way they acted upon. In the Old Testament, they felt it was the will of God. In all actuality, in some instances, it was. You see, in the OT, they weren't endowed with the Holy Spirit to guide them to make decisions such as: dividing the land, fulfilling positions, going to war, paying your debtors, so on and so forth--so, basically, it was a game of chance to keep the peace.
Very little is known about the Urim & Thummim. Lots of people think they were stones (no one is sure what or how many they actually were) but they were sacred things, whatever they were, and weren't used by just anybody. I think it's in Exodus that it's specified that the U&T were to be kept in a special case/pouch in the vestments of the high priest.
Many if not most people think that the Holy Spirit was actually at work in some way in the times described in the Hebrew Bible. Probably, if the ancient Hebrews did use the U&T to determine God's will, He allowed things to work out such that His will was revealed. It probably wasn't just a little game that was all up to chance.
I think what you said about gambling and giving the credit to God is true- it might be His will to win and it might be His will to lose, but it's up to Him. And you were also right about letting money become a god- that's bad under any circumstances.
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
