God's Word on gambling

[Keith]

As everyone already knows, there are some State questions on the ballot for November 4 that are moral issues. Many don’t believe they are moral issues, but I do.


State Question 705: Creates a state run lottery that can be changed at the whim of the legislature without a vote of the people.

State Question 706: Mandates where lottery revenues will be spent, allows the legislature to change and direct money to an authorized area. This does not prevent reduction of current education funding.

State Question 712: Allows Class III(Las-Vegas style) slot machines at race tracks and tribal casinos.

State Question 711: Establishes a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.


Gambling and lotteries violate at least three biblical principles.

1)I Corinthians 10:31….So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.”

Playing the lottery does not glorify God….it glorifies sin.

2)Matthew 25:14-30: (These verses are about the parable of the Talents)

God wants us to invest wisely. The lottery isn’t an investment, it’s a game of chance where many people throw away their money.

3)I Timothy 6:9-10: Vs. 9 “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Vs. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

This verse speaks for itself. The poor who can’t really afford to play the lottery will play, in hopes of getting rich quick. When they play and they lose, their families suffer, they can’t pay bills, they can’t buy groceries, and they are left trying to figure out how to make more money. Money is not the root of all evil….it is the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil.

No, there is not a scripture in the Bible that has the word gambling in it, referring to gambling money, however, the above scriptures refer to gambling. Accept it or not, gambling and the lottery are wrong.

4)Matthew 19:4-5: VS.4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ VS. 5 and said, ‘ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

Enough said.

VOTE NO ON STATE QUESTIONS : 705…..706…..and 712.
VOTE YES ON STATE QUESTION 711

Let’s bring morality back to this nation.

Let's make our educators accountable for the money they spend, instead of gambling on our childrens' future.

[Midtowner]

Keith, the scriptural arguments you bring to the table are weak at best. Let me try to address each one individually:

1)I Corinthians 10:31….So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.”

So in saying this, you think that when we drive to work, take a poop, whatever, if we're not glorifying God, we're sinning? The interpretation that this prohibits gambling is specious at best

2)Matthew 25:14-30: (These verses are about the parable of the Talents)

Since when does buying a $1.00 or $2.00 lottery ticket involve the use of our talents? Unless you're talking about my talent at using my ATM to withdraw money or swipe my credit card. If you're talking about wasting money, I guess that new plasma TV that you want is sinful since it's not a proper use of your talent either -- unless you're just really good at hooking things up and changing channels.

3)I Timothy 6:9-10: Vs. 9 “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Vs. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

So if I am going to school so that I can make more money, I guess that's pretty sinful. Well.. I guess I'm making proper use of my talents as Matthew's parable asked me to.. so?

Seriously though, you're talking like the lottery is going to bankrupt people. These are $2.00 tickets at the most. No one is going bankrupt by buying one per day, per week, per month.. If people have gambling problems, they already have access to gambling legally via the internet. They're going to gamble anyway. Perhaps your argument would hold water in seriously extreme cases where individuals believe their chances of winning a 1 in 10 million pot are enhanced significantly by buying 100 game pieces... But I think you'll find those people to be 1. few and far between and 2. already wasting their money on internet gambling, sports gambling, poker, whatever.

4)Matthew 19:4-5: VS.4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ VS. 5 and said, ‘ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

And He also said render onto Caesar what is Caesar's. That means that disciples of Christ need to also respect the laws of man. In the United States, all people are guaranteed equal protection under the law through the 14th amendment. It's only a matter of time before either the legislature or the courts recognize that fact.

[mranderson]

As everyone already knows, there are some State questions on the ballot for November 4 that are moral issues. Many don’t believe they are moral issues, but I do.


State Question 705: Creates a state run lottery that can be changed at the whim of the legislature without a vote of the people.

State Question 706: Mandates where lottery revenues will be spent, allows the legislature to change and direct money to an authorized area. This does not prevent reduction of current education funding.

State Question 712: Allows Class III(Las-Vegas style) slot machines at race tracks and tribal casinos.

State Question 711: Establishes a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.


Gambling and lotteries violate at least three biblical principles.

1)I Corinthians 10:31….So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.”

Playing the lottery does not glorify God….it glorifies sin.

2)Matthew 25:14-30: (These verses are about the parable of the Talents)

God wants us to invest wisely. The lottery isn’t an investment, it’s a game of chance where many people throw away their money.

3)I Timothy 6:9-10: Vs. 9 “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Vs. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

This verse speaks for itself. The poor who can’t really afford to play the lottery will play, in hopes of getting rich quick. When they play and they lose, their families suffer, they can’t pay bills, they can’t buy groceries, and they are left trying to figure out how to make more money. Money is not the root of all evil….it is the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil.

No, there is not a scripture in the Bible that has the word gambling in it, referring to gambling money, however, the above scriptures refer to gambling. Accept it or not, gambling and the lottery are wrong.

4)Matthew 19:4-5: VS.4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ VS. 5 and said, ‘ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

Enough said.

VOTE NO ON STATE QUESTIONS : 705…..706…..and 712.
VOTE YES ON STATE QUESTION 711

Let’s bring morality back to this nation.

Let's make our educators accountable for the money they spend, instead of gambling on our childrens' future.

Number one could mean to "serve" God by helping people and giving to cheritable causes. It does NOT say ANYTHING about a lottery or other form of gaming.

Number two. Yes. A Lottery is NOT an investment. It is a chance to be able to change ones life. The choice to play or not to play is up to the individual. That candy bar the minister eats could be a waste of money. Buying a Lincoln Towncar could be considered a waste of money. If a person wants to "waste" a buck for a lottery ticket, that buck is theirs to spend as they wish.

Technically, we are not "investing" anything with our tax dollars or any other form of revenue. The lottery proceeds are being used for a practicle purpose. On our childrens education. Plus, the lottery commision will supervise the distribution of the funds.

Number three. Many wealthy people have given millions upon millions to churches and other faith based organizations. Mary Kay Ash practically built the Prestonwood Baptist Church in Richardson, Texas. My own dad practically built the business education building at OBU. Think of the people who built the Chrystal Cathedrial in Garden Grove, California. Or Oklahoma City's Crossroads Cathedrial.

Money is not the "root of all evil." If it was, we have countless honest charities that are really evil. Among them Feed the Children. That place did not grow by itself.

The lottery may also make raffles legal. They are considered lotteries and that is why you do not see CHURCH raffles in Oklahoma. They are a good source of revenue for churches and other organizations.

Keith. Just remember. You are entitled to oppose these things. You are also entitled not to buy lottery tickets or enter a casino. I am JUST as entitled to buy lottery tickets and enter a casino. Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages are legal and very few "Christains" fight to ban them. Funny how things like that happen.

Also. What is your opinion of the stock market? Is it imoral?

[Keith]

Ok, mranderson, you didn't read the scripture correctly. I didn't say that "money is the root of all evil, I said the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. You and Midtowner can twist the scriptures around until the cows come home, but it doesn't change things.

You see, Midtowner, you don't know the Bible like you think you do. You can disect and disect every scripture that I give (which I know you will do), and it still doesn't change things.

You can make fun of the scriptures all you want to, and make light of what I am saying and it doesn't change a thing.

Well, at least you did try to make your point, weak as it was.

By the way, when you read my post, read it all the way through, don't just read bits and pieces, because you are not getting all the pointsl. Your examples have nothing to do what the scripture says. I would point out the areas in which you did not understand, but I shouldn't have to.

BTW, mranderson, the stock market is not immoral, because it is an investment, whereas the lottery is a losing game and a waste of money. Also, Feed The Children is an excellent organization that helps lots of people. I'm sorry you feel about them the way you do.

In my opinion, if a Christian votes for something immoral, like the lottery or something like that, I would have to question whether or not they are actually a Christian. Christians that vote for gambling, etc.....need to examine their own lives because they are way off base.

[Midtowner]

Keith, didn't the disciples hold a lottery to see who would replace Judas? -- They drew lots, right?

That's the great thing about the scripture though and why there are estimated to be tens of thousands of churches in the United States alone, each one professing a unique dogma and probably about 95% of them saying that they're "Christian".

People have "dissected" the scripture since it was first written down. Philosophers have pondered it and scholars have studied it. Great men like Thomas Aquinas and St. Anthony wrote volumes on it -- they knew it better than you or I ever will. Yet, many of these men came to different conclusions on different aspects of our religion. How can you or anyone presume to know the truth? I find that to be just a tad arrogant.

I read your arguments and found them specious. Look the word up, it's a good description for what you came up with.

I asked some legitimate questions I think though. I agree that the manner in which I framed them was a little (okay, a lot) flippant. Do all of our acts have to be done with the purpose of glorifiying God though? I find it difficult to believe that we could be glorifying God when we use the toilet or file papers in someone's divorce (which I do every day). So are all of these things sinful? I just don't buy it.

I don't believe there's anything concrete in the Bible that says gambling is wrong. I'm certain it existed back in those times as it's something that seems to occur in all cultures in some shape or form. Therefore, I am led to believe that the Bible would be more concerned about the way individuals choose to handle gambling. If they do it in the manner of an adict, I guess that'd be sinful. But it's already available via the internet with much better odds than a state lottery provides so I don't so how a lottery would be an issue for them. They're addicts, but they're not stupid

It's a voluntary tax just like the cigarette tax.

Also, just because I'm always ripping on the guy in other threads, anderson raises some good points here

[Floating_adrift]

BTW, mranderson, the stock market is not immoral, because it is an investment, whereas the lottery is a losing game and a waste of money.

I know some day traders that would disagree with you on that, lol

I play around in the forex market and it's not much more than an informed gamble. You can double your 'investment' in an hour, but lose it just as fast. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

[mranderson]

"BTW, mranderson, the stock market is not immoral, because it is an investment, whereas the lottery is a losing game and a waste of money. Also, Feed The Children is an excellent organization that helps lots of people. I'm sorry you feel about them the way you do."

I am surprised. I have a Nephew who is an Asasembly of God minister. He just moved to a church just outside Branson. His wife thinks the stock market is gambling. I do not have their new email, but I will try to get it and ask where her basis is. I expected you to say it WAS gambling.

What about the comodities market? Is it an investment or is it gambling?

About Feed the Children. You misunderstood. What I was saying is without money, none of these organizations would exist. I mean other peoples money. There are many good charities. FTC is one of them.

I am also sorry you think of the lottery as a waste of money but have not commented on that candy bar or that Lincoln Towncar.

Frankly, I will waste a few bucks a month... And if I win the lottery? I will laugh all the way to the bank.

If this lottery fails (which it will not) there will be a very large number of people traveling to Texas and Kansas to buy tickets to fund THEIR economy. No matter how you feel, the people who want to buy lottery tickets will buy them. Might as well just say "ok, buy your tickets. I chose not to buy them."

Same for the Casinos. A VERY high number of Oklahoma vehicles make their way to Tunica, Kansas City, and other places. Many would not be there if they could chose their own states to play. Many do not like Indian Casinos. They like REAL Casinos.

By the way. I must be mighty evil. I LOV-V-V-V-V-V-V-VE MONEY!

[Keith]

Ok, guys, that was good. That's what I like are good healthy debates where everyone gets to tell their opinion and what they believe. Hey, mranderson and Midtowner, I'm sure there is something we can agree on somewhere....

[Midtowner]

My friend, I think that anderson and I just agreed on something.

So then Keith... anything is possible I guess

[mranderson]

Occasionally we do. As do Keith and I. And almost everyone else on here.

[Patrick]

I would've jumped in here, but I think you guys know my opinions on the issue. And I don't think it's fair to leave Keith, my buddy ole pal, out on a limb by himself. Keith I think you have some deep-seated moral convictions regarding the gambling issues, and I respect that.