Should Christians gamble?

[Lewis]

Well, if you are going to publicly tell a whole group of people they are doing something wrong in God's eyes, it's always a good idea to first look at scripture to see if God actually said this or not, don't you think?

For repeating what I have heard over many years ? Or maybe I should have said that in my first response. But on another note many Christians do feel that it is wrong, like my pastor and other pastors and regular church goers. As for me, I could care less about it.

Should Christians be involved with lotteries or other forms of gambling?
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-g001.html

 

[Obadiah]

For repeating what I have heard over many years ? Or maybe I should have said that in my first response. But on another note many Christians do feel that it is wrong, like my pastor and other pastors and regular church goers. As for me, I could care less about it.

Should Christians be involved with lotteries or other forms of gambling?
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-g001.html

Yeah, if you are repeating it as something that God supposedly said, even if you have heard it from "people" or "churches" for many years, it's still the proper thing to verify in God's word that God actually said it rather than just telling people they are wrong in God's eyes and God will withhold His blessings from them, without ever checking to see if God really said this.

For example, I once had a pastor insist over and over that it was sinful and ungodly to use an overhead projector in church services for things such as projecting the words to the hymns on a screen and such things as this. He had given me all kinds of reasons about how all the churches he grew up in and attended his whole life always "knew" this was wrong, etc, etc, etc. I finally asked him to explain to me why God didn't want overhead projectors in church, and to show me the scripture that said this. (Or at least stated a principle to support this.) He was all ready to give me all kinds of answers until I asked for actual scripture. Then he thought about it for a while, and hung his head in shame, admitting there really wasn't any. He never talked about it again, at least not that I know of.

It's true many Christians "feel" gambling wrong. But many Christians "feel" a lot of things are wrong that God never really said were wrong and many times those "feelings" come from a lot of ignorance and misinformation that keeps getting repeated over and over. And of course, I believe if someone feels strongly that something is wrong for them, then they shouldn't do it. Sin is one thing, but there is also direction that God gives us in our lives for His individual purpose for us, and some of those directions will be to avoid certain things. That doesn't give those Christians the right to tell everyone else that they are wrong if they don't avoid those same things unless God's word says so. But sadly, this is exactly what a lot of Christians and church leaders do, and this creates exactly the kind of legalism that the pharisees practiced and Jesus taught against.

 

[WIP]

I didn't take the time to reread all the posts so if this has already been mentioned, my apologies, but this morning I was reading Romans 14:1-13 and it seems to address the OP.

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written:

“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

 

[Edward]

Yeah, if you are repeating it as something that God supposedly said, even if you have heard it from "people" or "churches" for many years, it's still the proper thing to verify in God's word that God actually said it rather than just telling people they are wrong in God's eyes and God will withhold His blessings from them, without ever checking to see if God really said this.

For example, I once had a pastor insist over and over that it was sinful and ungodly to use an overhead projector in church services for things such as projecting the words to the hymns on a screen and such things as this. He had given me all kinds of reasons about how all the churches he grew up in and attended his whole life always "knew" this was wrong, etc, etc, etc. I finally asked him to explain to me why God didn't want overhead projectors in church, and to show me the scripture that said this. (Or at least stated a principle to support this.) He was all ready to give me all kinds of answers until I asked for actual scripture. Then he thought about it for a while, and hung his head in shame, admitting there really wasn't any. He never talked about it again, at least not that I know of.

It's true many Christians "feel" gambling wrong. But many Christians "feel" a lot of things are wrong that God never really said were wrong and many times those "feelings" come from a lot of ignorance and misinformation that keeps getting repeated over and over. And of course, I believe if someone feels strongly that something is wrong for them, then they shouldn't do it. Sin is one thing, but there is also direction that God gives us in our lives for His individual purpose for us, and some of those directions will be to avoid certain things. That doesn't give those Christians the right to tell everyone else that they are wrong if they don't avoid those same things unless God's word says so. But sadly, this is exactly what a lot of Christians and church leaders do, and this creates exactly the kind of legalism that the pharisees practiced and Jesus taught against.

This makes perfect sense and applies to oh so many things in life. Sure, ask your Brothers & Sisters, ask your Pastor... Then you have your perspective, and are ready to go to the Word to confirm it.

No doubt that at some point, you'll find yourself in Romans 14.
It's entirely possible that gambling comes up as totally evil, don't even do it once... For some. The reason being the addictive nature of gambling. Like drugs or drinking, it grows on you.

Some folks have an addictive personality and would fall into it headlong if they even did it once. So when they go to the Word for guidance, they very well could get the confirmation from God that gambling is evil through & through.


Having read it... and (perhaps) receiving a confirmation from God in their heart, they may be so sure of the truth of it...that they feel compelled to share this truth to help others...
Maybe that's what is going on on this string?

 

[Edward]

I *think* that we all know that, God, in His infinite wisdom, wrote the Word in such manner that, a single verse can deliver multiple messages.

When the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, He puts things on our heart. Revelation, confirmation, truth and guidance.
That is true, but I'll admit that I dont understand how it fits in with the question of is tongues necessary to pray in the Spirit.

I do know that it baffles me to see such a respected Brother say something that is so different from what most Brother's & Sisters believe...
Many parts, one body. All of us, at different points in our walk, hàving different amounts of truth within us.

Is it possible that, (some) truths are true for some, but not others? My knee jerk reaction says, heck no, but let's not be hasty here.
Looking within the entirety of scripture, some things come to mind... Like, To whom more is given, more will be required...
Take Moses & the Israelites for instance. Did Moses have truths that were different from the "followers?" I think he did in that Moses had greater responsibility than they did...

Idk for sure Brothers & Sisters. I'm reaching...trying to make sense of it
in some way.

 

[Obadiah]

I *think* that we all know that, God, in His infinite wisdom, wrote the Word in such manner that, a single verse can deliver multiple messages.

When the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, He puts things on our heart. Revelation, confirmation, truth and guidance.
That is true, but I'll admit that I dont understand how it fits in with the question of is tongues necessary to pray in the Spirit.

I do know that it baffles me to see such a respected Brother say something that is so different from what most Brother's & Sisters believe...
Many parts, one body. All of us, at different points in our walk, hàving different amounts of truth within us.

Is it possible that, (some) truths are true for some, but not others? My knee jerk reaction says, heck no, but let's not be hasty here.
Looking within the entirety of scripture, some things come to mind... Like, To whom more is given, more will be required...
Take Moses & the Israelites for instance. Did Moses have truths that were different from the "followers?" I think he did in that Moses had greater responsibility than they did...

Idk for sure Brothers & Sisters. I'm reaching...trying to make sense of it
in some way.

Edward , Did you perhaps mean to post this in the Praying in the Spirit thread???

If not, maybe consider re-posting it there too. I think it fits really good! :yes

 

[Edward]

Edward , Did you perhaps mean to post this in the Praying in the Spirit thread???

If not, maybe consider re-posting it there too. I think it fits really good! :yes

Uhhh, well, yes I did yes I did. Good catch there. Brother.

Looks like I got mixed up and blended this thread and the praying in the Spirit thread iñ my head.
Posting before coffee isn't always a good idea.

 

[Mike]

I never play the lotto or scratch cards, and I feel this would be a good place to add this. My wife's brother and his wife hit the Michigan Lotto about 15 years ago. It was small by today's standards, "only" about $1.8 million. Now, they didn't have a story book marriage before this happened, but it wasn't the worst. Within 1 year, they got divorced with 2 children, and they had borrowed against the winnings. They just went crazy, as if they won 10x that amount. Today, he works an unskilled job and barely keeps up after filing bankruptcy.

It actually inspired me to write a fictional novel about a family who starts off much happier and spiritually grounded that follow a similar path. I got about 50 pages into it before I came to the realization that I'm not a novelist. I wouldn't have sold a copy to my parents. That's how bad it was going. LOL

I'm afraid of what would happen to my values and priorities if I came into instant wealth. That's why I don't play. Thank you, God, for giving that insight into my own heart without having to live through it.

 

[Classik]

It actually inspired me to write a fictional novel about a family who starts off much happier and spiritually grounded that follow a similar path. I got about 50 pages into it before I came to the realization that I'm not a novelist. I wouldn't have sold a copy to my parents. That's how bad it was going. LOL
LOLZ