Gambling Sin or not?

[NewCreation435]

I was at a gas station today and the two people in front of me both bought scratch off cards that you can buy for a dollar. I think one of the guys actually won two dollars and used his two dollars to buy two more cards. Sometimes the lottery winning can be huge, but to my limited knowledge it isn't that big right now.

Do you think it is a sin to gamble? When do it cross that line or does it? Please use scripture to back up what your saying

 

[tango]

I was at a gas station today and the two people in front of me both bought scratch off cards that you can buy for a dollar. I think one of the guys actually won two dollars and used his two dollars to buy two more cards. Sometimes the lottery winning can be huge, but to my limited knowledge it isn't that big right now.

Do you think it is a sin to gamble? When do it cross that line or does it? Please use scripture to back up what your saying

I don't think it's a sin to gamble. That's not something that really warrants an appeal to Scripture because there are all sorts of things that don't get a mention worthy of the name in Scripture. It's not a sin to wear a blue shirt with green pants on a Thursday but there's nothing in Scripture that explicitly permits it.

If gambling becomes a problem, if you start gambling the money you need to pay your rent/mortgage/bills etc then I can see it becoming sinful on the basis that it could have become an idol.

Based on pure probability the powerball is generally not worth playing. Even when the jackpot was $1.5bn the odds against winning were such that it was borderline worthwhile.

If you bet $1 on a scratch card and use your winnings to buy more scratch cards until either your money is gone or you hit a big win I don't see a problem. If you win $5 and buy five more cards, and keep going until you've bought dozens and dozens of cards with your winnings, you still only put $1 on the table to play.

 

[NewCreation435]

I don't think it's a sin to gamble. That's not something that really warrants an appeal to Scripture because there are all sorts of things that don't get a mention worthy of the name in Scripture. It's not a sin to wear a blue shirt with green pants on a Thursday but there's nothing in Scripture that explicitly permits it.

If gambling becomes a problem, if you start gambling the money you need to pay your rent/mortgage/bills etc then I can see it becoming sinful on the basis that it could have become an idol.

Based on pure probability the powerball is generally not worth playing. Even when the jackpot was $1.5bn the odds against winning were such that it was borderline worthwhile.

If you bet $1 on a scratch card and use your winnings to buy more scratch cards until either your money is gone or you hit a big win I don't see a problem. If you win $5 and buy five more cards, and keep going until you've bought dozens and dozens of cards with your winnings, you still only put $1 on the table to play.

I see it as an issue of stewardship. I believe the things that God has given me he expects me to use in a way that would glorify and honor him. If I am spending large sums of money on something that ultimately I lose then that isn't good stewardship. And while it may make me feel like i am gaining something if I win a dollar or two here and there that is part of the hook of gambling. Casinos don't run to lose money.

 

[MennoSota]

I was at a gas station today and the two people in front of me both bought scratch off cards that you can buy for a dollar. I think one of the guys actually won two dollars and used his two dollars to buy two more cards. Sometimes the lottery winning can be huge, but to my limited knowledge it isn't that big right now.

Do you think it is a sin to gamble? When do it cross that line or does it? Please use scripture to back up what your saying

Do you play the stock market...?

 

[tango]

I see it as an issue of stewardship. I believe the things that God has given me he expects me to use in a way that would glorify and honor him. If I am spending large sums of money on something that ultimately I lose then that isn't good stewardship. And while it may make me feel like i am gaining something if I win a dollar or two here and there that is part of the hook of gambling. Casinos don't run to lose money.

Sure, but now you've shifted from spending a couple of bucks on scratchcards to spending "large sums of money". What counts as "large" depends on your budget.

If you spend $100 on going out for dinner and a movie is that bad stewardship? If not, how is it any different to spending $100 on an evening at the casino?

 

[tango]

Do you play the stock market...?

Not a good comparison because there are ways to analyse the stock market so it isn't merely a matter of guesswork.

If you bet on red and the result comes up black you lose right away. It usually takes years of managerial ineptitude to achieve the same result.

 

[MennoSota]

I see it as an issue of stewardship. I believe the things that God has given me he expects me to use in a way that would glorify and honor him. If I am spending large sums of money on something that ultimately I lose then that isn't good stewardship. And while it may make me feel like i am gaining something if I win a dollar or two here and there that is part of the hook of gambling. Casinos don't run to lose money.

If you invest in stocks, do you carefully make sure each company is ethically treating its customers and employees as God would want them to?
My point is that we extend grace because we all make bad decisions. If we have a chance to counsel on wise investment then great, but otherwise it's between that person and God.

 

[MennoSota]

Not a good comparison because there are ways to analyse the stock market so it isn't merely a matter of guesswork.

If you bet on red and the result comes up black you lose right away. It usually takes years of managerial ineptitude to achieve the same result.

It's still a gamble. How much did your portfolio drop in 2008?

 

[tango]

It's still a gamble. How much did your portfolio drop in 2008?

It's not a gamble, it's more a calculated risk.

If you spin the roulette wheel there's no way of knowing ahead of time where the ball will land. If you do a little research into stocks and companies you can at least have an idea of which ones are more likely to do well.

 

[Josiah]

I don't think it is a sin PER SE

BUT it is an issue of stewardship. We are to be good stewards of all the gifts (physical and spiritual) that God gives.

IMO, good stewardship does not preclude a certain amount for entertainment, where such disposable income is possible. Now... as it can be afforded.... I will spend $50.00 on a Theatre ticket... The same for a nice dinner... perhaps close to that for a baseball game. I spend $60.00 each month for the annual pass to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim for the two of us. Some may find all that .... of little value and not their choice. They may spend that money at a Casino, which to them is more fun and better entertainment. Different strokes for different folks. The important thing is that this is money that can be afforded and is a part of well controlled and thoughtful stewardship.



- Josiah

 

[NewCreation435]

Do you play the stock market...?

Honestly, I don't see it as anywhere near the same. If by playing the stock market you mean do I have retirement account then yes, but otherwise no. I don't risk something I can't lose.

 

[NewCreation435]

If you invest in stocks, do you carefully make sure each company is ethically treating its customers and employees as God would want them to?
My point is that we extend grace because we all make bad decisions. If we have a chance to counsel on wise investment then great, but otherwise it's between that person and God.

Yes, ultimately God is that person's judge not mine. Personally, I just think it is a waste of money that I can't afford to waste. And from what i have seen most people who play those lottery cards have less than I do.

 

[Albion]

After all is said and done, gambling is not a sin, but it could become a sin. That's also true of many other things in life.










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[MennoSota]

Honestly, I don't see it as anywhere near the same. If by playing the stock market you mean do I have retirement account then yes, but otherwise no. I don't risk something I can't lose.

You can lose your retirement account in the stock market. One big crash and it's gone. Life is a gamble.

 

[psalms 91]

I view it like this, if it is entertainment then fine but if it starts being important in your life to where you risk more than you should and want to do it all the time then yes it becomes sin as it takes the place of God as fiirst in your life and to risk more than you can afford is selfish if there is someone else dependant on that money such as a spouse

 

[NewCreation435]

You can lose your retirement account in the stock market. One big crash and it's gone. Life is a gamble.

Of course, nothing is for certain. I could drive out to the gym today and get in a car accident and die. We aren't promised a tomorrow.

 

[atpollard]

Gambling usually has some form of greed as its root.

 

[tango]

Gambling usually has some form of greed as its root.

Not necessarily, no more than eating out has some form of greed as its root. Sometimes an evening in a casino, or an afternoon at the races, can be a bit of fun and little more. If you happen to come out ahead all well and good, if you lose then as long as you stay within your budget no harm is done.

 

[atpollard]

Not necessarily, no more than eating out has some form of greed as its root. Sometimes an evening in a casino, or an afternoon at the races, can be a bit of fun and little more. If you happen to come out ahead all well and good, if you lose then as long as you stay within your budget no harm is done.

I suspect that is the exception rather than the rule.

Let me offer something that most people would view as far more harmless than a casino as an example. Let’s talk about someone who buys a LOTTO ticket every week. Not ten tickets or even $100 worth of tickets like someone who might have a problem, just one ticket ... “because you have to be in it to win it!”

So tell me, why are they buying a Lottery Ticket?
A. They really care about the $0.50 of every $1 that goes to education.
B. They really want to hit the jackpot and win millions of dollars.

I am going to go out on a limb and guess that 99.999% are motivated by “B”. So here are a couple question for you:

Does playing the lottery focus on GOD for your provision, or focus on the world for your provision?
Does playing the lottery feed the old man or the new man? The flesh or the Spirit?

 

[tango]

I suspect that is the exception rather than the rule.

Let me offer something that most people would view as far more harmless than a casino as an example. Let’s talk about someone who buys a LOTTO ticket every week. Not ten tickets or even $100 worth of tickets like someone who might have a problem, just one ticket ... “because you have to be in it to win it!”

So tell me, why are they buying a Lottery Ticket?
A. They really care about the $0.50 of every $1 that goes to education.
B. They really want to hit the jackpot and win millions of dollars.

I am going to go out on a limb and guess that 99.999% are motivated by “B”. So here are a couple question for you:

Does playing the lottery focus on GOD for your provision, or focus on the world for your provision?
Does playing the lottery feed the old man or the new man? The flesh or the Spirit?

If people were concerned about the portion that goes to "good causes" then they could give directly to good causes.

The trouble with your argument here is that it lacks consistency. Do you go to work? Why, when it means focusing on yourself and the world for your provision? Shouldn't you be trusting in God to provide for you rather than placing your trust in a worldly employer?

I hope you don't lock your front door when you go to bed at night. You should be trusting in God for your protection, rather than the world, right?