Gambling

[Ken]

I don’t like gambling not even the state lottery tickets that supposedly support schools. I don’t like casinos and they seem to be growing in number with the new one in Danville Va that’s run by the Cherokee tribe. Hollywood glamorizes it in movies. The human cost with prostitution and organized crime is horrible. We have neighbors a couple streets over who moved here from NJ and they sing the praises of casinos and how they lowered taxes to help the schools blah blah blah. So I asked them up front if it’s so wonderful why did you move here? Oh crime got bad they said. I don’t think they ever made the connection that the crime got bad because of the casinos. Like has already been mentioned I don’t like gambling even raffle tickets because it’s a bad witness to our children and other adults.

We don’t always agree here on this forum. But I am in 100% agreement with you on this point. Every bit of which you just wrote. Gambling is doing a deal with the devil. No good comes of it.

[JayP]

In my economics training I always remember that gambling was described as a tax on the poor.

That is a sad truth.

[Valerie]

I don’t like gambling not even the state lottery tickets that supposedly support schools. I don’t like casinos and they seem to be growing in number with the new one in Danville Va that’s run by the Cherokee tribe. Hollywood glamorizes it in movies. The human cost with prostitution and organized crime is horrible. We have neighbors a couple streets over who moved here from NJ and they sing the praises of casinos and how they lowered taxes to help the schools blah blah blah. So I asked them up front if it’s so wonderful why did you move here? Oh crime got bad they said. I don’t think they ever made the connection that the crime got bad because of the casinos. Like has already been mentioned I don’t like gambling even raffle tickets because it’s a bad witness to our children and other adults.

We don’t always agree here on this forum. But I am in 100% agreement with you on this point. Every bit of which you just wrote. Gambling is doing a deal with the devil. No good comes of it.

I will add my Amen.
Several years I helped out in a ministry for people overcoming “strongholds” of various kinds. One could come for help for any life controlling issue. One man in our class was there because of internet gambling. Seems he got curious one day & tried & won big. That win led to an addiction that cost ALL their big savings & then almost his life as he was contemplating which bridge he’d jump to end it all. Fortunately he found his way into our class at Church. I cringe over the daily visitors to our lottery machine at work.

In OH I think the fact the schools still need so much financial help proves the Lottery bribery was a sad joke.

God help the people who do not put their trust in You- there are an abundance of Scriptures that should be applied to know any type of gambling is a sin- although I had never thought of raffles that way to earn money for charitable causes as gambling.

[Ken]

In OH I think the fact the schools still need so much financial help proves the Lottery bribery was a sad joke.

Using the lottery for school funding is like those PTA fundraisers where they get the kids to sell wrapping paper or cookie dough or whatever. And after the kids have spend hundreds of hours and manage to generate $10,000 in sales the school gets back something like $199. While the promotion companies that do the pre-packaged fundraisers pocket the rest. After putting 3 kids through school and teaching for 18 years I have worn out on fundraisers and gimmicks. I don’t need more wrapping paper. Just tell me what my share is and I’ll willingly pay it.

[JimFoxvog]

On what basis is gambling a salvation issue?

I think the motivation for gambling is greed. 1 Corinthians 6.10 says the greedy will not inherit the kingdom of God.

[Szdfan]

On what basis is gambling a salvation issue?

I think the motivation for gambling is greed. 1 Corinthians 6.10 says the greedy will not inherit the kingdom of God.

There are lots of things that are greedy, including some which are acceptable to conservative Mennonites and Anabaptists. If greed is what keeps us out of Heaven, then the entire capitalist system is in trouble.

[JohnH]

there won’t be any greed in heaven

[Ken]

On what basis is gambling a salvation issue?

I think the motivation for gambling is greed. 1 Corinthians 6.10 says the greedy will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Gambling is a vice like any other.

If one did it moderately on rare and limited occasions it would probably be no big deal. But that is not the nature of vice or addiction. Whether it is gambling, drugs, alcohol, or prostitution, it gets its claws into you and doesn’t let go until lives are completely ruined.

The guy who does a March Madness bracket in the office once a year is not the problem. The problem is the millions of people who ruin their lives and the lives of their families over gambling addictions. An industry (or government) that centers its profits on such suffering is nothing but evil.

[the-real-steve]

I'll occasionally buy "gun tickets" from the local fire companies that do fundraisers.

I was given a scratch off for Christmas many years ago. Never bought one myself.

Of the few coworkers I lost to addiction over the years, I've lost just as many to gambling, mostly sports betting. Got in too deep with a bookie.

[JimFoxvog]

On what basis is gambling a salvation issue?

I think the motivation for gambling is greed. 1 Corinthians 6.10 says the greedy will not inherit the kingdom of God.

There are lots of things that are greedy, including some which are acceptable to conservative Mennonites and Anabaptists. If greed is what keeps us out of Heaven, then the entire capitalist system is in trouble.

Yes, the entire capitalist system seems to be based on greed. When we rely on it, we need to examine our motives.

If you gamble and are just as pleased when someone else wins as when you win, then you do love your neighbor as yourself and it is not greed.