Why is it that so many Christian "leaders", "evangelicals", organizations are opposed to gambling? Some of the purported "reasons" for their opposition:
> Gambling looks to chance and luck while the Bible emphasizes the sovereignty of God in life's events.
> At the heart of gambling is covetousness and materialism, both of which are condemned in the Bible.
> Gambling seeks personal gain and pleasure at another's loss and pain. The Bible teaches the principles of love for God and one's neighbor.
> Gambling increases robbery, murder, and rape and organized crime involvement includes prostitution, drug trafficking, corruption of public officials.
> It is often poor people who gamble the little they have in hopes of hitting it big.
In my youth, it was explained that gambling was a sin and the oft-quoted scripture was "they cast lots for Jesus' raiment" while Jesus was on the cross. Even MSM refers to taxation on gambling revenues as a "sin tax." Basically, it's seemingly become widely accepted that if and when you buy that lottery ticket or scratch-off; when you go to a casino to gamble or to the horsetrack to bet on a horse ...... you are sinning!
Because I like to gamble, every now and then, and because I race horses and pari-mutuel gambling supports the racing industry, I get more than a little "ticked off" when I hear "Christian people" condemn gambling.
I've asked more than one Baptist preacher to show me the scripture that says that gambling is a sin and in this enlightened time I now hear that there is no such scripture. But, then I get the regular sermon that when I gamble and win, I am stealing from the person who loses; that I am trying to "get something for nothing" when the Bible teaches that a person should work; that I am taking my eyes "off the Lord" and spending my time wastefully on things not of God.
Of course, when I win, I don't think I'm stealing from the loser because I don't think I'm being robbed when I lose (lots of experience in this area)! I don't feel bad about trying to get something for nothing because all too often I have received nothing or little to nothing for something! I do work in the garden and with my horses and held a well-paying job for years and now enjoy retirement on a "fixed income", an income that many businesses seek to "steal" from those who have worked decades to earn .... I don't hear much preaching about the sins of those who own companies that default on their pension accounts! I don't believe I've ever heard any Christian teacher or preacher refer to the PBGC!
Materialism is a sin? I don't see Christian people picketing or boycotting those companies who provide no health benefits for their employees. How about decent wages? Forget health benefits and pension plans ... How about paying enough for people to buy their own .... instead of lining pockets and worshipping the "fatted cat" and paying as little as possible so that many people live from day to day, week to week, and can't possibly PLAN for the future when they're trying to survive the present! And God forbid that the workers spend a little on the lottery, trying to "get something for nothing." Not like they haven't had the example put before them EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK! Hear much preaching about that? I DO however hear "evangelicals" talk about lowering the taxes for the wealthiest!
Oh, and I love it when I hear Christians quote the scripture that says, "Let him who does not work not eat!" Starve the lazy. If they get hungry enough, they'll work ... or they'll steal and then be put in prison and that's okay because the evangelicals will "visit them."
As for taking my eyes off the Lord, I figure all those who are watching hockey or football or baseball games are NOT "focused on the Lord" when they're screaming their faces blue cheering for their team. I don't hear anyone condemning these people! And how focused on the Lord are all those people who go to the movies or roller-skating for that matter?
AND just how many hours of the day are not focused on the Lord because of the television - a piece of equipment that more than likely resides in many rooms of Christian homes? What's more, the television is spewing violence and hate and sexual promiscuity, rapes, murder, molestation; you name it, it's seen on TV! But .... the evangelicals don't mind one whit USING that same piece of equipment to "spread the word of God" AND ask for those donations, "love gifts", tithes and offerings! They don't mind one whit taking money from those who can least afford it, the poor and the elderly, happily telling the story of the widow's mite!
So .... I just wonder ..... I just ponder. Is the REAL reason for the opposition to gambling that they want that money for themselves! Oh no ... that couldn't be! That would be covetousness! When it comes to money, Christians are taught that it is "filthy lucre" and "you cannot serve money and serve God," and the love of money is "the root of all evil."
So please explain this one to me: "Today we are offering this book on child-rearing and we'll send it to you free of charge for a "love gift" of $40.00." Or, "here's a book at no cost, with a "suggested donation" of $40.00." Now WHY is this such a common practice among honest, God-focused, God- and neighbor-loving, non-covetous, non-materialistic evangelicals? Have anything to do with taxes, you know, that "filthy lucre" stuff? Could this be considered ... stealing?
Lastly, when you're in your home or driving your vehicle or going shopping, please don't think about "the odds" of a flood, tornado, earthquake, mudslide, tsunami ..... Evangelicals teach that you're to trust in "God's sovereignty" and to pray about it all!
So to Evangelicals (who ARE NOT reading this post!) I say: Instead of pushing your agenda in the political arena, why don't you trust in God's sovereignty and pray about it? What? Do you think the president or the congress has more power than God? And, if in the near future you hear more and more about "corruption of public officials", you know that thing that's caused by organized crime which is linked to gambling, don't poke your little precious heads in the sand! I don't want to hear one word about a witch hunt, about persecution! Remember, it's not about xxxxx, it's that he lied! Rule a law! Rule a law!