5/25/ Gambling: Is It Right or Wrong?

5/25/ Gambling’s History Gaming boards were discovered in Crete dating back between 1800 and 1650 BC. Gaming boards were discovered in Crete dating back between 1800 and 1650 BC. The Greeks in Homer’s day had their knucklebones marked to serve as dice. The Greeks in Homer’s day had their knucklebones marked to serve as dice. The race track dates back to ancient Rome. The race track dates back to ancient Rome. The lottery has been around for 500 years. The lottery has been around for 500 years. They began in France in They began in France in The first English lottery was in The first English lottery was in 1566.

5/25/ Gambling in America In 1612, English lotteries provided funding for the struggling Virginia Company’s colonization of Jamestown. In 1612, English lotteries provided funding for the struggling Virginia Company’s colonization of Jamestown. In 1748, Ben Franklin organized a lottery to pay for military supplies to defend Philadelphia from the French and Indians. In 1748, Ben Franklin organized a lottery to pay for military supplies to defend Philadelphia from the French and Indians. Riverboat gambling was popular in the 1800’s. Riverboat gambling was popular in the 1800’s.

5/25/ Gambling in America Society’s attitude toward gambling changed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and gambling fell out of favor. Society’s attitude toward gambling changed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and gambling fell out of favor. In 1893, the US Government prohibited lotteries in the nation. In 1893, the US Government prohibited lotteries in the nation. In 1930, 45 states had constitutional amendments prohibiting lotteries. In 1930, 45 states had constitutional amendments prohibiting lotteries. Beginning in the 1930’s, legal gambling was limited to Nevada. Beginning in the 1930’s, legal gambling was limited to Nevada.

5/25/ Gambling Began to Grow in Favor 68% of American men gamble 68% of American men gamble 55% of American women gamble 55% of American women gamble Christianity Today; Gambling Everyone’s a Loser, Nov. 25, 1983, page 12 Christianity Today; Gambling Everyone’s a Loser, Nov. 25, 1983, page 12 Have values gotten more conservative over the last 25 years? Have values gotten more conservative over the last 25 years?

5/25/ Religious Gamblers 80% of Catholics 80% of Catholics 77% of Jews 77% of Jews 74% of Presbyterians 74% of Presbyterians 63% of Methodists 63% of Methodists 43% of Baptists 43% of Baptists 33% of nondenominationalists admit to gambling 33% of nondenominationalists admit to gambling

5/25/ Reader’s Digest, April 1996, “America is becoming a nation of gamblers. Once confined to Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Reno, gambling is now legal in 48 states—all but Hawaii and Utah—and casinos run full tilt in 24. Almost 100 million Americans bet $400 billion last year and lost $39 billion to the house.”

5/25/ US News & World Report, March 14, 1994—A Yankelovich Inc. Survey, paid for by Harrah’s casino, found that 51% of American adults now find casino gambling “acceptable for anyone” and 35% describe it as “acceptable for others but not for me”

5/25/ Thess. 5:21-22—But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

5/25/ Luke 10:25-26—And behold a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”

5/25/ Hebrews 5:14—But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

5/25/ We need to be objective in our studies: We must not go to the Bible with our minds already made up. We must not go to the Bible with our minds already made up. We must not go to the Bible to find what we’re looking for but rather to look for what we find. We must not go to the Bible to find what we’re looking for but rather to look for what we find. We should not try to justify what we do, but rather do to what is justified. We should not try to justify what we do, but rather do to what is justified. We need to have the humility to change whatever practice we might find in error to God’s word. We need to have the humility to change whatever practice we might find in error to God’s word.

5/25/ Gambling Defined: The American Heritage Dictionary: “1. a. To bet money on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event. b. To play a game of chance for money or other stakes. 2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage; speculate. -- tr. 1. To put up in gambling; to wager. 2. To expose to hazard; to risk. -- n. 1. A bet, wager, or other gambling venture. 2. An act or undertaking of uncertain outcome; a risk.... The American Heritage Dictionary: “1. a. To bet money on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event. b. To play a game of chance for money or other stakes. 2. To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage; speculate. -- tr. 1. To put up in gambling; to wager. 2. To expose to hazard; to risk. -- n. 1. A bet, wager, or other gambling venture. 2. An act or undertaking of uncertain outcome; a risk....

5/25/ Gambling Defined: Webster’s New International Dictionary: “to play a game for money or other stake...hence: to stake money or any other thing of value upon an uncertain event; to hazard; wager. Webster’s New International Dictionary: “to play a game for money or other stake...hence: to stake money or any other thing of value upon an uncertain event; to hazard; wager.

5/25/ Gambling Defined: R. Creighton Buck: “In its more limited sense it means an effort to gain something of value by risking the loss of something on a matter of chance. Gambling appeals to two basic traits of human nature, the desire for gain and the exhilarating thrill of uncertainty.” (“Gaming and Gambling,” Vol. 10, Colliers Encyclopedia CD-ROM) R. Creighton Buck: “In its more limited sense it means an effort to gain something of value by risking the loss of something on a matter of chance. Gambling appeals to two basic traits of human nature, the desire for gain and the exhilarating thrill of uncertainty.” (“Gaming and Gambling,” Vol. 10, Colliers Encyclopedia CD-ROM)

5/25/ Three Essential Features to Gambling: There is a “PAY OFF” a prize of money or merchandise. There is a “PAY OFF” a prize of money or merchandise. There is a “CHANCE” the awarding of the pay-off must be based on a chance. There is a “CHANCE” the awarding of the pay-off must be based on a chance. There is a “WAGER” The eligibility for the prize is dependent on the payment or the agreement to pay the players involved. There is a “WAGER” The eligibility for the prize is dependent on the payment or the agreement to pay the players involved.

5/25/ Eccl. 9:11—I again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise, nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to men of ability, for time and chance overtake them all.

5/25/ Acts 15:26—it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

5/25/ Gambling is more than taking a risk, it is placing a wager on a risk.

5/25/ Gambling is placing a wager on a risk. Contrive or manufacture a risk Contrive or manufacture a risk The winner is determined by chance or luck and not skill The winner is determined by chance or luck and not skill Little control over the circumstances Little control over the circumstances

5/25/ Gambling is placing a wager on a risk. It is a risk that most times involves little physical effort. It is a risk that most times involves little physical effort. It is a risk that involves a disproportionate return. It is a risk that involves a disproportionate return. It is a risk that we seek to win at the expense of others. It is a risk that we seek to win at the expense of others. Nothing of value is being produced. Nothing of value is being produced.

5/25/ Many activities involve a risk but are not gambling: Farming is not the same thing as gambling. Farming is not the same thing as gambling. Investing in the stock market is not gambling. Investing in the stock market is not gambling. Buying insurance is not gambling. Buying insurance is not gambling. Winning a sweepstakes is not the same as gambling. Winning a sweepstakes is not the same as gambling.

5/25/ Gambling Consist of Things Like: Raffles Raffles Lotteries Lotteries Betting pools Betting pools Playing card games for money Playing card games for money Playing dice for money Playing dice for money Slot machines Slot machines Betting on horse races, dog races, ball games, elections, etc. Betting on horse races, dog races, ball games, elections, etc. Playing bingo for money Playing bingo for money Playing Bunko for money Playing Bunko for money Casino games Casino games Etc. Etc.

5/25/ “Gambler’s Anonymous Booklet”: “Any betting or wagering, whether for money or not, no matter how slight or insignificant, where the outcome is uncertain or depends upon chance or ‘skill,’ constitutes gambling.” (Quoted in Bob Buchanon, Those Impossible Years, p. 38)

5/25/ Stafford North: “Gambling is the act of risking what is yours in order to get what belongs to another with nothing given in return.” (Quoted in Stan Caldwell, “Gambling,” The Reminder, Nov. 19, 1989, 3:10:2)

5/25/ IS GAMBLING WRONG? Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness. Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness.

5/25/ Epithumeo Thayer: “prop. to keep the thumos turned upon a thing, hence [cf. our to set one’s heart upon] to have a desire for, long for; absol. to desire [A.V. lust], Jas. iv. 2; to lust after, covet, of those who seek things forbidden....” Thayer: “prop. to keep the thumos turned upon a thing, hence [cf. our to set one’s heart upon] to have a desire for, long for; absol. to desire [A.V. lust], Jas. iv. 2; to lust after, covet, of those who seek things forbidden....” Vine: “to fix the desire upon (epi, upon, used intensively, thumos, passion), whether things good or bad; hence, to long for, lust after, covet....” Vine: “to fix the desire upon (epi, upon, used intensively, thumos, passion), whether things good or bad; hence, to long for, lust after, covet....”

5/25/ Epithumia BAGD: “desire, longing, craving. 1. as a neutral term, as predom. in secular Gk in a good sense....have a longing for someth....eagerly desire in a bad sense as a desire for someth. forbidden… BAGD: “desire, longing, craving. 1. as a neutral term, as predom. in secular Gk in a good sense....have a longing for someth....eagerly desire in a bad sense as a desire for someth. forbidden… Thayer: “desire, craving, longing....spec. desire for what is forbidden, lust… Thayer: “desire, craving, longing....spec. desire for what is forbidden, lust… Vine: “a desire, craving, longing, mostly of evil desires, frequently translated ‘lust,’… Vine: “a desire, craving, longing, mostly of evil desires, frequently translated ‘lust,’…

5/25/ Pleonexia BAGD: “greediness, insatiableness, avarice, covetousness, lit. ‘a desire to have more’....” BAGD: “greediness, insatiableness, avarice, covetousness, lit. ‘a desire to have more’....” Thayer: “greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice....plur. various modes in which covetousness shows itself, covetings....” Thayer: “greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice....plur. various modes in which covetousness shows itself, covetings....” Vine: “covetousness, lit., a desire to have more (pleon, more, echo, to have), always in a bad sense....” Vine: “covetousness, lit., a desire to have more (pleon, more, echo, to have), always in a bad sense....”

5/25/ Covetousness Is Condemned in the Word of God. Jesus warned repeatedly against covetousness. Jesus warned repeatedly against covetousness. Luke 12:15; Luke 12:15; Covetousness is something that is to be put out of the Christian’s life. Covetousness is something that is to be put out of the Christian’s life. Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5-6; Ex. 20:17; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5-6; Ex. 20:17; Covetousness is a sin worthy of death. Covetousness is a sin worthy of death. Romans 1:29; Romans 1:29; The covetous will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. The covetous will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; The love of money is condemned. The love of money is condemned. 1 Tim. 6:9-10; 1 Tim. 6:9-10;

5/25/ Gambling Is Motivated by Greed.

5/25/ Jim Hosker [General manager of GTECH, the company running the Texas Lottery]: “They play out of greed.” (Texas Monthly Magazine, June 1993, p. 155, quoted in Jerry Fite, “Moral Ethics: Gambling,” p. 3)

5/25/ AN EXAMINATION OF GAMBLING IN THE LIGHT OF PERTINENT BIBLE PRINCIPLES. Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness. Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness. Gambling is wrong if it results in slothfulness and laziness. Gambling is wrong if it results in slothfulness and laziness.

5/25/ George Will: “Gambling fever reflects and exacerbates what has been called the ‘fatalism of the multitude.’ The more people believe in the importance of luck, chance, randomness, fate, the less they believe in the importance of stern virtues such as industriousness, thrift, deferral of gratification, diligence, studiousness.” Newsweek, May 8, 1989.

5/25/ AN EXAMINATION OF GAMBLING IN THE LIGHT OF PERTINENT BIBLE PRINCIPLES. Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness. Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness. Gambling is wrong if it results in slothfulness and laziness. Gambling is wrong if it results in slothfulness and laziness. Gambling is wrong if it violates the law of love. Gambling is wrong if it violates the law of love.

5/25/ “One man will meet another in a dark alley and take his money at the end of a pistol and you call that robbery; two men will meet each other round a table and agree to take each other’s money with dice or cards, and you call that gambling. But the only difference is that in the first case there is one robber, and in the second case there are two (gamblers).”

5/25/ IS GAMBLING WRONG? Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness. Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness. Gambling is wrong if it results in slothfulness and laziness. Gambling is wrong if it results in slothfulness and laziness. Gambling is wrong if it violates the law of love. Gambling is wrong if it violates the law of love. Gambling is wrong if it makes you an unfaithful steward of God’s blessings. Gambling is wrong if it makes you an unfaithful steward of God’s blessings.

5/25/ Dr. E. E. Blanche: “In the long run, nobody can win but the man who owns the game. The mathematical laws of chance guarantee the operator from 1.5 percent to 90 percent of all money wagered.” (The Mathematics Of Gambling, quoted in James Meadows, God Speaks To Today’s Teenagers, Bk. 2, p. 35)

5/25/ The Lottery Is a Tax on the Poor Gambling In America [Government Document Research]: “The poor tend to spend a larger percentage of their income on gambling than do the upper income groups” (“Horse Racing Don’ Bet on It!”) Gambling In America [Government Document Research]: “The poor tend to spend a larger percentage of their income on gambling than do the upper income groups” (“Horse Racing Don’ Bet on It!”) Jon Kurnik: “And polls show that the majority of the ‘ordinary people’ who play lotteries, especially, are the poor and less educated -- those who can least afford to spend their money this way. “A Maryland study found that the poorest one third of state households bought half of all weekly lottery tickets and 60 percent of daily game tickets.” (“Is It Worth The Gamble?,” The Good News Of The World Tomorrow, Sept. 1986, 33:8:15) Jon Kurnik: “And polls show that the majority of the ‘ordinary people’ who play lotteries, especially, are the poor and less educated -- those who can least afford to spend their money this way. “A Maryland study found that the poorest one third of state households bought half of all weekly lottery tickets and 60 percent of daily game tickets.” (“Is It Worth The Gamble?,” The Good News Of The World Tomorrow, Sept. 1986, 33:8:15) “State-operated gambling is a sordid substitute for equitable taxation of all the people….State run gambling is a tax on economic disappointment. It tempts those galled by inadequate income to invest – at nearly hopeless odds. It is a monumental confidence game, with government regarding its own citizens as marks.” (The New York Times, Feb. 7, 1984) “State-operated gambling is a sordid substitute for equitable taxation of all the people….State run gambling is a tax on economic disappointment. It tempts those galled by inadequate income to invest – at nearly hopeless odds. It is a monumental confidence game, with government regarding its own citizens as marks.” (The New York Times, Feb. 7, 1984)

5/25/ IS GAMBLING WRONG? Gambling is wrong if it enslaves you to it. Gambling is wrong if it enslaves you to it. Gambling is wrong if it harms your influence and example as a Christian. Gambling is wrong if it harms your influence and example as a Christian.

5/25/ When Gambling Are We… Walking in wisdom toward them that are without? (Col. 4:5) Walking in wisdom toward them that are without? (Col. 4:5) Manifesting a wiser, better way of life? Manifesting a wiser, better way of life? Giving no occasion to the adversary for reviling? (1 Timothy 5:14) Giving no occasion to the adversary for reviling? (1 Timothy 5:14) Adorning the doctrine of Christ? (Titus 2:10) Adorning the doctrine of Christ? (Titus 2:10)

5/25/ AN EXAMINATION OF GAMBLING IN THE LIGHT OF PERTINENT BIBLE PRINCIPLES. Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness. Gambling is wrong if it is motivated by covetousness. Gambling is wrong if it results in slothfulness and laziness. Gambling is wrong if it results in slothfulness and laziness. Gambling is wrong if it violates the law of love. Gambling is wrong if it violates the law of love. Gambling is wrong if it makes you an unfaithful steward of God’s blessings. Gambling is wrong if it makes you an unfaithful steward of God’s blessings. Gambling is wrong if it enslaves you to it. Gambling is wrong if it enslaves you to it. Gambling is wrong if it harms your influence and example as a Christian. Gambling is wrong if it harms your influence and example as a Christian. Gambling is wrong if it bears bad fruit. Gambling is wrong if it bears bad fruit.

5/25/ George Washington: “Gambling is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief.” (Quoted in “Gambling: Everyone’s A Loser,” Christianity Today, Nov. 25, 1983, p. 12

5/25/ Some Fruits of Gambling: Theft Theft Immorality Immorality Suicide Suicide Crime Crime Financial Disaster Financial Disaster

5/25/ “Gambling is my Shepherd: I shall always want. He forceth me to lie down in prison cells: He leadeth me in the paths of unrighteousness for the Devil’s sake. Yea, I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Because of this evil: for this fever is with me; Its rod and its staff they beat me. It taketh the food from my table in the presence of my family. It anointeth my head with trouble; my cup overfloweth with bitterness. Surely unhappiness and misery shall follow me all the days of my life, Because I dwell in the gambling house forever.” (“A Gambler’s Twenty-third Psalm”)

5/25/ IS GAMBLING WRONG? Gambling is wrong if it enslaves you to it. Gambling is wrong if it enslaves you to it. Gambling is wrong if it harms your influence and example as a Christian. Gambling is wrong if it harms your influence and example as a Christian. Gambling is wrong if it bears bad fruit. Gambling is wrong if it bears bad fruit. Gambling is wrong if it is questionable in your own mind. Gambling is wrong if it is questionable in your own mind.

5/25/ IS GAMBLING WRONG? Gambling is wrong if it takes you down the road to sin. Gambling is wrong if it takes you down the road to sin. Gambling is wrong is it violates the laws of the land. Gambling is wrong is it violates the laws of the land.

5/25/ ARGUMENTS FOR GAMBLING The Bible does not say, “Thou shall not gamble” The Bible does not say, “Thou shall not gamble” “Why not gamble, all of life is a gamble.” “Why not gamble, all of life is a gamble.” Certain kinds of gambling are legal. Certain kinds of gambling are legal. “The money is used for a good cause.” “The money is used for a good cause.”

5/25/ ARGUMENTS FOR GAMBLING “Gambling adds excitement to the game.” “Gambling adds excitement to the game.” “Those who gamble are willing participants.” “Those who gamble are willing participants.” “God’s people cast lots in the Bible.” “God’s people cast lots in the Bible.” “Gambling is all right as long as the stakes are small and no one gets hurt.” “Gambling is all right as long as the stakes are small and no one gets hurt.” “I only gamble in moderation.” “I only gamble in moderation.”

5/25/