Gambling:Moral or Immoral?

 

Gambling or "gaming" for stakes is becoming increasingly popular. A person can bet by lottery, casino, poker, slot machines, raffles, office pools, sports wagers, or online betting. But does God view it as moral or immoral? Should a Christian gamble? What does the Bible say? What about gambling addiction?

In this study "gambling" refers to a wager or bet in which each player agrees to risk losing some material possession to other players in exchange for the chance to win the possessions of other players without compensation to the loser, the winner(s) and loser(s) being determined by the outcome of a game.
Please note four essential elements of gambling in this definition:

1. A game of chance or skill - any event of uncertain outcome.

This may be a game the gamblers play among themselves or may be some event that would have occurred anyway (such as the outcome of an election or sports event).

2. The stakes

Each player places at risk some possession of material value.

3. The agreement (wager or bet)

Before the game each player agrees to risk losing his possession in exchange for the opportunity to take the possessions of others, depending on the outcome of the game.

4. Lack of fair compensation

No goods or services of fair value are given in exchange for what is lost. The loser will give up his possessions without being recompensed, and the winner will gain possessions without repaying the loser.

Activities That Are Not Gambling

People sometimes confuse the issue by claiming that certain acts are gambling, even though some essential elements of gambling are missing.

Crossing the street, driving a car

Some people say, "Everything in life involves a gamble." This confuses risk with gambling. Not all risks involve gambling. These acts involve no wager and no stakes. There is no agreement to try to take someone else's possessions.

Games without stakes or bets

The same games, on which people sometimes bet, can be played simply for fun with no possessions put at risk. This too is not gambling.

Farming, owning a business, etc.

Some say this is gambling because one risks losing money. But again there is no wager, but there is compensation. There is no agreement to take other people's property without compensation. The intent is to produce goods or services of benefit to others in exchange for that which benefits us. This is expressly authorized in Scripture.

Investing in stock

Some say this is gambling, but what is stock? Stock is a means for people to become part owners of a company. Buying stock is no more inherently gambling than is ownership of any other business. The intent is to make a profit by producing something of benefit to customers. Investors receive their share of these profits in the form of dividends or increases in the value of the stock.
Further, when stock is sold, both buyer and seller agree on the price. There is no wager - no prior agreement to risk loss at another's expense. If either thinks the price is unfair, they refuse to deal. (It may be possible to gamble or otherwise sin in the stock market, but buying stock does not inherently constitute gambling.)

Buying insurance

Some think insurance is gambling. But again, there is no wager and there is compensation. No one agrees to gain at the expense of someone else's loss. On the contrary, the whole purpose of insurance is to compensate the insured if he does have a loss (such as death, car wreck, hospitalization, etc.). If no such loss occurs, the customer has purchased the peace of mind of knowing he would have been compensated if he had experienced a loss. Regardless of whether or not this is a wise investment, the point here is that it is not gambling.
In short, none of these examples constitute gambling, since no one necessarily wants uncompensated losses to occur. But the gambler always wants financial loss to occur, because he hopes to profit from those losses.

Activities That Are Gambling

In the following examples, all the elements of gambling are present.
* Casino gambling: slot machines, roulette wheels, dice and card games, numbers games, etc., played for stakes.
* Racetrack betting on horses, dogs.
* Lotteries.
* Charity and church-sponsored bingo, raffles, etc. If someone says, "It's for a good cause," then just make a donation and skip the gambling!
* Bazaar and fair booths where you pay to spin a wheel and try to win a prize, etc.

  The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money(1 Timothy 6;10;Heb 13;5). Scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to “get rich quick”(Prov 13;11,23;5,Ecc 5[10). Gambling most definitely is focused on the love of money and undeniably tempts people with the promise of quick and easy riches.

What is wrong with gambling? Gambling is a difficult issue because if it is done in moderation and only on occasion, it is a waste of money, but it is not necessarily evil. People waste money on all sorts of activities. Gambling is no more or less of a waste of money than seeing a movie (in many cases), eating an unnecessarily expensive meal, or purchasing a worthless item. At the same time, the fact that money is wasted on other things does not justify gambling. Money should not be wasted. Excess money should be saved for future needs or given to the Lord's work, not gambled away.

While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does mention events of “luck” or “chance.” As an example, casting lots is used in Leviticus to choose between the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. Joshua cast lots to determine the allotment of land to the various tribes. Nehemiah cast lots to determine who would live inside the walls of Jerusalem. The apostles cast lots to determine the replacement for Judas.Prov 16;33  says, “The lot is cast in the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

What would the Bible say about casinos and lotteries? Casinos use all sorts of marketing schemes to entice gamblers to risk as much money as possible. They often offer inexpensive or even free alcohol, which encourages drunkenness, and thereby a decreased ability to make wise decisions. Everything in a casino is perfectly rigged for taking money in large sums and giving nothing in return, except for fleeting and empty pleasures. Lotteries attempt to portray themselves as a way to fund education and/or social programs. However, studies show that lottery participants are usually those who can least afford to be spending money on lottery tickets. The allure of “getting rich quick” is too great a temptation to resist for those who are desperate. The chances of winning are infinitesimal, which results in many peoples’ lives being ruined.

Can lotto/lottery proceeds please God? Many people claim to be playing the lottery or gambling so that they can give the money to the church or to some other good cause. While this may be a good motive, reality is that few use gambling winnings for godly purposes. Studies show that the vast majority of lottery winners are in an even worse financial situation a few years after winning a jackpot than they were before. Few, if any, truly give the money to a good cause. Further, God does not need our money to fund His mission in the world.Proverbs 123;11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” God is sovereign and will provide for the needs of the church through honest means. Would God be honored by receiving donated drug money or money stolen in a bank robbery? Of course not. Neither does God need or want money that was “stolen” from the poor in the temptation for riches.
 First, Timothy 6;10 tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”Heb 13;5 declares, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”Matthew 6;24  proclaims, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Compiled by Damien Alonzo

 

Ten Reasons You Should stop drinking Alcohol

                                  
More and more Christians are confronted with the question of whether or not Christians can drink alcohol. This is an important question with some serious consequences.

·         If the answer is “no,” then those who would allow themselves this indulgence lay a stumbling-block before others, present an inconsistent message to the world, and fill the church with a dangerous “leaven” that could infiltrate the soundness of a local church.

·         If the answer is “yes,” then those who would oppose all drinking are binding human tradition, laying unnecessary burdens on others, and seeking to restrict things that God has not restricted.

The answer to this question (and all questions) is to be found in God’s word. We must always have the courage and the honesty to dig into Scripture to find the answers we seek. This afternoon, I want us to do this together, as we consider ten reasons that Scripture teaches Christians should not drink alcohol. 

I.  Drunkards Will Go to Hell (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

A.     We note “drunkards” will not inherit the kingdom of God. There is only one alternative for those who are not saved—they are lost and condemned to hell.

B.     We note, “such were some of you” (11). This is describing an unrepentant condition. I may have been a drunkard in the past, but I cannot be a drunkard and go to heaven.

II. Drunkenness is Not the Only Thing Condemned about Drinking (1 Pet. 4:1-5).

A.     This text describes the character of repentance described in 1 Corinthians 6:11. I call your attention to three words here that relate to drinking: “drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties.” All three of these relate to actions involving alcoholic drink.

B.     “Drunkenness” is obviously intoxication, but the other two also relate to sins involving drinking.

C.     “Revelries” from Gr. komos  meaning - “a revel, carousel, i.e. in the Greek writers properly a nocturnal and riotous procession of half-drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus [i.e. the god of wine] or some other deity” (Thayer, p. 367). This refers to Mardi Gras-like parties in which inhibitions are lowered due to drink. “Orgies” (NIV, ESV) is too narrow. The ancients called these Bacchanals—processions that celebrated Bacchus, the God of wine. These can happen even when there is no pagan god—it is when drink is used to lower inhibitions. It may not involve intoxication, but it is still sin.

D.     “Drinking parties” from Gr. potos  “a drinking or a carousing” (Thayer, p. 533). This is a word that doesn’t refer to drunkenness at all. This is just indulging in the pleasure of drink (no “buzz”—no sensuality) just drinking period! Peter says, “you have spent enough time” doing this (i.e. don’t do it anymore!).

III. Christians are Priests (1 Peter 2:1-5).

A.     We note here that in Christ there is no special class of priests—all Christians are “priests” who offer up spiritual sacrifices to God.

B.     Mosaic law concerning priests (Lev. 10:8-11).  When the priests served in the tabernacle (or later temple) they were to totally abstain from all drink that could be alcoholic so that they could “distinguish between” holy and unholy, and clean and unclean.

C.     If we are priests in the spiritual Israel (cf. Gal. 6:16) when is it that we are ever not serving in the temple of God? We too should abstain from all intoxicants.

IV. Christians are Saints (1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 2:17-19).

A.     We note here that Christians in general are considered “saints.” The term “saint” means “holy” or “set apart unto God.”

B.     Mosaic law regarding those “set apart unto God” (Num. 6:1-6). Now there are elements of the law of the Nazirite that are not taught in the New Testament at all (e.g. long hair, eating grapes or raisins), but those which relate to drink, sobriety and self-control certainly do.

C.     John the Baptist may not have been a Nazirite, but this restriction regarding drink was to apply to him (cf. Luke 1:15). As those set apart unto God, our days of “separation” never come to an end. We then should abstain from all intoxicants as Christians.

V. Christians are to be Temperate (1 Tim. 3:2, 11; Titus 2:2).

A.     These texts apply the word “temperate” or “sober” to elders, deacons, and older men, however we 1 Peter 5:3 teaches elders are to be examples. It then follows that behavior to be exemplified in these men should be the desired practice of all Christians.

B.     This word comes from Gr. nephaleos meaning “sober, temperate, abstaining from wine...” (Thayer, p. 425). In Attic inscriptions. It is used to denote wine-less altars and offerings (Introduction to Greek Epigraphy, E. S. Roberts & E. A. Gardner. Cambridge: University Press, 1905 - Vol. II, pp.379-380; 387-388).

C.     If Christians are to be “temperate” or “sober” this does not just refer to avoiding drunkenness—it commands abstinence from intoxicants.

VI. Even One Drink Impairs Judgment (1 Pet. 5:8; Matt. 24:42-44).

A.     These texts teach the importance of watchfulness, and preparedness for temptation and for the Lord’s return. Sin is not just the overt acts of grave misconduct—it is thought, attitude, word, it can be hatred, covetousness, lust, envy, bitterness, profanity, blasphemy—and it can send us to hell!

B.     Christians must be prepared at all times to guard against sin, to set the proper example, to be ready to stand before the Lord. Can any of us imagine appearing before the Lord with less than our full mind, judgment and self-control?

C.     We all have heard scandalous stories about pilots, bus drivers, train engineers, air traffic controllers, or others having serious lapses in judgment because of being impaired by even a small amount of alcohol. Why? Consider some statistics on consumption of even small amounts of alcohol:

1.       Impairment in performance begins at below 0.02% BAC (1 to 1-1/2 drinks can result in this level). (NIAAA - Alcohol Problems and Aging: 1998 U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services).

2.       At low doses the effects of alcohol may include alterations in mood, cognition, anxiety level, and motor performance. It may also impair performance several hours after the blood alcohol level has gone down. Even slightly elevated levels result in more fatal accidents, and the majority of individuals who experience a problem related to alcohol use are light and moderate drinkers.  (Department of Health and Human Services in their reports to Congress 1990 and 1993).

3.       One to two drinks of alcohol impair mental and physical abilities; mental processes such as restraint, awareness, concentration and judgment are affected, reaction time slowed, and an inability to perform complicated tasks. (“The Effects of Alcohol and Other Drugs,” Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Irvine, CA, 1991).

4.       Any blood alcohol level, even a BAC of 0.02%, the result of just one drink, increases the risk of a crash. Alcohol impairs nearly every aspect of the brain’s ability to process information, as well as the eye’s ability to focus and react to light. (University of California, Berkeley, Wellness Letter, Jan. 1998).

B.     We are at war!  Satan wants us to do anything that will lower our self-control, lessen our inhibitions, loosen our tongue, and impair our judgment. Any Christian that imagines that we can be right with God deliberately injecting into our system a chemical that will aid Satan in all of these areas has not studied God’s word carefully enough, nor taken the danger of sin seriously enough!  

VII. It Could Cause Others to Stumble (Rom. 14:20-21).

A.     The context of this passage is talking about the attitude that Christians should take towards those who converted to Christ from Judaism and still struggle with Jewish dietary laws. This is not a perfect parallel to our topic in that following Mosaic dietary laws was not sinful, nor was failure to follow them under Christ.

1.       Yet, some would mistakenly say “drunkenness is all that is condemned—I can drink in moderation and not get drunk, and it’s ok!” We have already seen problems with this—but even if that was true, what does this passage say about that?

2.       Let’s say you can drink in moderation, does that mean that everyone can?

B.     A simple but absolute cure is available to prevent drunkenness—don’t take that first drink!  There appears to be a biological difference in people that makes it easier for some people to have addictive, compulsive personalities—while others never have this struggle.

1.       Imagine that I struggled with an addiction to chocolate. I didn’t like it but, for whatever reason, any time I took a bite of chocolate I could not stop until I ate so much chocolate I was vomiting chocolate and had spent every penny I had on chocolate.

2.       Would you say to yourself, “That’s your problem—I can eat chocolate in front of you and it’s your problem if you can’t control yourself!” 

3.       In Christ, we cannot have this attitude (Phil 2:3-4). Christians should not drink alcohol because there is never any way to know if our influence on others will lead them to stumble.

4.       What if that one we cause to stumble, is our child?  Is it worth it? Absolutely not! Christians should do all we can to avoid making anyone stumble.

VIII. It Could Damage Our Influence (Matt. 5:13-16).

A.     Jesus teaches here that our behavior is to be such that it leads others to “glorify God.”

B.     Influencing others to come to Christ is a difficult thing. We are calling on people to turn away from sin, and demonstrate self-control, in obedience to Christ and His word. Does drinking alcohol help with this process or hurt this process?

1.       Imagine you are talking to someone about coming to Christ. You have talked to them about sobriety and self-control—but they bump into you at the store with a “six-pack,” or at the restaurant with a glass of wine. Doe this help, or hurt your efforts?

2.       Imagine you have a brother or sister in Christ that respects your knowledge of God’s word, and admires your love of God, but they have struggled with addiction to drink in the past. What if they see you in the same situation? Will your influence be the same?

3.       What if it is a young person. Teenage years are so hard. Their friends pressure them to act “grown-up” and go to those parties where kids are drinking, or to see how fun you are “wasted!” If they see you, how does that influence them?

C.     Influence is the most precious asset any Christian has to “let their light shine” to others. It can so easily be compromised. Christians should abstain from alcohol because of the tremendous risk it poses to our influence with others.

IX. Ancient Drinks and Modern Drinks are not the Same (John 2:1-10; 1 Tim. 5:23).

A.     These two passages illustrate two of the most common passages that are often used by those who would argue that Christians can drink because (as they say) “Jesus drank wine!” and “Paul commanded Timothy to drink wine!”

B.     The context of 1 Tim. 5:23 clearly demonstrates a medicinal application to Paul’s command. He speaks of his “infirmities.”

C.     Did Jesus provide this huge amount of an alcoholic drink to people to whom he would later reveal that drunkenness can lead to condemnation?

D.     Principles regarding ancient drink.

1.       Equal names were applied to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

2.       Ancients knew how to impede fermentation. Things such as boiling and filtration do a great deal to impede fermentation. Both of these methods are described extensively by ancient writers.

3.       Most ancients watered down their drinks.  Some sources record portions of 1 part wine to 20 parts water!

4.       This made the alcohol content of ancient drinks different from modern drinks that bear the same names.  Homemade wine is usually only about 6% alcohol, but modern fortified wines are about 18%.

E.      Yes, there were alcoholic drinks but it is misunderstanding Scripture to think that references to wine, or strong drink in the Bible equals modern drinks.

1.       Distillation of strong alcoholic drinks was not invented until the Middle Ages.

2.       Modern beers and wines have sugars, yeast, and distilled alcohol added to boost alcohol content.  As a result at its worst beers (for example) at their strongest were only 2-3% alcohol while modern beers are usually 5% and above.

X. We Have So Many Other Choices (1 Cor. 10:25-31).

A.     Imagine if you lived in the world of the Bible. You might draw water from a well, you might have a cow or a goat to milk. You might even have a vineyard, a fruit free or a grainfield from which you could make some drinks. In the market you could purchase drinks, and if they were drinks from grapes or fruits, you could take measures to preserve them or prevent any type of intoxication.

B.     How does this compare to our day? We can go to the grocery store and walk down an aisle with hundreds of choices of juices, and soft drinks, or milks, and teas. We could drink any of these with no risk of compromising our salvation, our influence, our judgment or our self-control.

C.     Why, with all of these choices would anyone choose drinks that do? Christians should not!  

Written by Olsen Park

           www.olsenpark.com

SHOCKER:Mourinho Disgraced...Watford 3 Man Utd 1

                            
Manchester United slumped to a third successive defeat – a crisis for a manager of the magnitude of Jose Mourinho and a club the size of United – as they were deservedly beaten by Watford.
United are already six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and there were alarming performances all over the pitch – not least from captain Wayne Rooney – in what was a raucous display from the home side.
Defeats by City and in the Europa League away at Feyenoord have now been followed by this, at times, shambolic loss.

How Pastors Lose Respect

                        
1Timothy  5:17 says Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Pastoral ministry is an high calling, and the office should be treated with dignity and honor. Bible speaks much about this. God specially wants the church members to give honor and respect their pastors. God forbids disrespecting of the man that labors in the Gospel for you.
God wants church memebers to honor their christian leaders.

What Respecting them does not mean?
Respecting pastor does not mean to cover their sins.
God used Nathan to rebuke King David, because he committed a sin. Nathan had a choice not to tell him what God had told him about the King’s sin. But Nathan chose to obey God rather men. 1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
When you cover their sins, you are defiling the office of the Bishop, and the Bishop must be blameless. Someone exerted, “With the worldly crowd we should be blameless, and with the christian crowd, we should have a good report”
Respecting does not mean to place them as your God.
Pastors are not God. They are human being like you and I. Many people have been disappointed because man of God failed them. Dont look up to any man as your final authority, look up to God. Dont trust them as your God, respect and honor them because they preach the Word of God.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

WAYS PASTOR LOSE RESPECT
1. Preaching Heresy
Bible says in 1Ti 5:17, Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Pastors who are preaching waterdown messages, diluted Gospel should not be respected. God wants us to hold people who are preaching the truth of God’s Word in High Esteem, respect them.

2. Dressing Shabby
Pastors are not well respected today because many do not dress okay. Let me say this to you pastor, whatever you want to do, do it professional. it is your calling, it is your job. Dress professional. Iron your cloth, dress sharp. Do I have any dressing standard for pastor in pulpit? Yes. Look your best. I want to know that your dressing is your addressing. You must protect your office, and command the respect of people by dressing good. Look your best.

3.Seeking Advice or Counsel from your church members
This is the worst thing a pastor can do to lose respect.Dont go to your church members to seek advice on any matter. if you need any help, reach out to someone who is already in the ministry before you or older than you, and let them help you out.

4. Arguement
Dont argue especially on social media, and among people who do not understand the truth.
Mat7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

5.Borrow money from church member.
Dont you ever borrow from a church member. If you have any need, talk to God to meet that need and, you can talk to someone in the ministry who will understand you.

6. Not Keeping Good company
Your friends will either make you or break you. Your members will not respect you, when they see their pastors keeping bad companies. Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

7. Bad Homes
This is very important. You are the leader, your followers are looking up to, and if you can not lead your home, how can you lead the house of God? Your home is your number one ministry, and if your home is not good, you are not going to have a good ministry. Sometimes, people attend a church where their marriages and homes can be salvaged, protected, and helped.
1Ti 3:4-5 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
The lists go on and on.
Pastors, we must be very careful, once we lose respect with our people, sermons will not do them any good.