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A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ON LOTTERIES AND GAMBLING |
Let's
find a better way…
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"What is wrong with gambling?" These and similar questions are being asked. They deserve an answer, but many Christians are not sure they know how to answer them. The purpose of this lesson is to equip believers with a few of the many Bible answers, and to provide reliable facts about the devastation that always accompanies gambling. God gave us the Ten Commandments through Moses. They are short "thou shalt nots". In addition to the Ten Commandments, God tells us through many other biblical writers how we can know Him and live joyful and fruitful lives. Sometimes we find these instructions in the form of a direct command such as how to be saved (Acts 16:31), and the great commission (Matt. 28:19-20). Other times they are stated in principles like the challenge to always be our best. We get this principle from "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Eccl. 9:10 NIV). The Bible does not say, "Thou shalt not gamble." Neither does it say, "Thou shalt not molest a child." However, the Bible is not silent on either of these subjects. The commandments do speak against gambling Gambling violates the law of love A Christian cannot follow the law of love, and gamble, because the two are opposites. Gambling does not help you love either God or others. Gambling requires that you harden your heart to take away what belongs to another person. Gambling is contrary to the biblical work ethic Each person is obligated under God to work. This work must be in keeping with God's intention. His intention is that man should work to sustain his life and support his dependents. The able person who refuses to work has no right to eat. No one is to "sponge" off others. Work is the divinely appointed way of caring for one's household (2 Thess. 3:6-12; 1 Tim. 5:8). Gambling is contrary to biblical stewardship The recognition that God owns all the things in this world is the beginning of a right relationship to things. Out of this awareness there arises a fitting response; we first give ourselves to Him (2 Cor. 8:5). Good stewardship begins in the surrender of self to the will of God. From that inward dedication we move to the sober and grateful handling of our stewardship in economic matters (Luke 12:42-48; Matt. 25:14-46). Gambling violates every principle of Christian stewardship. Gambling is contrary to the right use of money Such conscientious handling of one's resources precludes gambling. There is no way any form of gambling can contribute to the injunction to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matt. 6:19-21). There are many other scriptures that teach gambling is a sin and should be avoided. The Bible teaches responsible citizenship Christians should know what is happening Legalized gambling is always sold as a means for meeting an urgent and deserving need. Three of the sales tactics of the professionals who market gambling are:
An ‘Educational Lottery’ for the benefit of our children sounds so simple and good. It is being promoted as if it is a goose that will lay an untarnished golden egg into the hand of every Alabama student. The proponents imply that anyone who opposes the lottery lacks wisdom and compassion and is against children and education. In order to get a lottery, the state constitution will have to be changed by the legislature and approved by statewide vote to permit Class III (lottery, casino, etc.) gambling. Many legal experts believe if Class III gambling is approved it cannot be legally limited to the lottery. They believe the Indians in Atmore and Wetumpka will immediately sue in Federal Court and win permission to open untaxed casinos. If this constitutional restriction is removed, it can open a floodgate of gambling in the state. What will happen if we get legalized gambling?
This sounds too simple doesn’t it? There is an abundance of reliable statistics and solid research to support this claim. We only have time to consider one very disturbing aspect of addiction – youth addiction. Although gambling is not a wholesome recreation, it is considered just fun and games by many. One of the byproducts of gambling is addiction, or compulsive gambling. Compulsive gambling (classified as a DSM-4 disease by the American Psychiatric Association) is a progressive illness. It is called a "hidden disease" because people who have this disease look normal. They do not stumble around or slur their words. Compulsive gambling is just as debilitating as alcohol or drug addiction. A host of problems accompany compulsive gambling. These include neglecting and abusing one's family, borrowing, begging, lying, embezzling, and stealing to have money to gamble and to pay gambling debts. There are a number of highly reliable studies that have been made by universities, medical schools, councils on gambling problems, and others which indicate:
A LSU School of Medicine study found gambling problems in children as young as 11. Researchers found that 10% of Louisiana children are problem gamblers and 5.7% are identified as pathological or compulsive gamblers. Some believe as many as 20% of Louisiana college freshmen have serious gambling problems. A 1996 DHR research showed 8,400 Georgia adolescents were experiencing severe gambling problems and another 47,950 are at risk of developing gambling difficulties. This number has increased substantially since then. Reports from Florida, Mississippi, and other states show an equivalent percentage of compulsive gambling problems among their youth population. Youth don’t want to miss out on what adults are doing. Unfortunately they are twice as likely to become addicted. Let's find a better way. Let's not inflict this devastation upon our Alabama youth. WHAT CAN AND SHOULD EVERY CHRISTIAN DO? Whether Alabama has a lottery and expanded legalized gambling will be decided at the ballot box. The way the ballots are marked will be determined by the convictions of the voters.
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