Raymond2020

Hi family in Christ.

I made a tidy sum of money on the Olympics through betting. ( please don't judge me)

I generally tithe on my salary and I believe all clean income like business profits, inheritance,  tax returns etc should be tithed on.

Gambling winnings? I'm not too sure what to make of it.

Obviously it's not God's will for us to gamble and he surely cant be pleased to boost the church's finances through such an unclean source-He doesn't need that in the first place. 

Secondly I already heard how my pastor feels about gambling- He thinks it's a demonic thing. ( I agree actually). I don't think I would feel good to tithe to my local church and see that they maybe bought musical instruments for example with that impure money. 

To tithe to another ministry, is not really tithing, then it's more like an offering. I believe tithing is to give x amount (10% on your income) to your local church where you are fed with the word.

The bible says " money that comes easily disappears quickly,  but whoever gathers little by little makes it grow"

So my plan is to pay off debt that will free up a big chunk of my salary ( that I can save or invest- clean source).

So that's it in a nutshell...

Feel free to share your thoughts/opinions on weather or not one should tithe on gambling winnings. 

PS: Not going back to gambling. Was more like a once off thing.

After being  born again and adopted as a child into the kingdom of God your journey starts.

Seek him through his word and grow. 

Find your spiritual gifts and grow in it. The Lords says we must minister to each other with our gifts. 

Its something inside God's will. You can pray about it and he can bless you cause you are busy to build his kingdom and not yours.

So to make use of your spiritual gifts is what we should be doing in this life. And our God is so amazing,  by doing that, you build up treasures in heaven. 

25 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

We are stewards of what the Lord has given to us, @Raymond2020. What would be a better use of the money God has given to you: give $50.00 to Covenant House, a charity that helps homeless children and teens, or gamble a like sum of money?

Pay for the groceries a struggling parent can't afford, or play the stock market?

Put that $50.00 into a savings account, or spend it buying lottery tickets each month?

You be the judge, my friend.  

Match betting is not gambling. Another term for match betting is arbitrage trading. 

What is arbitrage trading? 

It is a trade that profits by utilizing price differences of similar financial instruments in different markets. 

What is gambling?

Taking a risky action in the hope of a desired result. 

The word gambling conjures a bad name, and this is not what it is. If you own shares in a business that's more gambling then this. Cause there's risk involved. 

Let me ask you this. Have you tried matched betting in your life before to conclude these things?

Have you done research and read up on this topic or you made your conclusions when you heard betting companies is involved?

Matched betting has been featured in the biggest newspapers, tried and tested by daily mail, the guardian, the Sun,Vice and the telegraph.

They say two heads is better then one. Now dont you think a thousand heads combined can make a better judgment then you and me. Maybe we shouldn't be too quick to judge this one.

21 hours ago, Who me said:

In short seeking to get something for nothing.

We are supposed to use the results of our work to support ourselves and have something to share with those in need.

Thanks for your input.

Now what about stock market and forex traders that use their knowledge to read the markets. That's easy money, is it not? Surely that's a form of gambling,  is it not? 

Participating in a church raffle,  that's a form of gambling, is it not?

Do you blow money on cinema tickets or eating out at a restaurant? Well that's wasting,  is it not? You could've watched tv at home or cooked a meal at home and taken that money to feed the poor. 

Well if you see that as entertainment it's another story. Just like some people see placing a sports bet as entertainment. As long as they dont get entangled in betting or whatever.

As I said I don't want to be difficult.  I'm still a baby Christian learning but where do we draw the line?

19 hours ago, NotAllThere said:

If it's risk free and instant - someone else is paying. Perhaps the gambler they hooked through this who has now lost their house - just to enrich you by $100.

Thanks for your input.

I hear you.

I dont want to be difficult but you know......banks have also been funded by "dirty money " if we can call it that. Yet we borrow money from the banks for mortgages, cars etc. Do we ask the banks to trace the source so that we can ensure the money is pure? Should we feel guilty about this and never use a bank again?

If winning a bet gives you "dirty or easy money" then winning the church christmas hamper has to be the same.

Now what would you say about the stock market,  forex trading, participating in a church raffle,  games of skill like chess to win a prize. Etc.

Are all of it wrong? Surely there's dozen of people that accepted Jesus yet participate in these just like there's born again rappers out there.

As I said I don't  want to be difficult. I'm still a baby Christian, learning. 

Matched betting is a betting technique used by individuals to profit from free bets and bonuses offered by bookmakers. In theory it is risk free as it is based on a mathematical equation rather then chance. So matched betting cannot be classified as gambling. 

There are so many testimonials all over the internet from people that agrees with this.

What bothers me a little is that it is stated in the rules and policies of the bookmakers that the bonuses are for recreational purposes only and have the right to withhold payments etc if they find out that you take advantage of the bonuses.

Now that's exactly what matched betting is. We take advantage of the bonuses.

Now as a born again Christian I'm not sure if this is morally right etc.

9 hours ago, Deeplytroubled said:

I'm sure there must have been 1 or 2 people to do this in their lifetime..either as sinners who were later born again, athiest apologetics mocking with friends, muslims,etc.

Maybe you remember and don't want to admit it, or maybe you never committed such an act. The unforgiveable one. But

Matthew 12:31‭-‬32 says

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 

So what do you tell the person who later reads the scripture but has either already accepted Christ or not?

Should they just give up? Living in a "Do What Thou Wilt" attitude knowing they're condemned beyond saving?

Does God speak to those who want to know if they are comdemned or want forgiveness? Or are they shunned forever from the moment of blasphemy?

 

Why do you think blasphemy against the Holy Spirit specifically is the crime of all crimes?

Is God, the Son and Spirit not all the same? It seems to hold the HS in a higher regard than the Father or Son.

Well I for one can admit I've directly blasphemed the HS once upon a time. So now what?

Am I doomed? ? 

The good news is that blasphemy against the holy spirit is a sin that no longer exists today. 

It was actually when Jesus was still on earth and people seeing the miracles he performed- making it out to be the powers of the devil instead of the holy spirit. 

That's my take on this.

I actually wrote a similar topic about this 3 weeks ago.

On 1/29/2020 at 1:28 AM, grahampaul said:

what do you regard as backsliding?.

Backsliding is relapsing into bad ways- Falling into sin to pursue your own desire

On 1/26/2020 at 4:50 PM, Alive said:

Yesterday, as my wife and I were on a somewhat long drive, we were discussing some troubles with family members and this very subject rose to the surface.

Nice to know we think about the same things, people facing the same challenges etc

1 hour ago, Neighbor said:

Perhaps I do not understand.  When did I ever fall out of my sin that I might fall in yet again?

I am a sinner saved by Grace alone. I am not out of sin, and in  sin, and out of sin. I  am sinful though repentant. Never am I perfect, as the old man within fights to dominate all the time, but always I am forgiven. That is a certainty and a gift of God to me personally. That is a gift given to all that  do hear the call from the Holy Spirit, that do heed that call to repentance, and do see that Jesus is Lord and to bow to Him as such.

When we came to Christ we were forgiven for all our sins.

So it was a clean sheet, fresh start,  new life. When you were baptized you died from your old self and rose as a new person. 

Let's do the count from there 

On 1/26/2020 at 4:19 AM, grahampaul said:

some folks like monday some tuesday,its bygrace we are saved.

I hear you crystal clear! 

My government is making companies pay double on Sundays. 

I'm still a baby Christian-So I'm going to a bible school this year just to get a deeper understanding.

We are saved by grace, through faith but advice do you have for a baby brother that has been backsliding?

1 hour ago, Betha said:

And that would also include keeping God's Holy Sabbath.....Yashua most certainly kept it....not because He was a Jew but that He always did those things that 'pleased the Father.'  Should not Christians emulate Him ?

I hear you loud and clear. Now what advice do you have for believers that work shifts, and sometimes work on the Sabbath day? The company would not understand to grant you leave on that day every week. They would push you out the door, sooner rather than later.

11 minutes ago, Tzephanyahu said:

Shalom @Raymond2020

What is your definition of "Holiness" and "Holy Living", or rather how is it defined by God?

Love & Shalom

Holy living is living a Godly life. Obey the commandments 

Amen

Hi everyone. 

We all know that if we come to Christ and our sins are forgiven we experience the peace of God, Joy, Contentment, happiness etc and if we fall into sin again the holy spirit convicts us of our sin.

Here's a reminder and some benefits of living a holy life.

# Holiness leads to a better emotional state.

(Phil 4:9)

That the God of peace will be with you.

# Holy living provides a better conscience. 

Acts 24:16

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

# Holiness leads to eternal blessings.

Matthew 6:20

# Holiness leads to better earthly blessings. 

1 Peter 3:10-12

# Holiness leads to better intimacy with God.

Matthew 5:8

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

# Holiness leads to better ministry

2 Tim 2:21

If a man cleanses himself,  he will be be an instrument for noble purposes.