Smalcald Posted February 28, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 32 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 5,258 Content Per Day: 0.76 Reputation: 42 Days Won: 3 Joined: 06/16/2005 Status: Offline Birthday: 07/22/1960 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I don't think it is the coveting, although that plays into it. It is coveting. Why else would someone buy a scratch off except to win money. It's really not for the fun because it only takes about 30 seconds to scratch off. It's not to pass the time....because like I said....30 seconds. Why would anybody gamble?........To win money.....period. Anyone who says different.....you're in denial. I actually think gambling is worse than being covetous. It actually more approaches the high people get from getting high on dope or drunk, it is a rush. People who are addicted to gambling don't stop when they get rich, if it were covetousness they would stop when they won some amount and would weight the odds at some point and go horde their money, but no they go on and on for the high of risking money they go on and on until they lose it all. So yeah covetousness is mixed up in there, but from what I have read it is not really the main thing. Now I don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickilynn Posted February 28, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 138 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 3,997 Content Per Day: 0.63 Reputation: 19 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/13/2007 Status: Offline Share Posted February 28, 2008 I do not think that playing the state lottery violates any Christian ethics. Everyone has been given personal stewardship of their own money God has put in their trust and it is we as individuals who will give account of that stewardship so in my opinion what one does with their money and wealth is their personal business alone. There is no sin in putting a coin in a slot machine even hoping to hit it big. Now it may be a bad investment of your money but certainly no sin to put a coin in a machine. And there is no sin in picking numbers for your lottery ticket either. The part about coveteous is pertaining only to coveting another persons spouse and even the coveteous person was suppose to be put out of the church for this behaviour in the NT 1 Corinthians 5 along with the other sexual immorral behavior that is included in that chapter. Coveteous is being used in the wrong manner and is one of those subjects that is bleeding over into other areas that was never intended. OC Shalom OC, I agree with everything you've said. AMEN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickilynn Posted February 28, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 138 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 3,997 Content Per Day: 0.63 Reputation: 19 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/13/2007 Status: Offline Share Posted February 28, 2008 Can any of the gambling supporters here tell me why the law does not let minors gamble? Shalom, For the same reason that the law does not allow minors to drink or vote. They are not mature enough to make adult decisions until they are adults. I agree. However, that does not answer the question of the OP which is does the state lottery violate Christian ethics, which it doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted February 28, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 1,022 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 39,193 Content Per Day: 6.07 Reputation: 9,977 Days Won: 78 Joined: 10/01/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted February 28, 2008 Shalom, I have always thought of the Lottery as gambling and we have never participated in it. However, in our Ladies' Bible class recently, one of the gals gave us something to think about. She said that she played the scratch off every week ($2.00 I believe) and it did not take away from any funds for their family and she WAS under the impression that proceeds DID go to the school system (at least a percentage) and that if she won, it would benefit the church as well as herself. She felt it was no different than a raffle (cost $2.00) that the Christian school has from time to time to raise funds. What do y'all think about what she said? I think she is a wise woman; it isnt any different than a raffle unless....you know there always has to be one of those....unless it begins to take away from the household budget or to keep our thoughts from the Lord. I buy a scratch off once in a great while too. I've never thought the Lord was going to strike me down because of it. For most, it's harmless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smalcald Posted February 28, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 32 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 5,258 Content Per Day: 0.76 Reputation: 42 Days Won: 3 Joined: 06/16/2005 Status: Offline Birthday: 07/22/1960 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Can any of the gambling supporters here tell me why the law does not let minors gamble? Shalom, For the same reason that the law does not allow minors to drink or vote. They are not mature enough to make adult decisions until they are adults. I agree. However, that does not answer the question of the OP which is does the state lottery violate Christian ethics, which it doesn't. Oh if that is the question than we totally disagree. Yes state lotteries themselves do violate Christian ethics on many fronts. They promote laziness, sloth, greed, a something for nothing ethic, they desensitize the entire culture and society to gambling itself and all of the attendant problems that go with gambling. It is the reason we see states now going to video poker, and more and more casino's popping up around our nation. Our manufacturing jobs are moving out we don't build things anymore but instead we get the "gaming" industry growing like crazy, what a country! My problem is the idea that my very government is now a bookie out adverstising and promoting gambling to its own citizens so that I don't have to pay taxes to support my own schools, that concept is not something Christians should get behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ddavid from NC Posted February 28, 2008 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 196 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,343 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 12 Days Won: 1 Joined: 01/15/2008 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/03/1964 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 It may be a manipulation of statistics but the research done by those opposed in our state found the most frequent participants are predominantly low income...meaning they can't afford to play...they have no expendable income. They pick up their little check and head to the store and cash it and buy some lottery tickets up front. If this is true...you may be able to afford it but you are supporting an institution that is raping the poor. It is also said to be a backdoor double taxation ploy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LadyC Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Why do people gamble? I would like an honest answer. "Because it's fun" or "to pass the time" are not answers. I would really like to know. Why do people gamble? The dream they will get lucky and get something they don't have to earn? According, to expose on winners and where are they now, it's often tragic what happens... wow. lots of posts to catch up on, but i just got online and saw these and figured i'd answer, because as i've already pointed out, i DO sometimes gamble. man.... "because it's fun" or "to pass time" are answers. you may not like them, but they're answers, and they're valid ones. i sometimes gamble because it is entertaining. to me, it is NO different than playing a video game at an arcade. if you play pinball, you may "match" at the end and get a free game. if you play any other game, you get rewarded with additional "lives" or credits. when i sit down at a nickle slot machine, if i "win", maybe i've won 3 or 4 nickles. big whoop. it just means i've gotten a few more credits to play on. david.... not everyone dreams of getting lucky, or getting something they don't have to earn. those people make up a relatively small percentage of gamblers. of course, that small percentage are the ones spending the serious money though. little story here. when i lived in texas and managed a pool hall, i learned to deal blackjack. it was part of the job description, and i dealt about once a week on average. the only money exchanged was the price it cost to get into the game. $10 would buy you the equivalent of $500 worth of chips. (gambling isn't legal in texas, except for the lottery.) after we'd lived in vegas for about a year, my husband decided to take me out to a casino. it was the one and only time we ever played at a real table here, because the video blackjack slot machines are a whole lot cheaper. anyway, when we pulled into the parking lot, my husband said "if we get up to $600 in winnings, we're leaving with it in our pockets." i just looked at him kinda confused for a minute because it took some time for it to sink in that it was legal to win CASH, as opposed to getting a name on a plaque like we did it in texas. THAT is still the attitude i have, even after living here for six years. when i play, i don't have any expectation of winning. i have an expectation of spending a few bucks for an hour or two of fun, and that's what i do. once in a while i break even. and once in a blue moon i actually cash out with a few bucks ahead just because i'm tired of holding my arm up while i hit the buttons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ddavid from NC Posted February 28, 2008 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 196 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,343 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 12 Days Won: 1 Joined: 01/15/2008 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/03/1964 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Why do people gamble? I would like an honest answer. "Because it's fun" or "to pass the time" are not answers. I would really like to know. Why do people gamble? The dream they will get lucky and get something they don't have to earn? According, to expose on winners and where are they now, it's often tragic what happens... wow. lots of posts to catch up on, but i just got online and saw these and figured i'd answer, because as i've already pointed out, i DO sometimes gamble. man.... "because it's fun" or "to pass time" are answers. you may not like them, but they're answers, and they're valid ones. i sometimes gamble because it is entertaining. to me, it is NO different than playing a video game at an arcade. if you play pinball, you may "match" at the end and get a free game. if you play any other game, you get rewarded with additional "lives" or credits. when i sit down at a nickle slot machine, if i "win", maybe i've won 3 or 4 nickles. big whoop. it just means i've gotten a few more credits to play on. david.... not everyone dreams of getting lucky, or getting something they don't have to earn. those people make up a relatively small percentage of gamblers. of course, that small percentage are the ones spending the serious money though. little story here. when i lived in texas and managed a pool hall, i learned to deal blackjack. it was part of the job description, and i dealt about once a week on average. the only money exchanged was the price it cost to get into the game. $10 would buy you the equivalent of $500 worth of chips. (gambling isn't legal in texas, except for the lottery.) after we'd lived in vegas for about a year, my husband decided to take me out to a casino. it was the one and only time we ever played at a real table here, because the video blackjack slot machines are a whole lot cheaper. anyway, when we pulled into the parking lot, my husband said "if we get up to $600 in winnings, we're leaving with it in our pockets." i just looked at him kinda confused for a minute because it took some time for it to sink in that it was legal to win CASH, as opposed to getting a name on a plaque like we did it in texas. THAT is still the attitude i have, even after living here for six years. when i play, i don't have any expectation of winning. i have an expectation of spending a few bucks for an hour or two of fun, and that's what i do. once in a while i break even. and once in a blue moon i actually cash out with a few bucks ahead just because i'm tired of holding my arm up while i hit the buttons. While I understand the correlation you and others are drawing between casino gambling and the state lottery, the player in the latter overwhelmingly is looking to get rich. That is what the billboard on the highway told him with its growing toke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LadyC Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I don't think it is the coveting, although that plays into it. It is coveting. Why else would someone buy a scratch off except to win money. It's really not for the fun because it only takes about 30 seconds to scratch off. It's not to pass the time....because like I said....30 seconds. Why would anybody gamble?........To win money.....period. Anyone who says different.....you're in denial. that's awfully thoughtful of you, to judge my heart, my intent, my motives, and find me guilty of something i'm not. my sitting down to drop a few bucks in a nickle machine isn't a sin at all, but your judgementalism is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LadyC Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Can any of the gambling supporters here tell me why the law does not let minors gamble? Shalom, For the same reason that the law does not allow minors to drink or vote. They are not mature enough to make adult decisions until they are adults. I agree. However, that does not answer the question of the OP which is does the state lottery violate Christian ethics, which it doesn't. i'll give another reason. because there would be a whole lot of parents beating up their kids for stealing money out of mom's purse and dad's wallet to drop in a slot machine. TEENS do not have the INCOME to spend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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