Gambling

 

Intro:  AStates already raise around $20 billion annually, more than 4% of total revenue, from lotteries and casinos, the New York Times reported May 18. 

 

1.  Since the easing of gambling laws in 1991, the amount wagered has skyrocketed to $68 billion from $27 billion, and  Americans now spend more on gambling than on movies, videos and DVD=s, music and books combined.@

 

2.  Gambling Statistics  -

 

a.  Massachusetts Citizens In 2002 spent over $4 billion on the lottery $658 for every man, woman and child in the state.

 

b.  State legislators are now pondering casinos and slot machines in order to raise even more revenue.

 

c.  Gambling is now done in a way which takes an extraordinary amount of money from people who probably can=t afford it and returns a declining share of that to local aid. (Stephen Crosby, former Massachusetts sect. of administration and finance)

 

d.  In 1978 only Nevada had casinos.  Now more than 25 states have some form of casino gambling (AP, May 12, 2003)

 

e.  Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle negotiated a contract with Indian tribes in which he gave them the rights to 24 hour gambling, unlimited slot machines, and the pledge of no gambling competition in southeast Wisconsin.

 

3.  Gambling Consequences - Crime and Addiction

 

a.  In a 1976 report, the U.S. Commission on the Review of the National Policy  Toward Gambling had cautioned about corruption and the incompatibility of revenue raising and crime control when jurisdictions legalize gambling. Crime figures reported to the FBI in the 9 years after the first casino opened in New Jersey in 1977 showed that the incidence of all crime combined had increased 138 percent. This crime problem, and the anticipated increase of citizen participation in legal as well as illegal gambling, raised a concern in the 1988 report of the New Jersey Governor's Advisory Commission on Gambling. (FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin)

 

b.  Illegal Gambling is Still a Significant Problem.

 

(1.)  How big is illegal gambling? It may run as high as $100 billion per year. Other estimates put the figure even higher.  That may seem like a very large figure, but sports betting is immensely popular and most of it is illegal.

(2.) The large extent of illegal sports betting is one of the reasons that some used to advocate its legalization. Others claim that business with illegal bookies would not decline because they offer better odds, credit, tax free payouts, and greater convenience in placing bets and collecting winnings. (Gambling in California, Roger Dunstan, California Research Bureau)

 

I. The Sin of Gambling - What Do the Scriptures Say?

 

A. Gambling is not explicitly dealt with in scripture

 

1.  Neither is rape, dancing, running red lights, etc.

 

2.  Rape Sexual immorality - 1 Thess. 4:3, AFor this is the will of God,

     even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

 

3.  Dancing:  Lasciviousness - Gal. 5:19, ANow the works of the

     flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

 

4.  Running Red Lights: Obeying Govt -  Rom. 13:5 AWherefore ye must

     needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

 

5.  Gal. 5:21, And the like wise those who practice such things will

     not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

B. Gambling is an expression of covetousness

 

1.  At basis of all gambling is the desire to take away something which

    belongs to another - Exodus 20:17, AYou shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall

    not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor 

    his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that

    is your neighbor's.@

 

2.  Luke 12:13‑15, AAnd one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.@

 

3.  Col. 3:5, AMortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,

     uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

 

4.  Eph 5:5, A For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

 

5.  Rom. 1:29‑32, ABeing filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,

    covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

    Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient

    to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection,

    implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things

    are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.@

 

C. The Sin of Gambling Violates Legitimate Economy

 

1.  Three legitimate means of transferring property:

 

a.  Law of Labor:  Money is earned by effort expended - Eph. 4:28, ALet him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.  Luke 10:7, AAnd in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

 

b.  Law of Exchange:  Buying and Selling, investments. Matt. 13:44, A Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.      Matt. 25:27, AThou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.@

 

c.  Law of Love: Where money is given with no expectation of return - Acts 2:45, AAnd sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.@

 

2.  Gambling does not qualify as any of these, is parasitic, and without divine sanction

 

D. The Sin of Gambling DOESN=T APPLY TO ME!