Why do so many Christians oppose Gambling?

[Sandpiper]

After reading about various southern evangelicals saying that gulf coast casinos shouldn't be rebuilt, it got me wondering. Why are so many Christians opposed to gambling?

There is no biblical injunction against gambling, no commandment in the Old or New Testament that singles it out.

The only feeble argument I've heard is that it violates the commandment against covetousness, and that Christians are to avoid the love of money.

If that's their argument for gambling being a sin, how do they justify capitalism?

Either way, I don't get where the anti-gambling sentiment comes from.

[indepat]

1. Reichous Christians are against sin except the sins of those they support

[El Supremo]

2. Maybe it has something to do with...

the Roman soldiers casting lots for Jesus' robe. But I doubt it. I think it is a vice just like drinking (which is not condemned very much in the Bible either).

[meow2u3]

3. They're really not Christians

Real Christians don't oppose gambling, only gambling to excess. It's a matter of moderation vs. excess.

The "Christians" who oppose gambling either have no sense of moderation or are secret gamblers themselves.

[On the Road]

4. You are Correct,

it's not in the Bible.

The reason is pragmatic. Heavy gamblers often ruin themselves financially. If they have families, they drive their families into poverty, too. Churches have long opposed vices that have this result.

Of course many people can gamble responsibly. But many people can drink responsibly, and that doesn't stop many evangelicals from opposing all alcoholic beverages.

[madmom]

5. It takes money from their bingo nights...

honestly, is that not gambling, what about the "Monte Carlo" nights the parochial schools have to raise funds for whatever?

[MsUnderstood]

6. Because gambling is an addictive behaviour

Just like drinking, drugs, sex and religion. And addictive behaviours engaged in by addictive personalities cause other addictive behaviours to be ignored.

So if you are heading to play black jack every weekend, what chance does the church have for brining you in on Sunday?

[FlaGranny]

7. Gambling is not an addictive behavior.

Gambling to excess is an addictive behavior. Drinking isn't addictive either. The act itself is not the addiction. The inability to stop doing something is the addiction.

Millions of people can have a drink or two a day without becoming addicted. Millions can go to Vegas and gamble and not become addicted.

Drugs, sex, and religion are not addictive either.

There are addictive personalities and THEY can become addicted to most anything.

I just got my husband addicted to low carb chocolate milk. He almost threw a fit in the grocery store when they were out of it. ;-)

[ultraist]

19. Actually, alcohol is physically addictive.

If one consumes enough, long enough. Some drugs (including alcohol) are physically addictive, thus anyone, regardless of whether or not they have the addictive personaltiy, can become addicted.

Consider someone who has been medicated with morphine for a lengthy time period. They WILL become addicted regardless of their existing personality traits. They WILL have to undergo withdrawals.

But, gambling is not a physically addictive drug.

[FlaGranny]

26. Long-term use can cause

physical dependence, but I don't believe there is any danger in "social use" becoming addictive, unless someone has an addictive personality. Heavy, long term use would probably not even be a problem if it weren't for having an addictive personality. Of course, I'm not an addiction expert and could be wrong.

My own experience (and what else can most of us go by?), with a supposedly addictive substance that I was prescribed, and took for several months: I often forgot to take it and eventually stopped altogether.

Whoa! How could I forget smoking? Now that was one thing I WAS addicted to at one time. I take back all the above. ;-)

[pitohui]

8. it cuts into bingo profits

christians do not oppose gambling, the catholic church says outright that gambling for entertainment that does not cause financial harm to self or family is no different from any other hobby you would spend money on

with the really shrill anti-gambling xtians, dig deeper, you will learn they fear a cut in their bingo profits when casino gambling -- which provides REAL entertainment in a NICE environment w. cocktails, shows, and restaurants, instead of a dirty tired old hall full of discouraged old ppl -- well bingo just can't compete w. the casino

the sin is the sin of being able to out-perform the church bingo hall in the free market

[alfredo]

9. Belief is the biggest gamble of them all. You bet your money, your time

your life in the hope of reward after you die.

You have better odds with three card monty.

[TheFarseer]

10. It destroys families

by causing people to spend their money on gambling instead of raising their kids. Of course so does alcohol, so do alot of things. Why single this out just because a few people can't control themselves?

[lcordero2]

11. if they really opposed gambling

they would oppose the stock market.

[BringEmOn]

12. But, it's OK for Junior to "hit the trifecta?"

Also, how many of these same small "c" christians invest in the stock market?

[dogday]

13. It's about Faith and taking your faith and putting it

into a system where the odds are you will lose.

[Sandpiper]

14. What about the stock market then?

n/t

[dogday]

16. I don't know how the odds are set on the Market

but it is a gamble as well as insurance is a gamble. You are betting with your money you won't have an accident and if you do, you are betting that the company will give you the pay-off. I guess everything is a gamble when you come down to it....

[HappyMoonBat]

15. I wonder the opposite... why do so many of them gamble?

Gambling ruins lives. Genuine Christians don't like seeing people destroy themselves through government-assisted means.

Personally, I don't think gambling should be banned outright, but I also don't like the way it's become such an important part of our economy. It's kind of spooky when you think about it.

[AuntieM1957]

17. The other Christians have not elected me their official

representative, so I can't answer for "so many".

I don't see it as a SIN.

Gambling is, for me, a tax on stupid and/or poor. That's my faith based problem with it. Those who can't afford it do it - and those can benefit from it.

As for the casinos in Mississippi, et al, the virtually destroyed beautiful coastline with their development - and that's a shame.
In fairness though, I know many people who were provided a livelihood by their commerce. So I'm ambivalent about their re-building.

[progressivebydesign]

18. the people i"ve know addicted to gambling have been deeply religious

I have no idea why it's considered a no-no to them. It can destroy families if the person has an addictive personality. One good friend killed himself in a Vegas hotel room after losing lots of money. It's a fun diversion for people who have no issues with addictive personality, but if you're doing it every day, you have a problem.

I think the hard core Christians go out of their way to ban everything fun.. basically.

[ultraist]

20. Interesting point:

I think the hard core Christians go out of their way to ban everything fun.. basically.

This mindset is rooted in Puritanical beliefs. Fundamentalist Christians are very puritanical in their worldview.

[stevietheman]

21. I'm atheist and I oppose it for economic reasons.

Gambling, in short, is false economy. In other words, nothing of value comes from it, and it negatively affects the overall work ethic of the populace.

[youthere]

23. Indeed..

I oppose gambling as well (although I happen to be a christian). Casinos don't prosper because people are winning money.

[stevietheman]

24. Yup, and state lotteries only succeed on the backs of the poor. n/t

n/t

[Lars39]

22. It's also that much less money in the offering plate on Sunday.

[demigoddess]

25. card games even without betting is against some people's views

I just think they like to be against anything fun. Remember when rock and roll was so anti christian and now we have christian rock!!!
I agree that having so much tourism etc based on gambling is scary. I had some friends who liked to gamble but were always complaining about lack of money. They also spent a FORTUNE on knickknacks.