Jan 02, 2013  My Baptist friend says that gambling is a sin. Yet, I know many good Catholics who visit places like Atlantic City and Las Vegas, and play slot machines and the like, or schools that have casino nights as fund raisers. What should I say to my friend? Gambling, whether it involves games of. Oct 12, 2011 Many people feel gambling is only a game that is fun, but the Bible tells us this evil is a terrible sin that will lead to poverty. The Hidden Traps of Gambling He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Question: 'Is gambling a sin? What does the Bible say about gambling?'
Answer: The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). Scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to “get rich quick” (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10). Gambling most definitely is focused on the love of money and undeniably tempts people with the promise of quick and easy riches.
What is wrong with gambling? Gambling is a difficult issue because if it is done in moderation and only on occasion, it is a waste of money, but it is not necessarily evil. People waste money on all sorts of activities. Gambling is no more or less of a waste of money than seeing a movie (in many cases), eating an unnecessarily expensive meal, or purchasing a worthless item. At the same time, the fact that money is wasted on other things does not justify gambling. Money should not be wasted. Excess money should be saved for future needs or given to the Lord’s work, not gambled away.
While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does mention events of “luck” or “chance.” As an example, casting lots is used in Leviticus to choose between the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. Joshua cast lots to determine the allotment of land to the various tribes. Nehemiah cast lots to determine who would live inside the walls of Jerusalem. The apostles cast lots to determine the replacement for Judas. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast in the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
What would the Bible say about casinos and lotteries? Casinos use all sorts of marketing schemes to entice gamblers to risk as much money as possible. They often offer inexpensive or even free alcohol, which encourages drunkenness, and thereby a decreased ability to make wise decisions. Everything in a casino is perfectly rigged for taking money in large sums and giving nothing in return, except for fleeting and empty pleasures. Lotteries attempt to portray themselves as a way to fund education and/or social programs. However, studies show that lottery participants are usually those who can least afford to be spending money on lottery tickets. The allure of “getting rich quick” is too great a temptation to resist for those who are desperate. The chances of winning are infinitesimal, which results in many peoples’ lives being ruined.
Can lotto/lottery proceeds please God? Many people claim to be playing the lottery or gambling so that they can give the money to the church or to some other good cause. While this may be a good motive, reality is that few use gambling winnings for godly purposes. Studies show that the vast majority of lottery winners are in an even worse financial situation a few years after winning a jackpot than they were before. Few, if any, truly give the money to a good cause. Further, God does not need our money to fund His mission in the world. Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” God is sovereign and will provide for the needs of the church through honest means. Would God be honored by receiving donated drug money or money stolen in a bank robbery? Of course not. Neither does God need or want money that was “stolen” from the poor in the temptation for riches.
First Timothy 6:10 tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Hebrews 13:5 declares, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Matthew 6:24 proclaims, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Question: 'Should a Christian enter a sweepstakes?'
Answer: A sweepstakes can refer to a lottery or to a race or contest in which the entire prize is awarded to one winner. Sweepstakes may or may not involve gambling, as the winnings can be chosen by random drawing without cost to the winner. The term originated from a Middle English word, swepestake

Is Gambling For Fun A Sin Movie

, which referred to a winner who swept the table of all earnings.
Gambling, and any contest where the monetary outcome is based on chance, has long been condemned by the church, and for good reason. Gambling was once the forte of shady characters and the underworld. Fortunes were lost and families were destroyed by the roll of the dice or the toss of a card. Therefore, Christian leaders strongly opposed any venture that even remotely hinted of gambling. Because of their similarity to games of chance, sweepstakes were often included in that ban.
However, in the last century, contests, lotteries, and sweepstakes have become so commonplace we hardly associate them with the evils of 19th-century gambling. Television game shows have further lowered our resistance. We cheer with the winners who walk away with the prizes. Sweepstakes also abound as a form of advertising. Businesses market their services by offering a chance at a prize in exchange for our contact information. In this type of sweepstakes, the participant has little to lose and, if fully aware of the consequences of entering, suffers no real harm in doing so.
The problem with sweepstakes begins when we pin all our hopes on winning, as if money will solve our problems. We see winning as the answer instead of trusting the Lord. People can get so caught up in the possibilities of winning a sweepstakes that they sacrifice money they don’t have on the altar of chance. When we become focused upon the “what if’s” of winning, money quickly becomes an idol.
The Bible warns us often about the trap of money-loving. First Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Hebrews 13:5 declares, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” The desire for money is nothing new or unique to our culture, and sweepstakes only capitalize on that desire.

Why Is Gambling Fun

While entering sweepstakes is usually innocent fun, we must always consider the cost. Rarely is anything free. Before entering any contest, we should consider some questions:
• What do those operating the sweepstakes stand to gain from my participation?
• Is it a gain I readily condone?

Sin Fun For A Season

• Am I being used in ways I would never agree to if not for the chance of winning?
• If I could consult Jesus before entering, would He give the “go ahead”?

Is Casino Gambling Sin Got Questions

• Will entering this contest increase my greed or focus upon material things?
When we can give healthy, God-honoring answers to those questions, entering sweepstakes should not be a problem.