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Lottery ticket hits lower-income target instead!
Ken Sury, my fellow trib blogger had an interesting entry on his blog yesterday about a study done by the San-Antonio Express News and the Houston Chronicle on our illustrious Texas Lottery. The study reported that the $50 scratch off game intended to entice ticket sales in the affluent areas of our state were actually selling better in the middle-income neighborhoods. Sury stated “this just adds fuel to the argument that those that have the least to spend are the ones buying those tickets in hopes of winning big”.
As far as I can tell, the Bible does not specifically forbid gambling. There is no eleventh commandment in the Bible that’s says: “Thou shalt not gamble”. But do we have a spiritual and moral responsibility to speak against this addicting drug, or is it a person’s right to decide for themselves if it is right for them?
I believe that gambling violates principles in God’s word concerning the sovereignty of God, stewardship, brotherly love, and God’s instruction not to be brought under the power of anything but the Holy Spirit. So, should we all rise up and stop Bingo and the lottery before the gambling casinos invade our state, or should we allow it because many other states are doing it? Wouldn’t our property taxes go down with this new influx of generated revenue from gambling? What do you say fellow bloggers?
Comments
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By Fred
January 15, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this
Gambling wrong? Any gambling in the Bible? There was a little dice gambling in the New Testiment. The Roman Guards (who executed Jesus Christ on the Cross) threw a little dice at the foot of the Cross for Jesus’ Robe. They gambled dice while Jesus was suffering and bleeding. The Policemen gambled while Jesus died.
By Lorie
January 15, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
To me its a game that people play and get excited about the thought that they could win $5,10,50 and even $100 or more. I mean I wouldn’t mind playing and winning $1,000 every week. As long as it doesn’t effect my Christian walk. My heart doesn’t ache to play it every time I enter a store. If I do play, I play like 1 to 3 times a year. Its something I like to do but my heart isn’t in it. It’s just sad to see families ruined by it. I also know that the money that I make is a blessing that God has given me. Its something that I as a Christian know that I have to be careful with how I spend it. I don’t want to take anything for granted.
By Leonard
January 27, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
To me, this is just another way in which even we in the church have often become “conformed to this world.” The Bible exhorts us to work honestly, to give, and in general to “seek first the Kingdom of God” and God in turn will meet our needs. Nothing about gambling. The Bible also doesn’t say, “Thou shalt not drink,” but I think most of us can agree that the world would not lose anything if all the bars were closed.