Gambling

When asking your question you clarified that you do gamble but limit the frequency of the activity, limit the amount of money put at risk, and maintain fiscal responsibility in your giving to the Lord. You want to view gambling as an acceptable form of entertainment that offers at least relatively harmless excitement, but you are really not sure if this is right.

Since gambling has become so pervasive in our culture, Christians increasingly wrestle with questions like yours. It’s a question that won’t go away.

Always sinful? No.

The main reason we don’t classify gambling as sin is that we don’t have the right to label something sinful if the Bible doesn’t. Gambling was well known in Bible times and a widespread obsession in ancient Rome, yet God’s Word contains no prohibition of the practice.

A second factor is that there is no universal definition of what gambling is. To make a sweeping statement that “gambling is wrong” could condemn all risk taking and games of chance that conceivably would include investing in the stock market, involvement in the insurance industry, or playing penny-ante parlor games.

Often sinful? Yes.

Historically Christianity has strongly opposed most gambling practices because they are hard to reconcile with timeless biblical principles for God-pleasing lifestyles. Here’s a partial list of issues that surface when gambling is considered:

• The Bible condemns and warns against greed, the love of money, and “get rich quick” mindsets (Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:10; Proverbs 13:11; Ecclesiastes 5:10). These attitudes often accompany gambling, and temptations to sin quickly surface in that environment.
• The Bible repeatedly calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves (as in Romans 13:9,10), yet most forms of gambling invite us to get something at the expense of those who must ultimately lose. Even when my neighbor seems willing to lose what he has, should I seek to take advantage of that?
• Romans 14:19-21 instructs us     to avoid the use of otherwise    permissible activities when we    might lead others to sin or harm another’s faith. Isn’t this worth thinking about in our country where there are an estimated 8 million pathological and problem gamblers and where 60 percent of adults have gambled within the past year? Do we ultimately feed an industry that preys on so many?
• We are called to be faithful stewards, or managers, of all God’s blessings all the time (Psalm 24:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; Luke 12:35-48). While gambling is only one in a long list of potential time and money wasters, the question needs to be asked: Is this a wise use of resources God has given, even when moderation is shown? Do we fail to support our churches and yet spend money on gambling?

Personally sinful? Yes or no.

After identifying pertinent issues and inviting self-examination, we entrust the matter to the conscience of the individual brother or sister, who is called to apply the Bible principles in his or her own life. Generally speaking, churches used to condemn gambling more quickly and comprehensively than they do now. Such is the power of culture. For the conscientious believer, however, the internal struggle to know and do what is wise, loving, and beneficial will continue. Your question is evidence of that.

Sometimes Christians might apply one principle somewhat differently than others. Let’s be quick to listen to their explanation and loving when we offer input. What we really want most is that believers grow spiritually and seek to do what shows love for their neighbor and respect for our gracious Lord.