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Dealing With Worldliness

Dealing With Worldliness. Gambling The sin of covetousness. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness?. Gambling Defined. Merriam-Webster, - to play a game for money or property

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Dealing With Worldliness

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  1. Dealing With Worldliness Gambling The sin of covetousness W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  2. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Gambling Defined Merriam-Webster,- to play a game for money or property American Heritage® Dictionary- To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest. - To play a game of chance for stakes. - To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit. World Book Encyclopedia:"Gamblers usually bet money or something else of value as a stake on the outcome they predict. When the outcome is settled, the winner collects the loser's stakes." W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  3. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Three Elements Of Gambling 1. The Uncertain Event - It is arbitrarily determined. 2. The Stake - Wager or bet that is deliberately chanced. 3. A Winner And Loser – one loses a possession wagered while the winner takes it from him ! W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  4. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Not Determined By Amount Or Degree • The amount of money or the value of the thing risked does not alter the Biblical principles violated. • For one to consistently object to another’s gambling, he must totally abstain. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  5. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Not Determined By Amount Or Degree “Gambling, for the compulsive gambler is defined as follows: Any betting or wagering, for self or others, whether for money or not, no matter how slight or insignificant, where the outcome is uncertain or depends upon chance or ‘skill’ constitutes gambling.” - (Gambler’s Anon. Web page) W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  6. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Different Forms • Casino gambling: slot machines, roulette wheels, dice and card games, numbers games, etc., played for stakes. • Betting on horses, dogs. • Lotteries. • Bingo, raffles - Charity or “church-sponsored” • Bazaar and fair booths - where you pay to try to win a prize, etc. • Amateur gambling - including poker games for money, Betting on the outcome of athletic events . . office pools, matching quarters for cokes or coffee, playing marbles for keeps. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  7. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Not Talking About: • The casting of lots - was not gambling, but a means of making a decision. - Acts 1:26. • Taking a risk – To cross a street - The farmer is not seeking to gain at the loss of another. • Buying and selling stock - an investment, not gambling. • Buying insurance - A honest business transaction – protecting self and family. • Prizes - When one registers to win a prize that is given away for advertisement, etc. • Competition for a prize – Not a wagered possession but won by skill and fair competition W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  8. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  9. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? A Widespread Problem • Over $500,000,000,000 (500 billion) a year in United States (More than combined expenses of Medicare & Medicaid). • According to the 2006 Gross Annual Wager Report, Americans lost nearly $91 billion on all forms of gambling combined. • The National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC) noted that Americans spend more on gambling than on recorded music, theme parks, video games, spectator sports and movie tickets combined. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  10. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? A Widespread Problem • Americans lost $32.4 billion gambling in commercial (non-Indian) casinos alone (2006). • 11 states house about 460 separate commercialized (non-Indian) casinos. The casinos' combined gross revenue in 2006 was $34.1 billion • 48 states have some form of legalized gambling. Hawaii and Utah remain the only gambling-free states. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  11. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? A Widespread Problem • “Lotteries are the most-played form of legalized gambling in the U.S.” In 1997 Americans wagered $35.8 billion on lotteries. ($135 for every man woman & child in nation). • 1963 Lotteries were banned in every state. Now 43 states & D.C. have lotteries. The seven remaining states that do not have lotteries are: AL, AK, HI, MS, NV, UT and WY W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  12. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? On November 4, 2008, voters approved a measure that allows a state lottery in Arkansas. It will become the 43d state to sell lottery tickets since New Hampshire started the first modern U.S. lottery in 1964. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  13. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Not A New Problem • The Greeks in Homer's time had knucklebones from sheep and goats that were marked to serve as dice. • A gambling board was discovered in Crete that dates back to 1800-1900 B.C. • Tertullian said, "If you say that you are a Christian when you are a dice player, you say what you are not, because you are a partner with the world." W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  14. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? A Growing Problem!! • Pathological gambling is one of the fastest-growing mental health problems in the western world. - (New England Journal of Medicine, 10/5/00) W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  15. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Caused By Greed & Covetousness • The “motor” for gambling is sinful – 1 Cor. 6:9,10; 1 Tim 6:9,10 • "Greed" is an eager desire for base gain – Ez. 22:12 • "Covetousness" is translated from two Greek words. One means a "greedy desire to have more." The second literally means "loving money.“ – Eph. 5:5 • If winnings were removed - would Casino’s and lotteries still prosper? W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  16. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Violates The Principle of Stewardship • Christians are to be responsible before God in how they invest the resources entrusted to them, - • Good stewards will be blessed - Luke 12:42,43; • Must glorify God - 1 Peter 4:10,11; • Must be faithful - 1 Cor4:1,2 W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  17. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Violates The Golden Rule • For one to win at gambling, others must lose – • Gambling is predicated on the losses, pain, and suffering of others- Gambling preys on the desperation of the poor • A Christian is NOT to take advantage of another – Prov. 14:31; 22:16; Hos. 12:7; Zec. 17:10; Phili 2:4; Mat. 7:12; 22:39; Gal. 5:13,14 W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  18. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Violates Means of Honest Gain • Gambling is the attempt to obtain the resources of others without providing equal value in return • Four means of scriptural gain: • By honest work – Pro. 13:11 • By fair exchange – Eph 4:28 • By investment – Mt 25:14-30 • By gift – Acts 20:35 • Gambling is consensual theft W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  19. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Can Result In Intemperance • The existence of Gamblers Anonymous implies that gambling can be addictive! – 1 Cor. 6:12; 2 Tim 3:3; 2 Pet. 1:6 • GA has grown rapidly – “the Number of Gamblers Anonymous Chapters Has Grown Rapidly. In 1960, there were 16 chapters in the U.S. This number grew to 130 in 1970, and by 1988, 600 chapters existed.” W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  20. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Can Result In Intemperance ADDICTION: “estimates list approximately 2.5 million people as pathological gamblers, another 3 million as problem gamblers, and another 15 million people as at risk to become problem or pathological gamblers.” Gambling Impact Study Commission, Final Report. Last Update: Jan. 28, 2001 W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  21. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Sets A Bad Example • Destroys One’s reputation - Proverbs 22:1 • Could lead others into sin - Mat 18:6; Rom 14:13; 1 Cor. 8:13 • Destroys one’s influence - Mat 5:13,14; Phili 2:15 W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  22. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? “…by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20). It Breeds Other Sins Associated with works of the flesh – Gal. 5:19-21 Family Problems Child abuse Spousal abuse Divorce Suicide General Crime Organized crime –in Gambling Areas General population - 1.1% Members of Gamblers Anon. - 13% Check forgery, Prostitution, Tax Evasion, Embezzlement, Illegal Drugs, Drunkenness, Robberies, and Credit Card Forgery W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  23. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Destroys Families “The tragedy of gambling addiction reaches far beyond the more than 15 million Americans who are problem or pathological gamblers. Employers, work associates, friends, and taxpayers often pay a steep price as well. However, it is family members who bear the brunt of the pain and misery that accompanies this addiction. In addition to material deprivations, family members frequently experience the trauma of divorce, child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence.” Ronald A. Reno Gambling's Impact on Familieshttp://www.family.org/cforum/research/papers/A0013772.html W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  24. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Destroys Families • Calls to the Gulf Coast Women’s Center crisis line doubled within the first three years of the casinos, to an average of 800 a month. • In Biloxi, the number of domestic violence incidents reported to authorities rose from 167 in 1992 to 715 in 1996, a 328% increase. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  25. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Destroys Families • Six hundred fifty additional divorces were granted in Harrison County the year after casinos arrived. • Longtime Gulf Coast chancery court Judge William L. Stewart said gambling is now a factor in at least a third of the divorce cases he oversees. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  26. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Destroys Families • The National Gambling Impact Study Commission reported: "Children of compulsive gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse, as well as neglect, as a result of parental problem or pathological gambling." • In Indiana, - 72 children were found abandoned on casino premises during a 14-month period. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  27. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Destroys Families • In Louisiana and South Carolina, children died after being locked in hot cars for hours while their caretakers gambled. • An Illinois mother was sentenced to prison for suffocating her infant daughter in order to collect insurance money to continue gambling. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  28. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Association With Evil Companions • Gambling establishments are host to other corrupting vices, including prostitution and drunkenness- Christians are to avoid such environments - 1 Thes 5:21,22; 1 Cor 15:33,34 • Supports an immoral, predatory and exploitative industry- Instead of partaking we are to expose – Eph. 5:7,11 W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  29. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? What About The Lottery? • 1. The Uncertain Event. It is arbitrarily determined. • 2. The Stake. Wager or bet that is deliberately chanced. • 3. A Winner And Loser – one loses a possession wagered while the winner takes it from him! • But Look at the good we can do! • Should We Do Evil That Good May Come? Rom. 3:8 W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  30. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Arkansas lottery director had 3rd highest pay package among 44 state lottery chiefs By Associated Press 7:00 AM CDT, June 18, 2009 LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- New Arkansas lottery director Ernie Passailaigue (pass-a-lay) has the third highest pay package among the nation's 44 state lottery directors. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette surveyed the compensation of state lottery directors and found that only Georgia and Tennessee pay their lottery administrators more than Passailaigue's $324,000 per year. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  31. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Incoming Arkansas lottery director wants to hire 2 VPs, pay $200K a year each ANDREW DeMILLO Associated Press Writer 3:59 PM CDT, June 12, 2009 LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The incoming director of Arkansas' lottery says he wants to hire two vice presidents to help run the games and pay each of them at least $200,000 annually. Ernie Passailaigue, . . . told members of the lottery commission Friday that he'd like to create a vice president of games and a vice president of administration. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  32. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? What About The Lottery? NGISC Commissioner Richard C. Leone - June 2001:"In my view, state lotteries have paved the way for great increases in legalized gambling. They have promoted the notion of beating the odds, they have been able to advertise while others have not, and they have propagated the myth that gambling is good for society in general and the government in particular. Lotteries are perhaps the hardest form of gambling to justify in terms of their costs and benefits. The best studies all point in the same direction: Lotteries prey on the poor and the undereducated.” Leone, Richard C., (The Century Foundation-www.tcf.org) Statement at CASA Conference, 2001. "High Stakes: Substance Abuse & Gambling". http://www.ncalg.org/news-leone.htm W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  33. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? The Raffle Ticket? • Has all three elements, • 1. The Uncertain Event. • 2. The Stake. • 3. A Winner And Loser. • Are we training our children that gambling is a legitimate means of raising money by selling raffle tickets to raise money for social events and organizations? W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  34. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Conclusion • Gambling is not harmless entertainment. • It is a greed-driven, predatory vice, scientifically designed to squeeze the maximum amounts of money possible from every single patron. • It is by its very nature an enterprise wholly dependent on victims- James C. Dobson, Ph.D. 1999 Focus on the Family. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  35. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? Conclusion • The spread of legalized gambling is exacting colossal social and economic costs. • Gambling expansion brings with it increased crime, divorce and family disruption, and it creates a multitude of new addicts. • Gambling also exploits the poor and youth. • Legalized gambling is harmful public policy that should be vigorously opposed at all levels. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  36. Gambling – Worldliness or Godliness? You Categorize Gambling Titus 2:11-12 (NKJV) 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

  37. W. 65th St church of Christ - June 21, 2009

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