The lottery is like slots. They both take in money from many and pay back a certain percentage to a few. But the slots usually return a much much larger percentage (98% vs. 64%). It makes the old statement about the lottery very obvious - "its a tax on people bad at math." So maybe the lottery is a sin - by the state.

 

Hmmm...maybe its the lottery people that are the real anti-slotters... Slots will likely hurt the lottery badley in the track/slot market places and will likely put a big hit on the lottery in general. Is that the reason for the opposition from communities that are far away from the tracks? Just a random thought.

 

Sources:

 

http://www.harrahslasvegas.com/casinos/harrahs-las-vegas/casino-gambling/

 

Play more than 1,200 of the latest reel slots and video poker machines. Slot denominations range from 1 cent to $500 and our slots pay up to 98 percent return.

 

http://www.kylottery.com/apps/player/about_us/history_years/history_0013.html

 

This led to the largest amount ever paid on prizes to players - $493.1 million, or 63.4% of sales.

Ladies, good point, but look up how the 11 disciples picked the next disciple to replace Judas.

 

I'll give the answer later if you are not able to do it anytime soon.

Edited November 19, 200916 yr by Alabama Larry
Left out a word

The only thing that I can think of that would make me squeamish about it, is that the Roman soldiers/guards gambled for Jesus' clothes after they had beaten him.

 

That doesn't put gambling in a good light.

 

Not saying it forbids it but does associate gambling with the worse moment of our history.

 

 

So because of that one instance, you could make the giant leap that gambling is a sin?

"Everything is permissable, but not everything is beneficial"

 

It is in one of the epistles, but I don't know the exact reference. Everything CAN be a sin and Everything CANNOT be a sin - it is all about balance and moderation.

 

I would say that simply buying clothes made from slave-wage laborers is much more of a sin than buying a scratch off ticket.

 

The questions we must ask is does our action cause harm to other people or to our relationship with God?

Nice post Ace.

"Everything is permissable, but not everything is beneficial"

 

It is in one of the epistles, but I don't know the exact reference. Everything CAN be a sin and Everything CANNOT be a sin - it is all about balance and moderation.

 

I would say that simply buying clothes made from slave-wage laborers is much more of a sin than buying a scratch off ticket.

 

The questions we must ask is does our action cause harm to other people or to our relationship with God?

 

 

So it's possible that stealing, lying, adultery, etc.. is not a sin? :confused: I think it's rather obvious that your conscience bothers you when you buy a lottery ticket AL. That should tell you something. Do you think Jesus would buy a lottery ticket?

LR, you are right, the reason it would bother me if someone I knew saw me and that would put THEM at a discomfort. Me buying one doesn't bother me, if it did would I share this with you with my church members also being memebers of BGPs?

 

Jesus would buy one. he would win and share the money with people who need it. Just like his first miracle.

 

I put myself out here to get/give ideas on this subject. No way do I see what I do as wrong.

LR, you are right, the reason it would bother me if someone I knew saw me and that would put THEM at a discomfort. Me buying one doesn't bother me, if it did would I share this with you with my church members also being memebers of BGPs?

 

Jesus would buy one. he would win and share the money with people who need it. Just like his first miracle.

 

I put myself out here to get/give ideas on this subject. No way do I see what I do as wrong.

 

 

Why would Jesus need to buy one? Jesus never coveted money. Isn't that what you're doing Larry? Why else would you be playing the lottery? Don't tell me it's for entertaiment purposes only. He already has given people the perfect gift, and too many choose not to accpet it.

 

 

 

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10, NIV)

 

"No servant can serve two masters. [Jesus said.] 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." (Luke 16:13, NIV)

 

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. (1 Timothy 6:10,NIV)

 

Isn't gambling just a way to bypass work, a get rich quick scheme.The Bible tells us to persevere and work hard:

 

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Proverbs 10:4, NIV)

Here's the way I feel:

 

What may be a sin for me, may not be a sin for you.

 

For instance, if you can buy a lottery ticket every once and a while, and you don't buy it with money that you should be spending on groceries, then it's not a sin for you. If I, though, spend my kids lunch money on lottery tickets, then I'm sinning. The sin isn't in the act of buying a lottery ticket, or gambling. The sin in these sorts of situations is not controlling one's behavior and willfuly chosing a behavior that is harmful to myself or others.

 

Everything isn't going to be laid out in black and white in the Bible or anywhere else. Pretty much, everything sinful can be traced back to a what Catholics call Cardinal sins: Wrath (Anger), Avarice (Greed), Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy and Gluttony.

"Everything is permissable, but not everything is beneficial"

 

It is in one of the epistles, but I don't know the exact reference. Everything CAN be a sin and Everything CANNOT be a sin - it is all about balance and moderation.

 

The questions we must ask is does our action cause harm to other people or to our relationship with God?

 

One of my very favorite Scriptures.:thumb:

Here's the way I feel:

 

What may be a sin for me, may not be a sin for you.

 

For instance, if you can buy a lottery ticket every once and a while, and you don't buy it with money that you should be spending on groceries, then it's not a sin for you. If I, though, spend my kids lunch money on lottery tickets, then I'm sinning. The sin isn't in the act of buying a lottery ticket, or gambling. The sin in these sorts of situations is not controlling one's behavior and willfuly chosing a behavior that is harmful to myself or others.

 

Everything isn't going to be laid out in black and white in the Bible or anywhere else. Pretty much, everything sinful can be traced back to a what Catholics call Cardinal sins: Wrath (Anger), Avarice (Greed), Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy and Gluttony.

 

:thumb: That actually sums up exactly the way I feel about it. Thank you.

Ladies, be careful...I have some verses for you too. I'm 56 years old I know the difference. I put this thread out there and I am being honest and kinda knew I might take a few hits.

 

Is Judging others a Sin? Like I said I have some verses for you too. You have none.

Ladies, be careful...I have some verses for you too. I'm 56 years old I know the difference. I put this thread out there and I am being honest and kinda knew I might take a few hits.

 

Is Judging others a Sin? Like I said I have some verses for you too. You have none.

 

 

 

I'm not sure who you are calling ladies, but what about the verses I provided for you AL?

Ladies, good point, but look up how the 11 disciples picked the next disciple to replace Judas.

 

I'll give the answer later if you are not able to do it anytime soon.

 

Good point.

The only thing that I can think of that would make me squeamish about it, is that the Roman soldiers/guards gambled for Jesus' clothes after they had beaten him.

 

That doesn't put gambling in a good light.

 

Not saying it forbids it but does associate gambling with the worse moment of our history.

 

Ladies, be careful...I have some verses for you too. I'm 56 years old I know the difference. I put this thread out there and I am being honest and kinda knew I might take a few hits.

 

Is Judging others a Sin? Like I said I have some verses for you too. You have none.

 

I'm not sure who you are calling ladies, but what about the verses I provided for you AL?

 

I am thinking me.

 

AL, notice I said the only thing that makes me squeamish about gambling but then followed it up with a statement that is was not forbidden but just associated with one of the worse moments of our history.

 

Are you judging the content of my posts and sinning?:D:D:p:p