Personal conviction vs Legalism
I have been personally convicted that I should abstain from all wagering.
I feel that wagering is by it's very nature covetous and the bible tells us "thou shalt not covet."
I believe that wanting to get something from somebody and to give them nothing in exchange is stealing, and this is also a "thou shalt not" Stealing by mutual consent is not any different than murder by mutual consent in a duel. It is still murder, and it is still theft.
I believe that gambling is distinctly different then investing, as you receive ownership in a security when you invest, and generally the money invested is used for productive means. It is not the risk that makes gambling immoral, it is the heart condition that you are cultivating -- wanting something in exchange for nothing.
The Television, Radio, Billboards, and every store in my community have state sponsored signs teaching us "It is good to play".
So my question is when a good Christian invites me to engage in one of these wagering activities, what is my proper response?
I agree with you. I think it's an issue of being a good steward with the money God has provided for us. I've faced similar situations (with Christians and non-Christians alike) and I respond that I don't feel like I'm being a good steward by gambling my money away...
If this is a personal conviction and not something that you feel that all Christians should agree with you about then I think you just handle it with a "no thanks." In my experience that seems to work in most situations. I wouldn't say, "No, I will not do that because it is wrong," when someone asks you to bet on the Idaho football game. Even if you think it is wrong for you, I think it is way too easy to communicate judgment to people and alienate them. Maybe someone else has the liberty to play the lottery, so you don't want to make them feel as if they are wrong for that artificially. If they are going to feel wrong for gambling it should be something that God has convicted them about.
That being said, I don't know if I agree with you about wagering being stealing. I think stealing is a crime with a victim and I don't think you can be a victim if you agree to take part in something (by buying a lottery ticket or putting in your $20 for the NCAA tournament pool). I think you clearly know that you may win or you may lose and that is part of the deal. A person who gets robbed never agrees to being robbed.
Good topic for discussion, Josh. I read the headline in Google reader and had to read it!
Much of my conviction stemmed out of an Adrian Rogers sermon.
I see a short essay on their website that is more articulate than mine.
I have usually dealt with these questions much like Donnie suggested. Politely declined without explanation.
I am really uncertain that this is the correct course of action -- particularly with Christians.
Even if it is not explicitly condemned by scripture I believe there is no doubt that it is enemy territory. A lot of good men and women have their lives destroyed by gambling. It is socially acceptable enough that there are not many warnings or stigma to make people think twice about engaging in this activity.
The fact that it is legal doesn't make it beneficial. 1 Corinthians 10:23
Is it right for me to let them continue without at least planting the question in their mind to wrestle with?
Is there a way to plant the question without being judgemental?
This is a great topic from a unique and insightful perspective. Regarding legalism and being judgmental, I’ll refer to what God says through Paul in Romans 14, summarized in verse 4: “Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
If someone is not a Christian, there is no agreed upon standard by which to measure behavior or decisions so it is not a discussion worth having. If asked your reasons for this or other decisions, it could be an opportunity to point people to the cross.
If, as you’ve framed this, you are talking with a brother or sister in Christ, I’d take a different tack then most of those to comment so far...
I believe Christians are too afraid to discuss such grayish issues as gambling with one another. We should be, but often aren’t, known by our love for on another (John 13:35). One way this love is expressed is in the way we treat one another when we disagree or feel strongly about a topic. The Bible clearly teaches a close, edifying, exhorting and admonishing relationship between Christians. How can we have that uniquely Christian relationship if we are not close, open or honest enough to discuss our beliefs about what is pleasing to our common Lord? This must always be done bearing in mind that we are required to “...accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7) We may not know if what we’re discussing glorifies God, but we know this attitude does. What is meant by acceptance is another topic ... maybe for another Blog entry...
That being said, I agree that gambling, wagering or otherwise wasting of God’s resources (Credit card interest!) isn’t good or glorifying to God. I always say that the lottery is a tax on people that are bad at math :) So is any other form of gambling . . . the house always wins and many scared and ruined people have contributed to your winnings, should you be one of the fortunate few who wins. There is something about work that God designed to help us grow into people He can use.
Besides, I gave God the chance once. I got a Clearing house sweepstakes and prayed to God that if He wanted me to get rich that way to let me win. I mailed it in and . . . no such luck! So I guess I’ll get up tomorrow and go to work...
Sorry, for my absence from the conversation for the past few days, I have been busy!
So much of my thought process is a reaction to my legalistic upbringing. It seemed like everything was condemned in the church I grew up in, and the pastor was just as dogmatic about women wearing pants as he was about Jesus being the Son of God. I am all for personal convictions, and, Josh I encourage you in your conviction that gambling is wrong for you. I am just cautious about people arriving at the same conclusion you have in an artificial way. In other words, I am uncomfortable with people getting their convictions from other people instead of God's Word directly or from a nudge from God.
Some friends of mine were told by their pastor that Halloween was wrong and was to be avoided by all Christians all the time. So every Halloween they either leave the house or stay inside with the lights off and be very, very quiet. I have a great deal of respect for that position; I just don't like the way they got to their position. I listened to the sermon where the pastor told them that Halloween was wrong and if you carried his Scripture references and mindset to its logical conclusion, then you shouldn't let your kids hunt for Easter eggs or celebrate Christmas either. I probably won't totally participate in Halloween when my son gets older, but that's not the point. I just don't like restrictions on people's Christian liberty that are not gained honestly.
Josh, I know you well enough to know that you would be loving and cautious when or if you get into this conversation with a fellow Christian. I guess I would just bring up Romans 14 or Galatians 5 in the same conversation and mention that it is a personal conviction and not a "law" for all Christians.
Greg, I am definitely with you on the lottery being a tax on people who are bad at math! Great topic, Josh!
I think my answer will be something like this:
"I gave up gambling because when I gamble, I find myself becoming covetous. I want to guard my heart against that spirit"
This keeps it personal. It is about me, not about them. It also clearly defines my concern, so when they gamble and they notice that spirit, they will consider their personal approach to how to deal with it.