Innocent Pastime or Dangerous Obsession?

Gambling and sports have been in the news lately. NBA referee Tim Donaghy is under investigation for conspiring with mafia types to affect the point spread on basketball games that he officiated.

It is no secret that gambling is huge business. Casinos seem to be on every corner. Nearly half of the US population buys at least one lottery ticket each year.

I was amazed when I did some quick web searches to discover that the 50% figure is consistently spread across all income and education levels. In other words, poor and uneducated people play the lottery as often as rich, highly educated folk.

If you channel surf cable or satellite television, you are likely to land on 2-3 poker programs. Some churches have been scrutinized for using bingo, poker games or monte carlo nights to raise funds for various ministries and agencies.

How should a Christian feel about gambling? Is it a fun diversion? Or does it ruin lives and therefore should be not only avoided but opposed?

I used to think it was the former- a harmless diversion. Before I came to strong anti-gambling convictions, I was an occasional gambler. I played a few hands of blackjack at casinos. I bet on sports games. I played my share of poker with friends. I bought a couple of lottery tickets. I bet on horses at the racetrack. It never really did anything for me. But I chalked it up to entertainment.

One trip I made to Vegas in 2001 was the turning point for me. I stared at the floor of a casino and felt tremendous sadness and empathy for what I saw. I saw thousands of people acting like addicts feeding slot machines as fast as humanly possible. There was no joy in their eyes. Just monotonous repetition and noise. From that point on, I have considered gambling to be a disease and not a fun little diversion.

I continued to play NCAA basketball pools until last year. Even though I occasionally won a pool, I enjoyed the tournament a whole lot more last year when there was nothing at stake. My disdain for gambling has recently extended to trying to avoid investing in any companies that profit from gambling.

Everyone has their hot buttons. You can make similar arguments against alcohol that I make against gambling. Alcohol destroys many lives. But I enjoy drinking wine and an occasional beer. Alcohol has some redeeming value when enjoyed in moderation. But the same cannot really be argued about gambling. I believe there will be alcohol in the new heavens and new earth but I doubt there will be gambling.

Jesus tells his disciples after sharing wine with them at the Last Supper in Matthew 26:29 , "I tell you, I will not drink of this wine from now on until I share it with you in my Father's kingdom." Alcohol is a good gift when used moderately. It can be terribly destructive when abused.

But gambling has no good purpose. Christ never mentions anything about the joys to be experienced from putting the financial resources that God has entrusted to you at risk through games of chance.

Hypocrisy you say! This is a man who makes his living from taking chances with investment money every day. True. But the investment markets use socially constructive methods to spread risk. It is a potential win/win proposition. Gambling is parasitic. It is almost always lose/win (as is network marketing where only 3% of participants ever turn a profit).

Other than writing this blog, I don't go around bashing people who gamble. I don't think it is healthy for Christians to be known only for what they are against. But gambling is a major issue with confessing Christians that is largely ignored from the pulpit. We should be taught to avoid gambling for four major reasons:

1. Gambling appeals to luck and chance disregarding the sovereignty of God.
2. Gambling violates the stewardship of money, abilities, time and health.
3. Gambling undermines a biblical work ethic and promotes materialism and a love of money.
4. Gambling destroys many lives and is potentially addictive.

Many biblical verses can be used as support to build a position of avoiding gambling. One of my favorite is Proverbs 12:11, "He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment." Gambling is investing for people who are really bad at math.

What do you think? Am I too hard on gambling? Your thoughts are welcomed.

For His Glory,

Ashley Hodge