Gambling?

[firechild]

I was reading a thread on the Non-denom. forum about whether gambling is a sin. i currently attend a non-denom church where the pastor thinks poker is a good analogy to life. I was raised methodist, and am a member of a methodist church. One of my good methodist friends holds strongly to the belief that the UMC is anti-gambling. Is this true? What are your thoughts? I don't gamble myself, but i don't know what i think about it being inherently wrong or not.

*C*

[Morgaine1205]

Hi Firechild, and welcome!

I looked up gambling in the Book of Discipline, in social principles, and it says the following: "Gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic and spiritual life and destructive of good government. As an act of faith and concern, Christians should abstain from gambling and should strive to minister to those victimized by the practice." It goes on, but I agree with the church's stance - I have been gambling before when Kansas City opened it's new casinos, but I really hated it, I just kept thinking how hard I had to work to earn the money to throw away. The atmosphere in the place isn't good (smoking, drinking, skimpy clothes, etc) and I've seen what addiction to gambling can do to someone. My brother was addicted and he almost lost everything, we had to take him in and support him for a while.

[Jadis40]

I don't believe that gambling is a sin per se, but I think it is a waste of resources that could go towards more fruitful things, such as providing food and clothing and other truly neccessary things for living etc. Not to mention the potential for addiction.

[silentpoet]

I think it is one of those areas where as Christians we need to ask "even if it is not forbidden, are we setting a good example for others when we do it?"

[David_The_Disciple]

well this is like drinking or smokeing, It can be a sin if gets in the away of God and you. And it invites you to do other sins as well. Its like playing with fire. Its all fun till you start a fire it may be small at 1st but it will and can burn down the house. So you just got to go with the Holy Ghost and if you feel like you should not then dont.