Is poker sinful?

[JohnathanM]

I play poker as a hobby and am wondering if it is sinful. I tend to think it's not, but want to hear people's opinions. I think that it's like anything else, if you let it control your life and let it further you from God, then it is sinful. Like I said, it's more of a hobby for me and I have taken long breaks in the past without any problems.

I'm a poster at a poker forum and we had a similar dicussion. We never found an answer, although it was atheists who were using scripture to show how we, the christians on the poker forums, were hypocrytes. Needless to say they were twisting scripture to fit their needs.

 

[constance]

Can you find any prohibition about gambling or gaming in the Bible?

There are some passages which people have tried to apply...but (I don't gamble, I don't feel it's being a good steward of my money) I think it is a personal decision.

Perhaps it is not the best use of your time...but I can find no prohibition.

Constance

 

[jubilationtcornpone]

The Bible does not specifically prohibit gambling. However, we must recognize that such activities can sometimes be sinful, and are often unwise. Gambling to satisfy one's avarice, for example, is sinful indeed. In addition, since gambling can be both addictive and destructive, we must recognize that promoting it as a regular pasttime can be quite unwise.

 

[graysparrow]

For money, yes it can easily lead to sin, if you are playing with chips that's another matter.

 

[ThirdDay3337]

If it is for money, then it is against what Jesus is saying because he said to be good stewards with our money. We could use that money that we play poker with to give to the poor or the Church instead of for fun.

If it is only for chips or no money, then I say all in.

Brother in Christ,
Luke

 

[f.o.o.t.man]

Can you find any prohibition about gambling or gaming in the Bible?

There are some passages which people have tried to apply...but (I don't gamble, I don't feel it's being a good steward of my money) I think it is a personal decision.

Perhaps it is not the best use of your time...but I can find no prohibition.

Constance

I also don't think that gambling is being a very good steward of one's money. I don't play poker or any card game at all, but it doesn't have anything to do with morals. I'm absolutely terrible at anything involving luck...or skill for that matter.

 

[foadle]

The Bible has no command "Thou shalt not play poker". I will however raise a few questions to help you answer whether or not poker is sinful for you.
1. Why do you play poker?
If it is not an escape of some sort then there is no problem.
2. Does it take you away from other things you should be doing?
If you still have time to be with God, family, go to work (in the right degree of wakefulness), etc. etc. I can see no problem
3. Do you control the game or does it control you?
If in all honesty you are not haning out for your next "poker fix" then I can see no problem

I hope this is making sence.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Playing Poker is not sinful but playing Poker for money is sinful. Greed and covetousness are sin (Ex. 20:18; I Tim. 6:9; Heb 13:5), and these are motives in most gambling. Proverbs warns of disaster for people who want to get rich quickly (28:20,22). Gambling can be addictive, and even if you don't fall prey to it as a compulsive habit, your example may cause others to be enslaved by it (I Cor. 8:9, 13).

 

[Tractor1]

How many of those who've voiced their opinions regarding the wise stewardship of money enjoy an entertaining night out with a loved one? Why would a friendly game of cards be any different? For that matter, if a person is skilled enough to make a living playing poker how is that considered poor stewardship?

In Christ,
Tracey

 

[David65]

What about penny-ante? If the total money you are likely to win or lose wouldn't buy dinner for two at McDonalds, can it really be interpreted as bad stewardship? Can it really be said to be motivated by greed or covetousness?

 

[JimfromOhio]

In Proverbs 21:2 says, "People may think they are doing what is right, but the Lord examines the heart." (NLT) Wealth that is earned for personal growth rather than spiritual growth is not being used to fulfill God’s purpose. God is the one who gave me the ability to make a good living and have a great job. The word steward means: manager, custodian, caretaker, administrator, or trustee of God's properties. The steward is the person that effectively and efficiently uses the money and resources that God has given to as Christian duty.

It is important that we look from God's perspective in our stewardship so that we are not pursuing desires against God's will and purpose. Because if we are pursuing our selfish desires rather than God's will and purpose, then our motives are wrong.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Shut Up and Deal.

 

[onajourney87]

Some times, friends and I will pay $9 each and see a movie in the theater.

Other times, we play poker (we each start with $5 and don't go higher than that) and talk.

I really don't see a difference between the two, except that talking over a game of poker tends to lead to deeper conversations than short convos after a movie.

If someone can show me a difference between the two Biblically, cool... but I kinda doubt it.

 

[shinbits]

I love hold 'em poker, so I had to respond to this thread!

Ecclesiastes says that nothing is wrong in of itself. Gambling is unwise, and gambling in a way that is a detriment to yourself is foolish. But foolishness alone is not a sin, though the Bible is against foolish behavior.

Poker/gambling is not a sin, but it's better to not do it at all.

I haven't been to a casino in about two years, and I don't think I'll ever play for real money again, just because it's against my personal conviction.

However......

I do like playing online poker for fake money.

 

[Hewitt]

Some times, friends and I will pay $9 each and see a movie in the theater.

Other times, we play poker (we each start with $5 and don't go higher than that) and talk.

I really don't see a difference between the two, except that talking over a game of poker tends to lead to deeper conversations than short convos after a movie.

If someone can show me a difference between the two Biblically, cool... but I kinda doubt it.

Amen to that.

 

[Faulty]

I don't believe its a sin either unless it becomes a substitute for God in any area, such as tithing or your devotion.

I have a feeling that if I were to ask the pastor of my youth this very same question he would reply, "Does it edify your spirit and glorify God? No? Then what's the point?"

 

[Brownsy]

My poker skills are lamentable so Idon't play anyway, but I don't see how it is necassarily sinful.

If you are playing for chips or just for fun, I can't see why it is a problem at all. If you and a few mates are playing for a few dollars, I would say no issue either, as has been mentioned i don't see why that would be different then seeing a movie or paying for any other type of entertainemt for that matter.

If you are playing outside your financial means, I would say that yes it is sinful, as well as foolish. I would also consider the same applies if you are playing with others who are playing outside their financial means, as the bible makes it clear that we shoulsn't lead others into sin and temptation. If you are playing to make money I would be very worried about the possibility of taking money of those that can't afford it.

Just my humble opinion.

Blessings to you all

 

[DiscipleDave]

Some times, friends and I will pay $9 each and see a movie in the theater.

Other times, we play poker (we each start with $5 and don't go higher than that) and talk.

I really don't see a difference between the two, except that talking over a game of poker tends to lead to deeper conversations than short convos after a movie.

If someone can show me a difference between the two Biblically, cool... but I kinda doubt it.

The biggest difference between those two, is when you give the nine dollars you are not desiring to have it back. on the other hand when you play poker the sole purpose everyone puts in money to begin with is the hopes to win all of it. If this was not the case you would only play with chips and no money at all. Therefore when people agree to pay money to play poker, they are only agreeing so that they will have a chance to win all of it. This desire to win all of it, is what becomes sinful.
Here is what you do, if you really want to give money to play poker, and you do not want to win all of it, then have everyone agree to accept money from each player, and give the total money to charity and the winner will get patted on the back. If then playing poker is what it is all about, and it is not about the money, this doing this should be no problem, you still get to play poker because that is what you like to do, and there is no greedy desire to win the entire game to get money, give it to a charity.
For some reason though you take winning the money out of the scenario, Poker just isn't that fun is it ?
Any time a person give a little bit of money, in hopes to gain alot more back, through games of LUCK, it is sin. Not because it is Gambling, but because it is GREED.
Give expecting nothing back = Godly
Give litlle expenting much more back in return = worldly and is Greedy.

I really don't see a difference between the two, except that talking over a game of poker tends to lead to deeper conversations than short convos after a movie.

If then playing poker is what you like to do, and talking to your friends while you are playing, why pay five dollars at all, what for ??? you can play poker with your friends, and talk while playing poker, and pay nothing at all, why add the element of money, if it is not for greedy reasons. You pay the money, hoping you will win more then you paid. Satan recruited 1/3 of all the angel of Heaven hoping to gain ALL of Heaven, even the throne that God Himself sat on. all GREED.

If the money is no big deal in Poker, then why play with it ?

 

[DiscipleDave]

I play poker as a hobby and am wondering if it is sinful. I tend to think it's not, but want to hear people's opinions. I think that it's like anything else, if you let it control your life and let it further you from God, then it is sinful. Like I said, it's more of a hobby for me and I have taken long breaks in the past without any problems.

I'm a poster at a poker forum and we had a similar dicussion. We never found an answer, although it was atheists who were using scripture to show how we, the christians on the poker forums, were hypocrytes. Needless to say they were twisting scripture to fit their needs.

Sin is anything that you do, that is contrary to sound doctrine. That is if the Bible says you should do this, and you do not do that, then to you it is sin. The Bible defines to us, what is sin.

A person who pays some money to play poker in hopes to win more money then he paid is violating this verse, which is sinful.

1Cor:10:24: Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Now if you pay money to play poker and have a pure heart and desire that others win the money, then you have not sinned, but if you desire to win the money, how have you desired that others are made rich. in this, that you desire to win the money ( GREED ) you have sinned according to Scriptures, because you have not seeked for others to win, but seeked for yourself to win.

Is playing poker a sin ? No, is playing poker for money hoping you will be the winner of all the money a sin ? Yeah, its the definition of Greed.

know you not the definition of Covetous:
1 : marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions</I> </I>
2 : having a craving for possession <covetous of power</I>></I>
is this not EXACTLY what playing Poker for money IS, do you not pay a little in hopes to win everyone elses money. This is the definition of covetous, which you know full well is SIN.

Look at most of the post on this board, most are saying it is sinful to play for money, but OK to play with chips. This is a True and accurate statement.

Here is yet another verse:
Rom:14:23: And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

if then a person is having doubts about a particular thing ( like if playing poker for money is a sin or not ) and even though they have doubts about it, yet they do it any way, commits sin, because they do it not in faith. For it is written WHATSOEVER is not of Faith is sin
if you do something and you don't know for sure that it is OK, then it is not done in FAITH, and is sin.

 

[Faulty]

Is playing poker a sin ? No, is playing poker for money hoping you will be the winner of all the money a sin ? Yeah, its the definition of Greed.

know you not the definition of Covetous:
1 : marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions</I> </I>
2 : having a craving for possession <covetous of power</I>></I>
is this not EXACTLY what playing Poker for money IS, do you not pay a little in hopes to win everyone elses money. This is the definition of covetous, which you know full well is SIN.

Alright. Let me ask you this question. Is investing a sin?

The easiest example to give would be stock options. Lets say I buy a call option contract for stock XYZ for $1000. On the other side of this transaction is an individual who receives my $1000 for selling the call option contract.

I'm hoping the price of XYZ stock goes up to the point where I can recoup my initial $1000 as well as make an additional profit - from the pocket of the seller. The seller is hoping the stock price remains in an area where he can keep all or some of my initial $1000 investment.

He is taking this risk because he wants my money and likewise I want his. Is this a sin?

If so, this process can be applied to almost any stock transaction taking place on any other market other than the primary market. In other words, buying the stock from an exchange , such as the NYSE or NASDAQ, rather than from XYZ company directly during an offering.

If you have an IRA or 401k invested in variable funds, you are participating in this process to an extent. That's a lot of sinning people are unaware of.