Is there a Biblical ban on gambling?
score:8
The Bible does not mention the word Gamble or Gambling. It does however, have a lot to say about money and the love of money. While I'm not a fan of posting a link and saying, "Hey, just go read this", the article below is well written and I believe it does a much better job of answering this question than I can.
http://christianity.about.com/od/whatdoesthebiblesay/f/isgamblingasin.htm
Here is a small quote from the article:
Does the Bible Mention Gambling?
Although the words "gambling" and "gamble" do not appear in the Bible, we cannot assume that an activity is not a sin simply because it is not mentioned. Looking at p**nography on the Internet and using illegal drugs are not mentioned either, but both violate God's laws.
While casinos and lotteries promise thrills and excitement, obviously people gamble to try to win money. Scripture gives very specific instructions about what our attitude should be toward money:
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)
Gambling is a way to bypass work, but the Bible counsels us to persevere and work hard:
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Proverbs 10:4, NIV)
*EDIT
About casting lots
The Bible does mention "Casting Lots" but I wouldn't define this as gambling. Proverbs 16:33 says: The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. Also, in Acts, the disciples prayed and then cast lots: And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place." And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:24-26).
I've always understood that when lots were cast among believers, it was as if they were asking God a question. I believe that it's important to note that lots were cast by the disciples before Pentecost. After Pentecost, casting lots was not mentioned again.
Once you have the Spirit, who needs to cast lots?
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13
More post
- 📝 According to Roman Catholic Church is it only via Jesus you can come in Heaven?
- 📝 What contemporary criticism was given to Belloc's claim that the Protestant Reformation was the work of a few oligarchs?
- 📝 Were plenary indulgences issued during the crusades, as indicated by Dan Brown?
- 📝 Why do Catholic churches have a red lamp burning inside?
- 📝 According to reformed theology, how does the fall glorify God?
- 📝 What evidence is there to suggest that Daniel never existed?
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on the accuracy and truthfulness of the Bible?
- 📝 How do paedobaptists address the argument that infants are incapable of doing what those of Cornelius' household did?
- 📝 Why does God resort to genocide and destruction?
- 📝 In which language is the Bible most read today?
- 📝 Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees
- 📝 What are typical Christian responses to The Grand Inquisitor?
- 📝 Why was Yeshoua interpreted as Jesus in the new Testament?
- 📝 In which Christian denomination(s), do people plan their weddings around the bride's menstrual periods?
- 📝 Has the Catholic Church ever declared any group that identified itself Christian as not Christian?
- 📝 If I underwent baptism when I was an adult, but If now I am no longer certain that Jesus revived, then am I still a Christian?
- 📝 Do Catholics believe that Mary mother of Jesus is as holy as God?
- 📝 If miracles stopped after the Apostles, then why are there admonitions to pray over people?
- 📝 Do non-Christians go to hell?
- 📝 Is the enemy a creator relatively the same as God and creator of what?
- 📝 How to understand the paradox of 1John 5:3 and Mathew 5:29
- 📝 Do Latter Day Saints / Mormons consider themselves to be henotheists?
- 📝 What are the different views regarding the order of events for end-times prophecy?
- 📝 What is the difference between Apollinarianism and Eutychianism?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for specifically associating armageddon with fire from heaven?
- 📝 How do the ideas of authority and infallibility relate to tradition in the Catholic Church?
- 📝 What's the first recorded case of the Church's persecuting heretics?
- 📝 What is the significance of the donkey Jesus rode on Palm Sunday?
- 📝 Have a message in tongues and its interpretation ever been verified by an outsider fluent in both languages?
- 📝 How do Seventh Day Adventists interpret Philippians 1:27?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Is there a Biblical ban on gambling?
- 📝 Is there a biblical ban on running a casino?
- 📝 Is there any Biblical Basis for 400 years of silence between Old and New Testament?
- 📝 What is the Biblical evidence that there are ONLY three persons in the "Trinity"?
- 📝 Is there a Biblical basis for not believing that Global Warming is occurring?
- 📝 Modern revelation. Is there Biblical evidence against it?
- 📝 Is there a biblical basis for God calling one to place one's career above their other duties?
- 📝 Is there any biblical justification for referring to God as Mother?
- 📝 Is there any biblical support for copyright law?
- 📝 Is there any biblical support for the Church to allow governments to close churches and prevent public worship?
- 📝 What is the Biblical Basis of a "water canopy", and is there scientific evidence to support it?
- 📝 Are there any biblical incidents of people condemned for consensual premarital sex?
- 📝 Is there a biblical reason to limit information about creation to Genesis?
- 📝 Is there any Biblical basis for hating h*m*sexuals?
- 📝 Are there any biblical examples of Early Church disciples praying to deceased saints in order to request their intercessory prayer?
- 📝 Are there other biblical references where angels are disguised as humans?
- 📝 What biblical and historical support is there for the practice of child communion?
- 📝 What biblical basis is there for written records being kept around Jesus's time
- 📝 What Biblical support is there for a non-Churched Christianity?
- 📝 What biblical reasons are there for using the Lord's Prayer as a pattern for prayer rather than a prayer to repeat verbatim?
- 📝 Is there a doctrine or Biblical justification that explains why God chose the number 7 to be so significant?
- 📝 Is there an explanation for pre-humans from a biblical point of view?
- 📝 Is there Biblical support for the concept that 'Whenever a man lies with a woman...a transcendental relation is set up between them'?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the belief that there are humans in heaven now?
- 📝 Are there any Biblical passages that say that devil is able to make you doubt your faith?
- 📝 Is there any Biblical reference strictly speaking about God being timeless?
- 📝 Is there biblical reference to Michael, the archangel’s role and being?
- 📝 Is there biblical evidence of "cavemen"?
- 📝 Is there biblical basis for the claim that Pilate had no choice?
- 📝 Is there a Biblical basis for the concept of being allowed to "be angry with God" or "tell him just how we feel"
