Gambling and drinking

[Mac76]

Hello everyone, I am fairly new here and new on the path to salvation as well, and I need some help with gambling and drinking, and what the Bible says about these activities. Now let me first say that thankfully I am not addicted to either, praise God, and I pray for those that do struggle with these addictions. Now my question, is it a sin to gamble/drink and where in the Bible does it say so? Since I have been saved do I need to give up my once a month $10 poker game? If I have a friend stop by the house can I not have beer with him, or a glass of wine with dinner?

I want to be a good christian and follow God's word, and if it is a sin to do these things, then I have no problem giving up these activities. But I haven't found anything in the Bible about gambling, and I've found drunkenness and overindulgence, but I've also found where self-control is a virtue. I really need some guidance on these topics and any scriptures will be very helpful. Thanks

Mac

 

[Theogonia]

It isn't a sin to drink, just don't get drunk.

I'm not sure about gambling, if you don't get addicted I would think it's fine.

 

[Arclight610]

I do remember a passage where the disciples "cast lots" to see who should replace Judas. Gambling is nothing more than any other competetive game. It sounds like your doing it in plain fun so no problems! And on drinking, remember Jesus drank wine also. Just don't get wasted and don't if it is not legal for you to drink.

 

[w00dy]

im pretty sure its negativly metioned somewhere, but i cant remember where. your worries dont seem that bad to me. you should prey about it, the lord will answer your questions also if it makes you feel bad then dont do it, best advice i can give you.

edit: for my sins im a drinker btw

 

[ChrisCountryGirl]

Hi, welcome to CF

Drinking isn't a sin as long as you're not getting drunk

I don't believe in gambling but in your case it's okay

 

[SemperFidelis]

Like most things, I think drinking and gambling are fine of don in moderation.

If you only spend $10/month on gambling and this is money that you can afford to loose (I suppose that depends on how good you are at poker ), then I don't see it as any worse thn spending $10 on a movie ticket.

Just my opinion

Blessings,

Steve

 

[wtopneuma]

Paul teaches that if you doing something might cause a weaker person to sin, you should not do it. here in America, drinking would hurt your Christian witness. In many European countries, drinking would be no problem. Wine in the day of Jesus was diluted three parts water to one part wine. It was used to prevent being make sick by impure water. Gambling could hurt your Christian witness. This goes against the tenant that we are to look to God for all our needs as well as direction for our daily lives. gambling depends on luck rather then God. All sin is that which goes against how God set things up and promotes in His Word. Example-God gave Adam one wife thus anything different then one husband to one wife is sin

 

[TheDag]

Hi Mac76
I will try and find the verse for you but there is a passage that tells us we are to be wise stewards with what we have. So what you need to work out is if the $10 a month gambling is being a wise steward or not. I also want to emphasis what has been said about causing a weaker christian to stumble. The difficulty with that is how do you know which christians have a drinking or gambling problem? You need to be careful around those people. That is one reason that at my wedding there was no alcohol allowed. There were former alcoholics there and my wife and I did not want to be responsible for their backsliding. At the end of the day this is a decision that you need to pray about and settle on rather than follow what others tell you.

 

[Mac76]

Hi Mac76
I will try and find the verse for you but there is a passage that tells us we are to be wise stewards with what we have. So what you need to work out is if the $10 a month gambling is being a wise steward or not. I also want to emphasis what has been said about causing a weaker christian to stumble. The difficulty with that is how do you know which christians have a drinking or gambling problem? You need to be careful around those people. That is one reason that at my wedding there was no alcohol allowed. There were former alcoholics there and my wife and I did not want to be responsible for their backsliding. At the end of the day this is a decision that you need to pray about and settle on rather than follow what others tell you.

Thank you all for responding, and TheDag I was actually looking for scriptures to help me with this situation, while I appreciate everyone's opinions, I realize that these topics can cause great debate. Just in the few replies here there have been people saying it's ok, and people saying it is a sin to partake in these activities. I was looking for God's word on these things and I am having a hard time finding them. As I said I have found scriptures warning about drunkenness, but nothing on gambling. For me these topics fall under following God's law and NOT the rules set forth by man, so I want to make certain I have read all the scriptures involving these activities. Again I appreciate everyone's opinions and guidance, thank you very much!

 

[DIVA_for_Christ]

Hello everyone, I am fairly new here and new on the path to salvation as well, and I need some help with gambling and drinking, and what the Bible says about these activities. Now let me first say that thankfully I am not addicted to either, praise God, and I pray for those that do struggle with these addictions. Now my question, is it a sin to gamble/drink and where in the Bible does it say so? Since I have been saved do I need to give up my once a month $10 poker game? If I have a friend stop by the house can I not have beer with him, or a glass of wine with dinner?

I want to be a good christian and follow God's word, and if it is a sin to do these things, then I have no problem giving up these activities. But I haven't found anything in the Bible about gambling, and I've found drunkenness and overindulgence, but I've also found where self-control is a virtue. I really need some guidance on these topics and any scriptures will be very helpful. Thanks

Mac

Hello Mac76

For me I enjoyed having a social cocktail every now and then. However, I stopped drinking because, I didn't want to mess up my witness. Funny thing is now even if I wanted to have a drink alone at home I don't because it's been so long that 1 drink would make me tipsy and we aren't supposed to allow anything to cloud our minds or bodies.

As far as gambling goes, I do believe it's a sin because when Jesus was placed on the cross, they gambled away His clothes by casting lots. On top of that what the other posters mentioned about gambling being a sin I agree with.

I've copied some scriptures for you and a little something extra:

Matthew 27:34-36 (New Living Translation)

34The soldiers gave him wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it. 35After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[a] 36Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there.

Psalm 22:18 (New Living Translation)

18They divide my clothes among themselves and throw dice[a] for my garments.


Footnotes:

1. Psalm 22:18 Hebrew cast lots.

Lot -

1. An object used in making a determination or choice at random: casting lots.

1. The use of objects in making a determination or choice at random: chosen by lot.
2. The determination or choice so made.

Main Entry: cast lotsPart of Speech: verbDefinition: draw lotsSynonyms: cut lots, draw straws, lot
Main Entry: chancePart of Speech: verb 1Definition: riskSynonyms: attempt, cast lots, draw lots, gamble, hazard, jeopardize, plunge, speculate, stake, tempt fate*, tempt fortune*, toss up*, try, venture, wager, wildcat