How do we get casinos shut down?

[Stinker]

Does anyone know what U.S. citizens can do to get these cancers removed from our communities? I have tried searching the Internet but almost all I found was pro-gaming sites.

 

[billwald]

The Indian casinos usually have good, cheap buffets.

 

[NTGRTY]

Witness to the owner, invite the owner to church, pray for the Lord to convict the owner's heart, ask your church to pray for the owner. Repeat for a week. That's step one. If step one doesn't seem to be working, assign every member of your chuch a day in the month and have them execute step one on the assigned day.

He will either convert and shut down or find a less Christian community.
(In case of the latter, call the churches in that community and pray for them as well)

 

[BigNorsk]

Quit spending money there, get others to quit spending money there.

The bible says you can't worship God and money and what are casinos but a big temple of the god, MONEY. People would be up in arms if you built a temple of Satan in their town yet people don't think much about all the worshipers down at the local casino.

The so called industry admit there are some addicts yet why would anyone go there for any amount of time at all if they weren't an addict? It's out and out greed and even our government is in the racket.

I demonstrate the lottery this way. Take a group of kids, give each 5 dollar bills. Tell them you're going to do a lottery, each gives a buck. You give the winner 5. Oops hold it, there are taxes, just give him 4. Of course if he wants it right away he can take 2 or he can have 1 a year for 4 years. Ask if they want to play again.

I really do think education at an early age would work.

Marv

 

[artjack]

dont use them, god gives us a choise it is up to us what we do with it. ignor them

 

[HeartFullaLove]

I'll lay 10 to one odds that you can't close them. ;-)

 

[pjalford]

In most cases the owners of these places are large corporations, not individual people.

The best thing to do is to pray, pray, pray for the people who run the corporations to become so convicted that they will have to shut their businesses down, as unlikely as that seems.

The Bible says that nothing is impossible with God.

 

[DanielRB]

Does anyone know what U.S. citizens can do to get these cancers removed from our communities? I have tried searching the Internet but almost all I found was pro-gaming sites.

Hi Stinker,

I agree that these are a cancer--there are a lot of casinos near where I live, and its sad to see that those who least can afford to gamble do so, with money that should be used for living expenses.

I feel that the best way is to witness and help those who use (or really, are being used by) the casinos. Also, those who work there and those who own them. I think shame might help some--make people see what an evil industry this really is. That fits in well with the prophetic role of the church.

Frankly, I don't think legal action will help much to shut them down. The best way to shut them down--like the best way to shut down the narcotics trade--is to reduce the demand.

In Christ,

Daniel

 

[knownbeforetime]

My town wanted to put one in but a lot people from my former church went to the town council meetings to politely protest. In the end, no casino. Praise the Lord!

I say prevention is the best medicine.

 

[HeartFullaLove]

If you already have a casino, think of it in Jesus' terms -- a "field white to harvest." Where better to find people who really need Jesus? Find a way to reach people as they go in or out of the place. Hold banners or signs saying, "Don't gamble with your eternity -- Trust Jesus!" and "Bet on Jesus! Ask us how!" You can legally do this from the public walkways out front where the driveways to the place are. Be ready for spit, fingers (winners of the "Guess Your Own IQ Contest"), mocking comments and questions, and sincere questions. Keep extra bibles handy to give away. (Most dollar stores have them for a buck each.)

Don't argue over gambling. Stick to the basics. "Where would you go if you died and were judged tonight?" See Way of the Master with Ray Comfort for good tips.

For help with signs or banners, contact Jim Webber. http://innglory.org/biog/Jim_Webber.htm

I must add that you need to be prepared to stand your ground when it comes to your right to be on the sidewalk as police will LIE to you about it. One guy who will bring you up to speed on free speech and public property can be contacted through his website at www.portlandporcupine.com. He is not an attorney but has helped a lot of ministries with this.

 

[PaladinValer]

There is nothing wrong with casinos. There is something wrong with people who cannot control themselves.

Don't ruin the fun of everyone else because a few don't have any discipline.

**lays down his cards**

Full House of Kings and Sevens!

**takes the pot**

 

[tommiegrant]

My friend I agree that this is a cancer and it is so sad when Christians go in for this kind of thing. Saddly the house of Christ will have to be united on this before a real battle can be wages. The Church is greatly divided on this issue as my home state of Tennessee clearly showed when the lottery came to a vote. As hard as we fought it it was the the defectors from the the churches that allowed the lottery to pass so overwhelmingly. Since churches have split and many families have suffered.
I wish we had a magic bullet to end this non sense as well as other social evils that have fallen on us. Until then we can pray that God will work a great miracle for prayer is firing the winning shot.
In Christ
Tom

 

[PaladinValer]

What's really sad is the pietism of the above post. That's truly what is sickening.

"I'm a better Christian than you!"
"I don't do that, and you need to do that or else!"

The above isn't Christian. It is pietism.

 

[GodsNhilist]

I do not see how a casino is causing a person to worship money as implied in the original post. Most people play in casinos for fun. I see nothing wrong with that.

There are certainly gambling addicts, which is sad, but likewise there are alcoholics, drug addicts and sex addicts. Some individuals may need help, but you will be hard pressed shutting casinos down.

 

[HeartFullaLove]

Like I said, it would be a good place to preach.

 

[GodsNhilist]

Have christians with signs at concerts or other events ever had much luck with their preaching? News coverage of Marilyn Manson concerts comes to mind. How many recruits to you think they manged to find?
No one likes to have religion forced down their throats.

 

[HeartFullaLove]

Have christians with signs at concerts or other events ever had much luck with their preaching? News coverage of Marilyn Manson concerts comes to mind. How many recruits to you think they manged to find?
No one likes to have religion forced down their throats.

Actually such things have always been part of the process. Preaching is foolishness, but it is God's foolishness which He has chosen to save the lost. (1 Corinthians 1)

Think of it this way: Preaching is like taking a plow to fallow ground and planting seed. You are not going to see much reaping from that because that is not your job at that point. However, the seed goes down and the Spirit uses that Word to work from the inside. Later, God sends someone to water and weed. Eventually the blade comes up through the ground -- the first sign that the seed was sown of any value. Yet it is a lot more down the road before fruit is evident.

I've been involved in a lot of preaching at events (including Christian events) and God has given me comfort in allowing me to see the fruit from time to time.

(BTW, you take your cues from "news coverage"? That's sad.)

 

[GodsNhilist]

Actually such things have always been part of the process. Preaching is foolishness, but it is God's foolishness which He has chosen to save the lost. (1 Corinthians 1)

Think of it this way: Preaching is like taking a plow to fallow ground and planting seed. You are not going to see much reaping from that because that is not your job at that point. However, the seed goes down and the Spirit uses that Word to work from the inside. Later, God sends someone to water and weed. Eventually the blade comes up through the ground -- the first sign that the seed was sown of any value. Yet it is a lot more down the road before fruit is evident.

I've been involved in a lot of preaching at events (including Christian events) and God has given me comfort in allowing me to see the fruit from time to time.

(BTW, you take your cues from "news coverage"? That's sad.)

I don't take "cues" from news coverage, I merely gave an example that came to mind. I could have easily used the example of angry christian protesters at the gay pride parade every year. The fact is I do not preach my beliefs to others, I have friends of other religions and do not believe in forcing my religion down anyone's throat.
My question to those that carry signs and picket was... Have you had much success with this process?

 

[HeartFullaLove]

I don't take "cues" from news coverage, I merely gave an example that came to mind. I could have easily used the example of angry christian protesters at the gay pride parade every year. The fact is I do not preach my beliefs to others, I have friends of other religions and do not believe in forcing my religion down anyone's throat.
My question to those that carry signs and picket was... Have you had much success with this process?

My answer you your last question was, "Yes" in case you missed it.

I have preached at hoimosexual events and gotten in some excellent conversations as a result. Likewise for events where other religions were represented. It is not "forcing down people's throats" to preach. There is no gun to their heads. They can leave and believe what they want -- or they can stay and dispute -- or stay and quietly listen. I have friends who believe all sorts of things. my friend tracy is an atheist (though I call him agnostic) and we get along just fine. Do I preach to him? Yes, sometimes, but we also share other interests -- guns, politics, free speech rights, etc. However, I cannot force anything down his (or anyone else's) throat. I can plant seed.

When you say you could use the example of the "angry christian protesters" at the homosexual event, were you THERE? Were these people angry or simply lifting their voices to be heard by a lot of people? Were they "protesting" the event or there to preach and witness?

 

[DanielRB]

Hi All,

It's obvious that gambling is a controversial issue among Christians. Some view it has mostly harmless fun, while others view it as inherently wrong. Still others view it as wrong for a Christian, but don't believe that legal action should be taken to end it.

Gambling is thus viewed like alcohol or drugs. Many people can use alcohol and other drugs with no serious short- or long- term negative effects, while others become addicts and misuse them.

That's the irony of using the "meat sacrificed to idols" argument--to those who it's an important issue, it's not viewed that way. Those who view it as "meat sacrificed to idols" will look at it as a matter of choice; those who think that these things are essentially evil will never view it as "meat sacrificed to idols".

Personally--and I know many will disagree--I see gambling as something that appeals to people's greed, and that there are many (not just a few) who misuse it. I see countless people who ruin their financial situation by gambling. Yes, those people have a problem. But I don't view the gaming industry as "harmless". Those people are looking for (and finding) suckers who can't do math and figure out what a rip off it really is.

I would not disfellowship a fellow believer who gambles, nor would I try to use the power of the state to shut down a gambling casino. But I think that casinos do not help society, do not help Christians, and appeal to the basest of our instincts. Yes, I view them as a cancer on society--or more accurately, a boil on the butt of our nation.

I find it ironic that many states (including my own) try to promote education by promoting gambling (the "lottery scholarships" in NM.) We tell the kids that education is valuable and you have to work hard in school to get ahead in life--or, just buy the "right" lotto ticket, and all will be great!

In Christ,

Daniel