May I ask your opinion?

[YahwehOrNoWay]

My mother-in-law is a christian and works in a bingo hall. What is your view of this?

 

[Yarddog]

My mother-in-law is a christian and works in a bingo hall. What is your view of this?

Being a Bingo hall means little. It is not what you do but why your do it that matters.

Does she behave as a Christian there or does she act other wise?

 

[onemorequestion]

My mother-in-law is a christian and works in a bingo hall. What is your view of this?

No problem.

 

[Singermom]

To make a very long story short, my husband and I worked for a Bingo hall when we were living and working in a homeless organization. The org. paid us with food & lodging; the Bingo hall paid us $20/wk. each for pocket money. WH sold scratch tickets, I kept track of the money. I guess in my particular case, my being a Christian was a solid advantage. So, I see no problem with it.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

My mother-in-law is a christian and works in a bingo hall. What is your view of this?

My view on this is that your mother-in-law is a Christian and she works in a bingo hall.

It's like being a Christian and working at an office. Or as a bank teller. Or a convenient store clerk. Or [fill-in-the-blank-job-here].

I think gambling can be an addiction people succumb to, but moralizing on gambling--especially something as innocuous as bingo--is patently absurd. It's like moralizing on hair cuts, fashion and cosmetics.

Christian ethics aren't about moralizing, but about faithfulness to Christ and discerning our behavior vis-a-vis other people.

Strictly taking gambling in and of itself, a Christian response to those who do get tangled up in a gambling addiction and become self-destructive is to extend them compassion, healing, prayer, and help. Turning it into an opportunity of moralizing, of condescension and other forms of haughtiness and self-righteousness is antithetical to the calling Christians have toward others.

We must never try and color up our moralism, legalism, and arrogance with pious-sounding terms like "righteousness" and "holiness". Dressing up moralism with religiosity is white-washing a tombstone--it's meaningless in every way. Christ calls us to a better way, a more excellent way.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[heron]

In our city, Catholic churches run bingo for fundraising. I am not comfortable with the idea of churches doing it, but feel less squeamish about a person trying to make a living in a gambling environment.

 

[Dharma Wheel]

Shouldn't it be OK unless the bingo balls have *that* number on them?

Seriously, why would being a member of any faith exclude people from the favourite sport of the elderly?!

 

[CryptoLutheran]

Shouldn't it be OK unless the bingo balls have *that* number on them?

Seriously, why would being a member of any faith exclude people from the favourite sport of the elderly?!

I think the logic is bingo = gambling and gambling = sin.

I'm not particularly sure I understand the logic behind claiming gambling as sinful, but I know that in some churches it's serious business. When my grandmother was growing up she wasn't allowed to play card games at all due to their association with gambling.

My thought is if I have 50 dollars, and I want to spend that 50 dollars playing black jack, then it's no different than spending 50 dollars on any other form of harmless entertainment. I understand that there are people with gambling addictions, so that for them it's not harmless, but that's hardly reason enough to make a blanket statement on gambling in general for everyone.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Dharma Wheel]

I think the logic is bingo = gambling and gambling = sin.

I think you are right, but in England bingo is not really considered gambling, it is really just winning money if you win a game. It can be considered gambling if you pay a little to play, but it is often free.

I'm not particularly sure I understand the logic behind claiming gambling as sinful, but I know that in some churches it's serious business. When my grandmother was growing up she wasn't allowed to play card games at all due to their association with gambling.

Interesting. I am not too sure why it is necessarily a sin too, especially if you have enough money to spend and lose, and it doesn't take over your life...although giving to charity would be more worthy a cause.

My thought is if I have 50 dollars, and I want to spend that 50 dollars playing black jack, then it's no different than spending 50 dollars on any other form of harmless entertainment. I understand that there are people with gambling addictions, so that for them it's not harmless, but that's hardly reason enough to make a blanket statement on gambling in general for everyone.

-CryptoLutheran

I completely agree, and not just because I love blackjack. Addictions aside, gambling is, as you say, just another form of entertainment. If this form of entertainment is sinful, then why isn't buying movies or books? In the end they are entertainment that costs money.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

"My mother-in-law is a christian and works in a bingo hall. What is your view of this?"

No opinion at all.

IF your mother in law is a Christian, She HAS A LORD that is completely capable of communicating His Pleasure or DIS-Pleasure - in terms she can easily understand concerning anything she's involved in.

And IF she's obedient to what she KNOWS in Him, no problem.

Simple as that

 

[tulc]

Well...as long as it isn't a front for an organ harvesting group or a secret zombie infection site I'd say there's nothing to worry about.
tulc(...it isn't, right?)

 

[Bro_Sam]

My mother-in-law is a christian and works in a bingo hall. What is your view of this?

Is there something going on at this particular bingo hall we should know about?

 

[OzSpen]

YahwehOrNoWay,

My mother-in-law is a christian and works in a bingo hall. What is your view of this?

In this thread, it seems to me that the activity of gambling is taken too lightly by Christians. In the last 33 years of my ministry as a general and family counsellor, I have spent about 2 years working as a gambling counsellor. I have seen the devastation that gambling brings in my community.

Please don't say that I'm seeing the extreme end of the compulsion. While that is true, for some of these people, gambling began with bingo and card games. It ended with losing, for some, hundreds of thousands of dollars, devastating the family, and for some they were suicidal.

The bigger issue for Christians is, "Is the philosophy of gambling harmonious with the principles of God's kingdom?"

I have taken a section from an article I have written on, “God and gambling”.

The Bible does not support games of chance

I cannot locate a Scripture which states, “Thou shalt not gamble,” but the concepts of chance, luck and fortune should not be in a biblical world and life view. Support for gambling as we understand it today is foreign to the Scriptures for these reasons:

1. The Christian view of godliness
According to Matthew 6:33, believers are to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things [material things] will be added to you.” We are exhorted to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). How is it possible to use gambling for help with daily necessities and still rely on God to supply our needs?

2. The Christian view of work
Ephesians 4:28 says: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Could it be said that the modern concept of gambling, reaping many dollars for a small investment, is akin to stealing from others – legally?

The Christian work ethic is one of labouring with one’s own hands or abilities to raise money or goods to maintain one’s individual life and family, and to share with those in need. Receiving $40 million as a gambling jackpot for spending only a few dollars sounds more like a “rip-off” of other people than an honest day’s work. But, of course, it is all done legally and governments receive their share of the “rip-off.”

3. The Christian view of stewardship
Hebrews 13:5 states that believers are to “keep your life free from love of money and be content with what you have, for he said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” This is in contrast to the ones seeking big bucks from all sorts of gambling, with the investment of an infinitesimal amount.

The gambler seems to be like the greedy person. What is the biblical view of greed? The greedy are “the unrighteous who will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9). But there is good news for the greedy. They can be redeemed by being washed by the blood of Jesus, justified and sanctified. “Such were some of you,” said Paul of the greedy (I Cor. 6:11).
The common jargon these days is that gambling is supposed to be for fun – entertainment. Second Timothy 3:4-5 warns us that Christians are not to be “lovers of pleasure.” Instead they are to be “lovers of God.” Those who love pleasure are to be avoided (v. 5).

4. The Christian view of love for your neighbours and enemies
Jesus told us, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). How can we as Christians truly love our enemies (Matt. 5:44) while we contribute to taking money away from them? Approximately half of the revenue at poker machine venues in Australia comes from problem gamblers according to the Productivity Commission Report in 1999. How can we justify gambling when it is causing devastation to the individual and 5-10 other people associated with the problem gambler?

5. How the Christian views his/her influence on others
How can Christians be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-14) while greedily wanting big bucks and ripping others off – legally, of course – through 21st century-style gambling? How can you “love your neighbour as yourself” (Matt. 22:39) while at the same time taking money from him/her through gambling?

Biblical Christianity promotes the view of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), which is a life-style that, it seems to me, is impossible to reconcile with a 21st century approach to gambling that is promoted by governments.

6. Luck and fortune are not part of God’s kingdom
Isaiah 65:11-12 warns:

But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword . . . You did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.

Luck, chance and fortune are not in God’s worldview. Neither should they be in ours. These are essential to the gambling kingdom! Christians should set a godly example and not participate in any games of chance.

Pastors and churches that approve of gambling should be called back to biblical Christianity.

This kind of post won't make many friends among pro-gambling Christians. However, I have tried to gain a biblical perspective on games of chance in a biblical worldview.

Oz

 

[scottwww]

YahwehOrNoWay,

I've been participating in forums on another website where it seems few are Christian. Over time, the discussion topics have seemingly become more base, and frequently the comments of the participants have been far more objectionable than when I started in those forums. I have come here looking for some like-minded folks to discuss... whatever.

I am glad to see your post. It is more what I would expect to see as helpful information on the topic.

I am not a gambler, though I have on a few occasions bought a lottery ticket or pulled the lever on a slot machine. It doesn't take much loss for me to retreat from that folly.

Thank you for the informed observations. I take it as advice and can see how it applies to some who are near to me. Now that I think of it, there is excellent application to my own experience in the equity and futures markets.

It seems like those here who see no trouble with gambling do not consider first what they are going to say.

 

[tulc]

I've been participating in forums on another website where it seems few are Christian. Over time, the discussion topics have seemingly become more base, and frequently the comments of the participants have been far more objectionable than when I started in those forums. I have come here looking for some like-minded folks to discuss... whatever.

I am glad to see your post. It is more what I would expect to see as helpful information on the topic.

I am not a gambler, though I have on a few occasions bought a lottery ticket or pulled the lever on a slot machine. It doesn't take much loss for me to retreat from that folly.

Thank you for the informed observations. I take it as advice and can see how it applies to some who are near to me. Now that I think of it, there is excellent application to my own experience in the equity and futures markets.

It seems like those here who see no trouble with gambling do not consider first what they are going to say. (emph. added)

About the bolded portion, could it be they simply have a different opinion then you do?
tulc(just curious)

 

[OzSpen]

Scott,

I've been participating in forums on another website where it seems few are Christian. Over time, the discussion topics have seemingly become more base, and frequently the comments of the participants have been far more objectionable than when I started in those forums. I have come here looking for some like-minded folks to discuss... whatever.

I am glad to see your post. It is more what I would expect to see as helpful information on the topic.

I am not a gambler, though I have on a few occasions bought a lottery ticket or pulled the lever on a slot machine. It doesn't take much loss for me to retreat from that folly.

Thank you for the informed observations. I take it as advice and can see how it applies to some who are near to me. Now that I think of it, there is excellent application to my own experience in the equity and futures markets.

It seems like those here who see no trouble with gambling do not consider first what they are going to say.

I am so pleased that you have joined us.

I agree with you that there is a 'gambling' application to the equity and futures' markets.

I think it is important that we try to understand 'gambling' from God's perspective and for application to a Christian worldview.

In Christ,
Spencer

 

[scottwww]

I think it is important that we try to understand 'gambling' from God's perspective and for application to a Christian worldview.

Thank you for the welcome. The scripture that came to mind for me was this:

1 Cor 10
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

 

[jsimms615]

My mother-in-law is a christian and works in a bingo hall. What is your view of this?

I had no idea you could make a decent living working in a bingo hall.

 

[MacNeil, D.]

YahwehOrNoWay,

In this thread, it seems to me that the activity of gambling is taken too lightly by Christians. In the last 33 years of my ministry as a general and family counsellor, I have spent about 2 years working as a gambling counsellor. I have seen the devastation that gambling brings in my community....

The problem is that people don't know when to draw to inside straights.

 

[tulc]

The problem is that people don't know when to draw to inside straights.

YouTube - Kenny Rogers - The Gambler, Alt Music Video By Ethan
tulc(Kenny agrees)