I realize that, and that is where the sin lies. Gambling of any kind amounts to theft by permission. The coin is flipped, the dice are rolled, or the horses run, and somebody rakes in that which belongs to another. The Bible says, ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.’ (Genesis 3:19) It doesn’t say, ‘By the flip of a coin shalt thou eat thy lunch.’ I realize that in most petty gambling no harm is intended, but the principle is the same as in big gambling. The difference is only the amount of money involved.”14 There is, without question, an almost inexplicable urge within mankind to gamble. It stirs the passions, and entices with visions of riches, excitement, and pleasure. It calls and beckons and makes extravagant promises to those who play. But like the mythological Sirens whose eerie songs lured ancient mariners to their death, gambling delivers only destruction. It is a mirage, a false hope, a wisp, a dream that quickly transforms into a nightmare of pain and misery. Like the devil, it lies. And as we have seen, gambling and the precepts of Scripture are hopelessly irreconcilable. Simply stated, gambling is sin. It is sin whether one gambles with little or with much, and it is sin whether one gambles in a casino or a church! Satan himself has painted and perfumed gambling to make it seem harmless, but that appearance is a masquerade. Gambling is a spiritual minefield: it appears safe to walk through, but in reality it is pregnant with death at every
I realize that, and that is where the sin lies. Gambling of any kind amounts to theft by permission. The coin is flipped, the dice are rolled, or the horses run, and somebody rakes in that which belongs to another. The Bible says, ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.’ (Genesis 3:19) It doesn’t say, ‘By the flip of a coin shalt thou eat thy lunch.’ I realize that in most petty gambling no harm is intended, but the principle is the same as in big gambling. The difference is only the amount of money involved.”14 There is, without question, an almost inexplicable urge within mankind to gamble. It stirs the passions, and entices with visions of riches, excitement, and pleasure. It calls and beckons and makes extravagant promises to those who play. But like the mythological Sirens whose eerie songs lured ancient mariners to their death, gambling delivers only destruction. It is a mirage, a false hope, a wisp, a dream that quickly transforms into a nightmare of pain and misery. Like the devil, it lies. And as we have seen, gambling and the precepts of Scripture are hopelessly irreconcilable. Simply stated, gambling is sin. It is sin whether one gambles with little or with much, and it is sin whether one gambles in a casino or a church! Satan himself has painted and perfumed gambling to make it seem harmless, but that appearance is a masquerade. Gambling is a spiritual minefield: it appears safe to walk through, but in reality it is pregnant with death at every