Can we gamble "responsibly" with out "disposable income?" If it does not take from your necessary family living expenses, if you pay your bills on time, if you are not borrowing to gamble, and if yu are tithing to your local church, is it alright to gamble as a form of innocent entertainment? Many would say, "YES, under these conditions it is just fine." But consider the following facts.....
1. The Delaware Counsel on Gambling Problems found that 43% of eighth grade boys gamble. Gambling is an increasing problem for our youth.
2. Studies show that legalized gambling exploits the poor more than any other group seeking the proverbial "pot at the end of the rainbow" as a way out of poverty.
3. State sponsored gambling does little to create new business and economic growth but rather depends on "greed" and "false anticipation" to shift money from the pockets of those who have the least to spare into the state coffers.
4. A healthy society depends on hard work, a decent wage, and a fair and reasonable tax to pay its bills, no a "pie-in-the-sky" philosophy that appeals to the lease creative and productive instincts of people.
5. Monies spent on legalized gambling is money that will not be spent on the local economy, much less the support needed for the local church. If the church is to help the poor, and we are, gambling diminishes church giving and increases the number or poor people we are to help as they try to gambling their way out of poverty.
6. Gambling is against Biblical principles. In 2 Thess. 3:10 we are taught that "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." God commanded Adam to "tend and keep the garden." Gen. 2:15
Also, check out what Steve Harper says about gambling and other moral issues at TruthFactor.com.
