Monkey Butt, USA United States
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August 23, 2007
1,124 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by baleslady on Oct 17, 2009
If I'm posting in the wrong forum, I do trust that Todd will put it in the correct forum.
This is weighing heavy on my mind right now, and I wanted other people's views and opinion on this.
In the Bahamas it is the mindset that "playing numbers" is wrong and that you cannot be 'for God' if you do so! What are your views? How do you feel about this?
I do believe that some of us are gifted with dreams, it may be prophetic dreams or just dreams where the numbers are just a given to play and they do fall.
I always tell people when they say to me, "I thought you were a Christian, and you playing numbers," to show me where in the bible that says "THOU SHALT NOT GAMBLE". They tend to use the passage of Scripture where Jesus went into the temple and turned over the tables because people were casting lots and selling in His Father's House. What I reply to them is so what makes gambling wrong and selling right? I read it to say that they were both things that should not have taken place in the Church and that there is a time and place for everything under the sun.
It amazes me of the way people see things. Playing numbers is wrong, but what about buying raffle tickets? Isn't that a form of gambling? Not to knock down any religion, but in the Bahamas, the Catholic big fund raisers are centered around raffles and the selling of raffle tickets, so then raffle is right and buying numbers is wrong...? Hmm... I'm just confused and want some guidance in this.
I'm sure people will quote scriptures and I won't knock you, but what I say is whatever scripture is quoted is not only about gambling, but about our selfish greed as humans. It can mean any of the weaknesses that we as human beings struggle on a daily basis with.
I welcome all views and opinions on this.
If you can access a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, book or online, you can look up the words "lot" and "lots". The beginning of the list refers to Abraham's nephew Lot. Afterward it refers to the die. The word "lot" is used approximately 75 times in the Bible. The word "lots" is used approximately 24 times in the Bible. The casting of the lot in the Bible was a means of dividing land and settling differences and making certain decisions.
Don't take my word for it. Go read it for yourself. Always remember we can both look at a glass of water and you can say half full and I can say half empty. Who is right and who is wrong? It's how you see it. Everyone has an opinion but that doesn't mean they actually know what they are talking about. Remember these are the same people who will force their beliefs on you and when you win, open their mouth and say they always knew you would win. I always say there is going to be a lot of surprised people in hell, and at the front of the line will be all of the self-righteous puppies who are so quick to tell you you're going to hell. You know the ones who act like they just left the throne room of God and know for a fact all of the names of the bound for hell list. We all have our pet sins. And knowing these puppies they have a tendency to lie, so quote Revelation 21:8 where it talks about who will be a resident of the lake of fire and brimstone. (fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murders, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars). I sure they fit into one of those categories.
Two scriptures I have found kind of reguarding gambling in the Bible is Proverbs 1:14 and Proverbs 16:33. Don't just read that 1 verse read a few verses before and after the verse you are referencing so you will have the whole meaning. In the new testament the lot was cast for the robe of Jesus and in the book of Acts the lot was cast to see who would replace Judas Iscariot Acts 1:26.
I am not a religious nut. I just enjoy reading my Bible. To me my Bible is the contract between God and mankind. It is no different than the contract you have with your employer or contractor or any other business contract. When I go to God I do not need another human mouth piece doing the talking for me. That is the purpose of Jesus dying on the cross and sending the Holy Spirit as my comforter. So that I can approach the thorne of grace and present my petition before God. Jesus is my mouth piece and the Holy Spirit is my interpreter. So look inside yourself and see if your heart condems you. If you can honestly say you have no guilt or condemnation in your heart then participate in the lottery guilt free. The scripture says judge not, that ye be not judged Matt 7:1 and judge not, and ye shall not be judged Luke 6:37.
It is your decision and you have to stand before God for all decisions you make not me or all of the mini-gods that you may encounter with their expert opinions. So make it your decision. Remember, you can go to God with anything. It's not like He doesn't already know what you want anyway.
San Diego, CA United States
Member #61,465
May 24, 2008
28,146 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by PERDUE on Oct 17, 2009
If you can access a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, book or online, you can look up the words "lot" and "lots". The beginning of the list refers to Abraham's nephew Lot. Afterward it refers to the die. The word "lot" is used approximately 75 times in the Bible. The word "lots" is used approximately 24 times in the Bible. The casting of the lot in the Bible was a means of dividing land and settling differences and making certain decisions.
Don't take my word for it. Go read it for yourself. Always remember we can both look at a glass of water and you can say half full and I can say half empty. Who is right and who is wrong? It's how you see it. Everyone has an opinion but that doesn't mean they actually know what they are talking about. Remember these are the same people who will force their beliefs on you and when you win, open their mouth and say they always knew you would win. I always say there is going to be a lot of surprised people in hell, and at the front of the line will be all of the self-righteous puppies who are so quick to tell you you're going to hell. You know the ones who act like they just left the throne room of God and know for a fact all of the names of the bound for hell list. We all have our pet sins. And knowing these puppies they have a tendency to lie, so quote Revelation 21:8 where it talks about who will be a resident of the lake of fire and brimstone. (fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murders, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars). I sure they fit into one of those categories.
Two scriptures I have found kind of reguarding gambling in the Bible is Proverbs 1:14 and Proverbs 16:33. Don't just read that 1 verse read a few verses before and after the verse you are referencing so you will have the whole meaning. In the new testament the lot was cast for the robe of Jesus and in the book of Acts the lot was cast to see who would replace Judas Iscariot Acts 1:26.
I am not a religious nut. I just enjoy reading my Bible. To me my Bible is the contract between God and mankind. It is no different than the contract you have with your employer or contractor or any other business contract. When I go to God I do not need another human mouth piece doing the talking for me. That is the purpose of Jesus dying on the cross and sending the Holy Spirit as my comforter. So that I can approach the thorne of grace and present my petition before God. Jesus is my mouth piece and the Holy Spirit is my interpreter. So look inside yourself and see if your heart condems you. If you can honestly say you have no guilt or condemnation in your heart then participate in the lottery guilt free. The scripture says judge not, that ye be not judged Matt 7:1 and judge not, and ye shall not be judged Luke 6:37.
It is your decision and you have to stand before God for all decisions you make not me or all of the mini-gods that you may encounter with their expert opinions. So make it your decision. Remember, you can go to God with anything. It's not like He doesn't already know what you want anyway.
Long Island Bahamas
Member #59,486
March 17, 2008
1,560 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by PERDUE on Oct 17, 2009
If you can access a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, book or online, you can look up the words "lot" and "lots". The beginning of the list refers to Abraham's nephew Lot. Afterward it refers to the die. The word "lot" is used approximately 75 times in the Bible. The word "lots" is used approximately 24 times in the Bible. The casting of the lot in the Bible was a means of dividing land and settling differences and making certain decisions.
Don't take my word for it. Go read it for yourself. Always remember we can both look at a glass of water and you can say half full and I can say half empty. Who is right and who is wrong? It's how you see it. Everyone has an opinion but that doesn't mean they actually know what they are talking about. Remember these are the same people who will force their beliefs on you and when you win, open their mouth and say they always knew you would win. I always say there is going to be a lot of surprised people in hell, and at the front of the line will be all of the self-righteous puppies who are so quick to tell you you're going to hell. You know the ones who act like they just left the throne room of God and know for a fact all of the names of the bound for hell list. We all have our pet sins. And knowing these puppies they have a tendency to lie, so quote Revelation 21:8 where it talks about who will be a resident of the lake of fire and brimstone. (fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murders, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars). I sure they fit into one of those categories.
Two scriptures I have found kind of reguarding gambling in the Bible is Proverbs 1:14 and Proverbs 16:33. Don't just read that 1 verse read a few verses before and after the verse you are referencing so you will have the whole meaning. In the new testament the lot was cast for the robe of Jesus and in the book of Acts the lot was cast to see who would replace Judas Iscariot Acts 1:26.
I am not a religious nut. I just enjoy reading my Bible. To me my Bible is the contract between God and mankind. It is no different than the contract you have with your employer or contractor or any other business contract. When I go to God I do not need another human mouth piece doing the talking for me. That is the purpose of Jesus dying on the cross and sending the Holy Spirit as my comforter. So that I can approach the thorne of grace and present my petition before God. Jesus is my mouth piece and the Holy Spirit is my interpreter. So look inside yourself and see if your heart condems you. If you can honestly say you have no guilt or condemnation in your heart then participate in the lottery guilt free. The scripture says judge not, that ye be not judged Matt 7:1 and judge not, and ye shall not be judged Luke 6:37.
It is your decision and you have to stand before God for all decisions you make not me or all of the mini-gods that you may encounter with their expert opinions. So make it your decision. Remember, you can go to God with anything. It's not like He doesn't already know what you want anyway.
Thank you, I agree with Jack-C. Very beautiful indeed.
We gat haterz everywhere we go. No longer do I cry when fake friends say, "Goodbye!"
United States
Member #75,356
June 1, 2009
5,345 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by baleslady on Oct 17, 2009
If I'm posting in the wrong forum, I do trust that Todd will put it in the correct forum.
This is weighing heavy on my mind right now, and I wanted other people's views and opinion on this.
In the Bahamas it is the mindset that "playing numbers" is wrong and that you cannot be 'for God' if you do so! What are your views? How do you feel about this?
I do believe that some of us are gifted with dreams, it may be prophetic dreams or just dreams where the numbers are just a given to play and they do fall.
I always tell people when they say to me, "I thought you were a Christian, and you playing numbers," to show me where in the bible that says "THOU SHALT NOT GAMBLE". They tend to use the passage of Scripture where Jesus went into the temple and turned over the tables because people were casting lots and selling in His Father's House. What I reply to them is so what makes gambling wrong and selling right? I read it to say that they were both things that should not have taken place in the Church and that there is a time and place for everything under the sun.
It amazes me of the way people see things. Playing numbers is wrong, but what about buying raffle tickets? Isn't that a form of gambling? Not to knock down any religion, but in the Bahamas, the Catholic big fund raisers are centered around raffles and the selling of raffle tickets, so then raffle is right and buying numbers is wrong...? Hmm... I'm just confused and want some guidance in this.
I'm sure people will quote scriptures and I won't knock you, but what I say is whatever scripture is quoted is not only about gambling, but about our selfish greed as humans. It can mean any of the weaknesses that we as human beings struggle on a daily basis with.
I welcome all views and opinions on this.
"It amazes me of the way people see things. Playing numbers is wrong, but what about buying raffle tickets? Isn't that a form of gambling?"
This wouldn't be the first time, nor the last, that the bible was hypocritical in it's teachings.
Arizona United States
Member #52,801
June 10, 2007
88 Posts
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It seems to me that not too long ago an ordained minister won $200,000 from the Multi-State Powerball Lottery, and what did he do with the winnings? He re-invested it into his Church by making some repairs and the like. And I've regullarly heard of Churchs having a raffle drawing or bingo games in order to raise cash. Aren't raffles and bingo a form of gambling? I personally don't see anything wrong with it, as long as one keeps the right priorities.
Money can't buy you happiness, but I sure could afford the misery that it brings!
United States
Member #75,356
June 1, 2009
5,345 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by ArtVandalay on Oct 17, 2009
It seems to me that not too long ago an ordained minister won $200,000 from the Multi-State Powerball Lottery, and what did he do with the winnings? He re-invested it into his Church by making some repairs and the like. And I've regullarly heard of Churchs having a raffle drawing or bingo games in order to raise cash. Aren't raffles and bingo a form of gambling? I personally don't see anything wrong with it, as long as one keeps the right priorities.
Below is another story about how the Salvation Army turned down money from lottery winnings. The last line in this article says it all.
Resize - Minus Resize - Plus
MARCO ISLAND, Fla. (AP) - The Salvation Army will not accept a $100,000 donation from a Florida Lotto winner because its local leader didn't want to take money associated with gambling.
David L. Rush, 71, announced the gift last week. He held one of four winning tickets in the $100 million Florida Lotto jackpot drawing of Dec. 14 and took a $14.3 million lump sum payment.
Maj. Cleo Damon, head of the Salvation Army office in Naples, told Rush that he could not take his money and returned the check, which another official had accepted.
``There are times where Major Damon is counseling families who are about to become homeless because of gambling,'' said spokeswoman Maribeth Shanahan. ``He really believes that if he had accepted the money, he would be talking out of both sides of his mouth.''
Rush also donated $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity and $50,000 to the Rotary Club of Marco Island. Both groups accepted the gifts.
``Everybody has a right to be sanctimonious if they want to be,'' said Rush. ``I respect the Salvation Army's decision. I do not agree with it, but that is their prerogative.'' He said he has been giving money to the Salvation Army, an evangelical Christian organization, for 40 years.
Rush sees the lottery, which has raised billions for Florida schools, as something other than a typical gambling organization.
``There's no bigger gamble than investing in the stock market,'' said Rush, a financial adviser. ``For them to say this is gambling is an overstatement.''
Tx United States
Member #4,570
May 4, 2004
5,180 Posts
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I guess that it depends on your motivation.
Is it for need, fun, past time or does a person overdues it more than it should due to some not so good reason, since it is hard to make a profit, it is hard for me to think that it is a money motivation, but that is probably why it is done.
We are probably guilty of having an addiction to the lottery in some way, being playing and or trying to predict or just talking about it so much.
Is it gambling bad?, Might depend on how it is done and why.