Ask the Pastor with J.D. Greear Is Gambling Morally Wrong?
In this week’s episode of the Ask Me Anything Podcast, Pastor J.D. talks about whether or not gambling is morally wrong.
Show Notes:
Gambling can seem harmless. You throw a little bit of money on a sporting event, on a slot machine, or on a lottery ticket… what’s the harm in that? I am going to draw distinction between Las Vegas-type gambling and a $20 office pool.
Gambling is at least a $44 billion dollar industry in the US–and that’s just the legal gambling, to say nothing of off-the-books gambling. In fact, as more and more states legalize gambling, it’s getting worse. Some studies say up to 10% (6-9%) of young adults experience problems related to gambling.
And gambling has some big moral ramifications.
Three primary problems with it:
- First, it goes against the work ethic in Scripture.
- Second, the gambling industry intentionally takes advantage of the poor.
- Third, gambling is addictive.
Honestly, you need to use your own personal judgment on these. I realize it may sound ultra-spiritual, but this is exactly the kind of issue where the Holy Spirit guides us. What may feel totally right to one believer may feel morally wrong to another.
Wayne Grudem, Politics According to the Bible, pp. 550-551
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