0

This is a spin on the question Is there a Biblical ban on gambling?

Is opening a casino considered a "shady business" a Christian should not be involved in? (Yes, let's assume it's perfectly legal.)

This question seeks to involve both the offline and online worlds (online poker, online lottery, online dice, etc).

Community
  • 1
Pacerier
  • 1,746
  • 8
  • 21
  • 38
  • I do not believe that there is a single answer which would work for all denominations. Is there a specific denomination which you are concerned about? Some could call bingo gambling and therefore some halls could be considered pseudo casinos. – The Freemason Mar 20 '14 at 18:33
  • 1
    @TheFreemason it's tagged biblical-basis that becomes the de facto doctrinal scoping here. That said, there's a good point here. The Bible isn't (and shouldn't be read as) a legal document. You're not going to find "don't own a casino" in the pages. What you may find is principals that will guide you to a decision yes or no. Those principals are subject to a high level of interpretation which may mean that a biblical argument can be made from both sides – wax eagle Mar 20 '14 at 18:53
  • @Pacerier what I'm pointing out is that this kind of question is only barely within bounds here. And any answer you get here should be taken with a grain of salt. – wax eagle Mar 20 '14 at 19:30
  • @Pacerier you'd ask within a tradition/theological POV or ask for the basis of a specific position rather than asking for both positions – wax eagle Mar 20 '14 at 19:37
  • @Pacerier no. not really. But sort of. How one reads the bible both informs and is informed by their theological POV. Biblical Basis is not a theological POV, it's one in a de facto sense here, but it's not really one. – wax eagle Mar 20 '14 at 19:42
  • 1
    @Pacerier if you're looking for "arguments from both sides" then there cannot possibly be a single answer to your question w/o bias. As much as I have often tried and failed, SO / SE are not the proper format for these types of debates - no matter how tempting that it may be. – The Freemason Mar 21 '14 at 13:52

3 Answers3

3

Christianity is freedom, freedom from the Law (10 commandements, which created the notion of sin, without that law, there is no sin), freedom from the judgement. But a christians are a different species, they are not human, they are christian, not born through Adam but born through Christ (by the baptism), as an apple tree only produce apples what we produce cannot be called sin (for we don't belong that category), Adam 's sin is not in us, at least for those who really believe (faith is not mesurable).

I'm saying you are free to run a casino. But you will be naturally incline to stop yourself those of your consumers that are addicted and ruining their lifes and their families with gambling. Nobody can tell you what are you doing is wrong, but same as an apple tree that only can produce apples, your nature (you) will feel bad from continuing to take money from those who are addicted gamblers (and are having problems because of that, if your consumer is a billionaire and gambling is something he like to do and have no problems from that, it's not a bad addiction). So if you can run a casino, with our chistian nature's sense of justice it will be a healthy casino, where people have a good time and feel good, so if you can do so, just go for it, christian style ! you have no law, no ban, we just are christians. Be bless.

heracles
  • 49
  • 1
2

A casino in itself is not bad, but it is a flowing river for the love of money, and I would not want to be a cause for others to love money.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10, NIV).

God tells us not to cause a brother or sister to stumble (Romans 14:13). If a "weak" brother whose conscience will not allow him to gamble, even though he wants to, sees a "strong" brother gambling, and this brother's conscience allows him to gamble, the weaker brother could very well stumble and be drawn back into doing something he knows he shouldn't do, thus violating his conscience. The stronger brother would thereby become a stumbling block to the weaker brother.

We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. (2 Corinthians 6:3, NIV)

Our lives should be a ministry for others, in Christ Jesus.

rhetorician
  • 9,801
  • 21
  • 30
John Tohme
  • 21
  • 1
1

The last six commandments address man's relationship to man.

Acts 5;27-29 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest ask them 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Exodus 20;17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbours.

1 Timothy 6;3-11 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our LORD Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising, 5 Pervese disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: for such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and certian we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrrows. 11 But thou O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

1
V. Rollins
  • 551
  • 3
  • 5