Subject: Is it a sin to play the lottery? |
Bible Note: Dear charis Thank you for weighing in on my response to Janie. It is correct that we have a responsibility to others but you seem to be saying that any form of a-muse-ment (not thinking activity) is somehow always a "area of weakness" and with that, if that is what you suggest, I disagree. And if that is not what you suggest then disregard the rest of this note. But if you are choosing "gambling" as an area of weakness then just as the fat man said as he crawled under the barbed wire fence, "Just a couple points and I'll be through." Reading C.S. Lewis's science fiction books is a form of amusement that I should not pursue since my "children" will be influenced to flights of imagination. We do not want them to escape, even for a moment, the harsh realities of a cruel and death ridden world. However, you may accept that Lewis may be alright but dancing is not. Dancing arouses our base instincts and leads to sexual intamcy outside of marriage. And so that we are not tempted to dance we should never build a large room that would hold lots of dancers - especially those pesky square dancers. And to avoid the temptation of building a large room, that may lead to dancing, that may lead to sexual intamacy outside of marriage we should avoid living indoors altogether. That will surly keep us from sin. Differences of opinion on what may constitute an "area of weakness" is what brings about splits in His church. Concentrating on His Word, and not the opinions of what some Christians say are weaknesses, is paramount. I am certain that Janie knows that Jesus died for her sins. Did not the Apostles "gamble" when casting lots to see who would replace Judas. Or is that different because they asked God to give them a "winner." They were serious "gamblers", Janie came off as sounding like someone who wanted to know if a simple office pool on "How much will Sally's baby weigh at birth" is somehow "missing the mark." If I thought for one moment that Janie had a gambling "problem" I would not have answered the way I did. By the way charis, does your church use wine? In the Creator's service, Jim |