poker and christianity

Georgia Avenue mentioned a poker playing Rabbi, I also have personal knowledge of poker playing clergy, a full fledged Catholic Priest, so go figure

[BluffTHIS!]

Here you can find an earlier thread on this. Below is my response from that thread.

"My church, the Catholic Church, teaches that gambling is not in itself sinful but only becomes so if once gambles with money necessary to provide the livelihood for himself/family or necessary to meet his otherwise just obligations, or if one should cheat at such games. I would also personally think it morally unacceptable to hustle games with gambling addicted persons who cannot afford it, as advocated in that cynical masterpiece by Frank Wallace. The other aspect that has to do with morality is the legal one, in that you are normally morally obliged to follow all just laws. I personally have no problem playing in 'illegal' homegames or online because I do not believe the laws against same are just because they are not applied equally but to benefit various states and corporations that are allowed special exemptions for lotteries and casinos that have an interest in limiting competition."

Maybe poker needs the Rabbi and the Priest and the EVangelist of The Greater Apostilitic Penticostal Remormation Church of Jesus Christ through the touch of the Almighty Baptizing Wind in poker
After all Jesus himself hung out with sinners

[David Sklansky]

Is being a topless dancer a sin? I ask because they seem about equivalent.

[BluffTHIS!]

Gambling does/is not:

-degrade women
-promote prostitution
-an activity that would embarass you were your mother to do it

[NotReady]

There was a thread on this a while back. See here

I just skimmed through it again. I would highly recommend The Dude's post.

[sexdrugsmoney]

Spaminator,

I believe BluffTHIS! was on the right track when he pointed out you were young and wanted to learn more about your faith, though perhaps he would prefer you trade Calvin for Ratzinger ( [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]) I believe he touched upon a quite important issue.

The teen years are a struggle for everyone and it can get hard to keep your faith in these times. IMHO The thing which has the most chance of making dispondant regarding your faith is misinformation from people you trust, that means your pastor, your christian friends, your parents etc.

While the Bible says fellowship is important, incorrect fellowship will only hurt and not help.

That being said, here's a quote I believe is a level headed approach to the subject though I believe it is ignorant of the skill one can posess to tip the odds in their favour, it is a more realistic approach to the subject:

[ QUOTE ]

Gambling and the Christian

Is gambling sinful? No, not in and of itself, but it can be. Some Christians will disagree with gambling on the grounds that spending one's money (that really belongs to God) in such a fashion is really poor stewardship. But one argument in favor of the Christian's freedom to indulge in gambling is the people who do it purely for the entertainment value. In this sense, it could be considered in the same manner as movies or Disneyland: one would have to weigh the degree of entertainment with the monetary value placed on it. The more entertaining an event is, the more money that activity is worth. (e.g., I wouldn't pay $50 to see The Prince of Egypt, but I might pay $2.50 for the diversion).

Now just as with any source of pleasure or entertainment, the Christian must guard against becoming mastered by the pleasure. "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things" (1 Corinthians 9.25). The moment any activity (be it gambling or reading) begins ruling one's life, that is when that activity becomes sinful for that individual. To be sure, we who stand in Christ possess a liberty unmatched, but we must be certain not to use our liberty as an occasion for the flesh (Galatians 5:13).

[/ QUOTE ]

Sauce

PS - Although I admire pious Christians who are careful not to err by not "walking the line", I don't believe the Roman soldiers casting lots for Jesus' clothes at his feet while he was dying is about gambling per se.

It was the fulfillment of a prophecy in Psalms 22:17.

I also believe it says alot about the potential aspect of turning men into killers and the humanity they can lose. (ie- Army, French Foreign Legion et al)

[David Sklansky]

Is betting $1000 for five hours a pop on red or black in roulette immoral or sinful? Can something be immoral but not sinful? Can something be sinful but not immoral?

[chezlaw]

[ QUOTE ]
Is betting $1000 for five hours a pop on red or black in roulette immoral or sinful? Can something be immoral but not sinful? Can something be sinful but not immoral?

[/ QUOTE ]

thoughts can be sinful but only acts can be immoral.

chez

[sexdrugsmoney]

[ QUOTE ]
Is betting $1000 for five hours a pop on red or black in roulette immoral or sinful? Can something be immoral but not sinful? Can something be sinful but not immoral?

[/ QUOTE ]

When God watches someone do this, he doesn't think of the act in terms of sin or immorality, he thinks in terms of stupidity. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]