GAMBLING - LOTTERIES - AND ETC.
Although we are constantly being brainwashed by a barrage of lottery promotion, researchers have warned of their anti-human and anti-social characteristics and they have pointed out the harmful effects on our character, our domestic way of life and our financial prospects.
A democratic government is not expected to exploit human weakness. They are expected to control, not promote, prostitution and the sale of alcoholic beverages. Yet, through their promotion of lotteries, governments are appealing to one of the lowest human qualities -- greed. They are contributing to the corruption rather than the improvement of human life.
Over 82% of Ontario adults buy lottery tickets. For one person to win, over 200,000 have to lose. Seeking consciously to profit through the losses of others is certainly not the Christian way. Exodus 20:17 - Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbour's, including his loss so you can win. Romans 12:2 - Be not conformed to the world's way of thinking but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Some rationalize about the "good" they would do with their winnings but this is contrary to Romans 6:1, which declares that the END never justifies the MEANS. We can never achieve "good" by wrong methods. Romans 12:21 - Be not overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.
Lotteries are damaging to the incentive to work and productivity. Any scheme of gambling creates an atmosphere which is attractive to organized crime, and lotteries also function as a form of regressive tax.
Lotteries exploit the weaknesses of people. Christians are instructed to pray, study and act to promote stewardship and co-operation. We are never to exploit but to increase our own personal generosity.
A lust for affluence is psychotic because it has lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy. We buy things we don't want to impress people we don't like. We're made to feel ashamed to wear clothes or drive cars until they wear out. Commercials falsely convince us that to be out of step with fashion is to be out of step with reality. We need to wake up and realize that to conform to a sick society is to be sick. Free dope, free sex, abortion on demand and numerous lotteries will not lead to a new life.
These things mirror the worst features of a sick society and represent the dying gasp of a diseased culture.
Three thousand years of evidence prove that every form of gambling is dangerous, immoral, corrupting and contrary to the best human interests. TALMUD - the winnings from gambling are equivalent to theft. CICERO - gambling is the same as divination or casting lots.
Leukemia is a disease caused by an excess of white cells in the blood. Social Leukemia is a disease caused by an excess of greed in the people. As Christians, we have a responsibility to care for others.
There are many wise guidelines in Matthew 6:19-20.
- Don't try to get rich here but invest in eternal treasure. Matthew 6:24
- You cannot be loving and serving God at the same time as you are fostering a desire for "easy money." Matthew 6:33)
- Put God first and He (Philippians 4:19) will supply all your needs.
- Be content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5)
- Godliness with contentment is great gain (I Tim.6:6).