What Do You Guys Think.......

[dolfan]

Yea I Guess I asked this wrong, what I was really trying to get at was , Is it wrong to ever make MONEY off of playing pool?

Is it gambling to pay an entry fee , into a tournament, and try and win the prize, wether it be money or a trophy or whatever. At what point or in what sitution would it be considered Gambling?

How many of you thinks Gambling is wrong, and What would you consider Gambling, i.e. . lotto , poker, slots, betting on the game with friends, calling up your bookie and bettie on the ponies....you kinda get what I mean


Another scenario......what if a CHURCH , had a pool tournament to raise money? Say a 50$ entry fee, and winner gets a trophy , or plaque, etc...? Church keeps all the money from the tourney, and builds a new youth / rec. room?

I like the forward thinking, personally. But, you'd generate more money (I think) with a 3-on-3 hoops tournament, and you'd probably avoid the whole negative publicity thing that MIGHT go along with pool. Of course, a b-ball tournament takes a lot more production, space, etc. to do it right. Outside of that, there's no difference in setting up a putt putt tournament (the official holy sport) and a pool tourney. Can the players smoke in the church? Or, should they leave their ciggies at the bar for after?

[Pastor Gary]

Yea I Guess I asked this wrong, what I was really trying to get at was , Is it wrong to ever make MONEY off of playing pool?

That's way too broad for me to answer. Words like "ever" and "never" beg for exceptions.

Is it gambling to pay an entry fee , into a tournament, and try and win the prize, wether it be money or a trophy or whatever. At what point or in what sitution would it be considered Gambling?

I don't consider that gambling. Is it gambling to purchase a piece of property and build a house on speculation hoping the market will be strong and you can make a profit off the house?

How about buying stock in a promising company?

How many of you thinks Gambling is wrong, and What would you consider Gambling, i.e. . lotto , poker, slots, betting on the game with friends, calling up your bookie and bettie on the ponies....you kinda get what I mean

I think gambling is stupid, but maybe not clearly sinful. IMHO there are degrees of gambling. Penny poker with a bunch of buddies is just a game… playing in a back room for higher stakes wioth guys who will shoot you in the kneecaps if you can't/won't pay your losses is very different. Slots? I think it depends upon the person. I know people who go on vacation to areas where slots are legal, and they set aside a fixed amount of vacation "play money." They may stick some of it in a slot machine -- same as they might stick it in a pinball machine, use it to see a movie, or whatever. When it's gone, they say "That was fun!" and go home. Another person might risk his livlihood and gamble away his house or car, and THAT would be wrong.

Another scenario......what if a CHURCH , had a pool tournament to raise money? Say a 50$ entry fee, and winner gets a trophy , or plaque, etc...? Church keeps all the money from the tourney, and builds a new youth / rec. room?

Trophy and no purse? No problem for me. Have a ball. Have 10 balls, but sink the 8 last.

[Dr. Ron]

Pool, golf, baseball, tennis (ya'll left that one out); all that stuff does is get you into trouble. Goodness, right after that you'll be playing cards and dominos and checkers and chess! What is the christian world coming to?

I personally think that if the indians can have a casino on their reservations, then we ought to be able to have games of chance in the church family life center. I am tired of all this christian money going to the indians! Keep it at home. We are building a family fitness center in our new building to compete with the gyms in town, so why not a good night of bingo?

Pastor Gary addressed the gambling issue in a very good way. I think he is right on. I agree with centrist on the golf thing .........way too sinfull. Baseball ugh (until playoffs)..........hoops ought to be outlawed. Basketball( i can't believe my computer would even write the word basketball) is a blight on the world. At 5'8" tall, I am discriminated against in that world. I am already in therapy over my height , now I am going to watch all those "tall" guys have fun? NO WAY!

Having said all this tripe, it's been a long day.

[TC]

I have NEVER quite understood the gambling thing... Yep playing for pennies is ok but dimes are not, or is it dollars that you draw the line or Hundreds of dollars.

If you are not taking money from other issues than I see it as NO different from other forms of entertainment. I have met a few professional poker players and they make a good living at it as well as support their families very well. And once you get to that level it is no longer a game of "chance" it is a Numbers game (no pun intended)

AND please don't bring up the "well that money could be better spent on things for the Lord" THAT can be said about almost EVERYTHING... LIKE the money we spend on our ISP.

[RuSKY]

Since our only source to know what sin is is the word of God ,

Does anyone know of any scripture that forbids, or even mentions gambling, or implys that it is speaking of gambling?

I don't gamble, I suppose because I have been taught all my life it is wrong. Some of our family felt that it was wrong to play old maid or rook or any card game. But I think that was just personel convictions passed on to us. However, I have never found a scripture that speaks to gambling.

just curious

RuSKY

[Pastor Bill]

Personally I don't know of any scripture specifically mentioning gambling, most stay away from it more as a traditionally taboo thing, or that we might offend.

Gary pretty much summed up my answer, I don't see a problem with it in itself, but I do know of problems that can come from it.

For example those that don't see it as entertainment, and are risking their families well-being on a game of chance? I don't see that as using Godly wisdom. Also some can really get addicted to it (especially BINGO, for some reason people around this area of the country REALLY get hooked on that). No addiction is a good thing, it is a bondage that needs to be broken from our lives.

Personally I think it's something that each person has to draw those lines themselves between them and God, I could give advice, but as for specific scriptures stating one way or another, nope.

On pool itself, it's just a game, cards, same thing (we actually sat around in the fellowship hall and played cards one of my first Wednesday nights at New Life it was a great time of fellowship)

[rough_rider]

I have been taught all my life it is wrong. Some of our family felt that it was wrong to play old maid or rook or any card game.

Me too, I guess for me, it's who you look to for financial blessings, God or lady luck? I will rely on God's promises and leave lady luck to someone else.

[scooter]

Just a thought.

I have felt the enticing forces in which gambling finds its strength and they are not holy.

It's drawing and grip are so strong that some can not break free of their grip.

What is the force that grips one so?

Is it like how some drink but are not drunks, how some are hooked on drugs while others might walk away?

I guess it goes to the individuals constitution.

I would not want to lead someone into something that controls and overpowers so many.

Having a friend devastated by the foe makes me apt not to go that route.

Is there anything in the bible about taking a club and hitting yourself in the head with it?

[RamboPreacher]

won't comment on sports, since they are all a sin except for paintball. hehehheeee. In a paintball tournament, you pay an entry fee. However, it is my personal opinion that it is not gambling, becuase I play for fun, not to seek the purse/money. If we win, great, if not - we still had alot of fun!.

I liken it to what PG said about slots. for ME, slots are video games (the kind I would play). the money I have to play with is "spent" on entertainment, if happen to win anything, I get to be entertained a bit longer,a dn perhaps take some home.

It's about a personal relationship. when I play just about any sport, I get extremely competative to the point of alot of anger, etc... so, for me - sin. there is a potential of me losing control and having affect on my relationship with God. I won't go there unless it is completely for fun.

[dolfan]

Just a thought. ...
Is there anything in the bible about taking a club and hitting yourself in the head with it?

Eph. 5:29 "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church". Or, maybe that's a scripture about not taking a club and hitting your wife in the head with it?!?

[Dr. Ron]

The only scriptures about gambling that I know of are the ones that detail how the replacement for Judas was chosen. Interestingly enough, there was not a vote taken. You want to talk about gambling, try voting on getting something done in a business meeting.

Money spent on games of chance is no more of a sin than money spent on any form of entertainment. I spent a ton going to Disney! And.....had no chance to get any of it back. I do have the ticket as a nice little momento.

Gambling.........getting in your car to go to the casino!
Gambling.........getting married!
Gambling.........filing a law suit!

Would I lead a friend to some activity that may just possibly do harm to him? Never intentionally. But, who can know people's hearts. I do my friends harm all the time by taking them to buffets.

Some of this is in good fun. I hope you all know that. But don't let legalism get a foothold in you life either.

[rough_rider]

But don't let legalism get a foothold in you life either.

Amen! Now that's getting to the "heart"of the matter...

[PastorP]

nope - all sports are a sin, except paintball, of course. duh. heheheeeee

I beg to differ with you. The only sin in sports is when the Atlanta Braves go into post season play and Bobby Cox is still the manager!

[RamboPreacher]

nope - all sports are a sin, except paintball, of course. duh. heheheeeee

I beg to differ with you. The only sin in sports is when the Atlanta Braves go into post season play and Bobby Cox is still the manager!

Atlanta who? Bobby what? is this a reference to Hockey or wrestling or something?

[PastorP]

nope - all sports are a sin, except paintball, of course. duh. heheheeeee

I beg to differ with you. The only sin in sports is when the Atlanta Braves go into post season play and Bobby Cox is still the manager!

Atlanta who? Bobby what? is this a reference to Hockey or wrestling or something?

If you don't know, I ain't a gonna tell ya!