Curious : Are there many Christians players on Az???

Matt_24 said:
I'm a Christian.

Now - here is a question to bring the two together (just for opinions). I enjoy a sociable wager at pool, always have. I also enjoy sociable wagers at other things. No, I wouldn't gamble my rent money or put myself or family in jeopardy....so does it say anywhere in the bible if gambling in and of itself is wrong?Just curious to hear from someone who is more biblically knowledgeable than myself.
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Here's a good topic of discussion for sure. I love pool. But, the one thing I don't like about this game is how so many make it about the money. It saddens me that I can't get a good game with some of the players in memphis who would really challenge me because I won't play them for money. All the while, some of the best players I have met (and some of the "best gamblers") have all told me that gambling takes so much away from the game...they wish they never started gambling, etc.

The Bible never says that gambling is in and of itself wrong, to answer your question. Though, the New Covenant is principle based doctrine more than commandment-based doctrine like the OT. (e.g. the NT doesn't say anything about smoking crack, but we know...) So is gambling wrong in principle?

Here's food for thought:
God has commanded man to work for his living - Gen. 3:19
Paul told the Ephesians to labor with our hands - Eph. 4:28, I Thess. 4:11
If we don’t work, we shouldn’t eat - II Thess. 3:10-13
Prov. 12:11 - Gambling is definitely a frivolity (a vain thing)
Matt. 7:12 - Do unto others as you would have them do to you (A gambler seeks for others to lose money, while he wins money. Just because others are willing partners does not make it right.)
Everything belongs to God - Ps 24:1-2 (even "our" money)
We are stewards of God's blessings - I Cor 4:1-2
We will give an account to God for our stewardship of his blessings - Romans 14:11-12

Your thoughts?

-yow!
 
I am proud to be a Christian! I don't claim to be perfect, but I do my best. It is good to see so many believers.

Anthony
 
Count me on that list for the past 15 years.

And Leonard...Is Chuck still around? I haven't seen him in a few years.
Steve
 
ericyow said:
[...]

Your thoughts?

-yow!
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Though I'm not a Christian (am I allowed to post in this thread?), I agree it's a shame there are good players in your area who won't play you unless you bet it up. At the same tme I really enjoy wagering on my pool game and believe it can be done ethically.

But I have another question. Is it my imagination, or is there a statistically unusual fraction of trick shot/artistic billiards people who are evangelical Christians, or are people who would identify themselves as "Christian pool players" as opposed to pool players who happen to be Christian?
 
I became a Christian on July 10, 1983. Long story short, I was an amateur boxer with 39 fights and loved fighting in the street also. I got arrested in 1980 for Agg Assault but was found not guilty. The policeman who arrested me and I became friends. A few years later, he shot himself. At his funeral, I started thinking "what happens after we die", since we all have to die once (unless the Rapture takes place). Anyway, I went to a Walden's Bookstore and bought my first Bible, started reading it, found an Evangelical church and gave my heart and life to Christ.

This doen't make me perfect, but it does make me fully aware when I sin and fail God. You can see my struggles sometimes in my posts...I try to be nice but 2 or 3 times, I've posted sardonically. When I see that my words hurt or offended the person I wrote them to, I feel compelled to offer the "olive branch". Romans 12:18 says "If at all possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
 
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Neil said:
A lot of people here have admitted to being christian. A few names I recognize, and this doesn't apply to them. You know who you are. But to the rest of you, I have this question. Where were all of you when the religious thread was going on? And why were so many of you silent when christianity was being so vervently attacked?
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Neil,

I can't speak for anybody else, but the first time I ever knew there was another forum for non-pool related was last month. I was looking for another poster's post and I found some of his that were in that "Non-pool" forum. I had never even noticed it was there. All I ever read in the main forum and sometimes the IPT, 14.1, DCC or World Championship. I've never seen the others, and I would venture a guess that many others will say the same thing. If the thread you mentioned is on that forum, a lot of people probably missed it.
 
ericyow said:
Here's a good topic of discussion for sure. I love pool. But, the one thing I don't like about this game is how so many make it about the money. It saddens me that I can't get a good game with some of the players in memphis who would really challenge me because I won't play them for money. All the while, some of the best players I have met (and some of the "best gamblers") have all told me that gambling takes so much away from the game...they wish they never started gambling, etc.

The Bible never says that gambling is in and of itself wrong, to answer your question. Though, the New Covenant is principle based doctrine more than commandment-based doctrine like the OT. (e.g. the NT doesn't say anything about smoking crack, but we know...) So is gambling wrong in principle?

Here's food for thought:
God has commanded man to work for his living - Gen. 3:19
Paul told the Ephesians to labor with our hands - Eph. 4:28, I Thess. 4:11
If we don’t work, we shouldn’t eat - II Thess. 3:10-13
Prov. 12:11 - Gambling is definitely a frivolity (a vain thing)
Matt. 7:12 - Do unto others as you would have them do to you (A gambler seeks for others to lose money, while he wins money. Just because others are willing partners does not make it right.)
Everything belongs to God - Ps 24:1-2 (even "our" money)
We are stewards of God's blessings - I Cor 4:1-2
We will give an account to God for our stewardship of his blessings - Romans 14:11-12

Your thoughts?

-yow!
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hmmm... seems someone has been doing his homework .

mark tadd
 
Terry Ardeno said:
I became a Christian on July 10, 1983. Long story short, I was an amateur boxer with 39 fights and loved fighting in the street also. I got arrested in 1980 for Agg Assault but was found not guilty. The policeman who arrested me and I became friends. A few years later, he shot himself. At his funeral, I started thinking "what happens after we die", since we all have to die once (unless the Rapture takes place). Anyway, I went to a Walden's Bookstore and bought my first Bible, started reading it, found an Evangelical church and gave my heart and life to Christ.

This doen't make me perfect, but it does make me fully aware when I sin and fail God. You can see my struggles sometimes in my posts...I try to be nice but 2 or 3 times, I've posted sardonically. When I see that my words hurt or offended the person I wrote them to, I feel compelled to offer the "olive branch". Romans 12:18 says "If at all possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
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WoW nice post Terry

mark tadd
 
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Not only am I a CHRISTian, but I am also a senior pastor and have been since I was 25 ( the past 6 years )......There is alot to the love of the LORD.....

I think first post in this " debate" thread needs to be " what people consider to be a christian .....and then go from there.

O YEA ......if anyone is ever in Rogersville TN and they need a church, stop in at Abundant Grace Fellowship, and we can speak in person :) and hopefully all the rolls will go your way, both in your life and on your table :D
 
Neil said:
I have had this conservation with a preacher before, and it pretty much put him at a loss for words. This is the way I see it....

I see nothing wrong with betting on pool...as long as it is controlled and not a foolish bet. To me it is no more than getting paid for what I do. If I misjudged my skills or my opponents, I lose. But not everything I have.

Everyone gambles, most just don't like to admit it. Most 'rich' people , no, a lot of people have invested in the stock market. Most for their retirement. Yet, there, they really have very, very, little control over it. They are just gambling on the stocks going up and not down.

Everytime you get on the road you are gambling with your life. Trusting some stranger to keep his car in his own lane.

So the way I see it, is there is nothing wrong with gambling on a pool game. As long as you keep it under control and don't wager more than you can afford to lose.
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I have said Yes to Jesus. This and only this is what makes a christian, a christian. You can not be a christian without believing the Jusus Died for you and me because we have sinned.

Is gambling wrong? Good question, I think you know what the Bible sayes about it. There are many people in this world that could live off of what most people gamble with. We take it for granted that we dont need $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 or what ever. Well if we dont need it let us give to the needy. Lets just be honest with ourselves and not justify our sins, after all, that debt has been paid in full. I admitt to gambling. I placed a bet that the Colts would beat New Egland in the AFC Championship game this year. I was so certain that they would win that I placed $1000 on the game. At halftime I was Crying and pleading to God for help. He bailed me out and I told him I would never do it again. I hope i keep my word?????
 
Neil said:
Where were all of you when the religious thread was going on? And why were so many of you silent when christianity was being so vervently attacked?
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I had two views on that thread...

view 1 - It seemed to be more of an attack on Marissa instead of an attack on Christianity. I became bored with the thread very early on (in the first page or 2) so ignored it as grew larger and larger.

view 2 - My participation in arguing and bickering over beliefs will never win anyone for Christ, so what's the point? There are people that will challenge every aspect of what you will say to them just to try and break you down and watch you react in anger so they can point a finger at you and say, "You got angry... how can you call yourself a Christian?"

Instead of holding themselves to a higher standard, its easier to use the "Christian" label to hold me - or any Christian -to an unattainable standard. None of us are perfect people, we all have our moments and we all make mistakes in life, and in our actions. Arguing with anyone over these issues does not promote peace, it divides and separates us. Recognizing that it was a thread that would not promote peace or the ideals of Christianity, I ignored that thread completely and I still haven't given it another look.
 
Blackjack said:
... My participation in arguing and bickering over beliefs will never win anyone for Christ, so what's the point? ... None of us are perfect people, we all have our moments and we all make mistakes in life, and in our actions. Arguing with anyone over these issues does not promote peace, it divides and separates us. ...
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Amen, David, I'm with you. Thanks for the CPPA link. I'm a "Born from Above" Christian and wish to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. Not so sure he helps my pool game, though -- especially when I'm playing against another Christian ... :D .
 
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