Gambling Christian??

Drake

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I see in every interview that you have done that you feel that all of your sucess in due to your better half (the wife) and your christian beliefs. Do you gamble on pool games?? Does it conflict with your christian beliefs?? I've struggled with this issue for many years because I do gamble but feel that I'm not addicted to it and only wager what I can afford to lose. Just curious about your thoughts.
 
Christian Gambling

Good Question. I Always Wanted To Hear Other Peoples Thoughts About This Subject. You Know, Like Is Every Person In Vegas That Drops A Buck In A Slot Going To Hell,so To Speak.actually In All Reality, It Probably Doesnt Make Any Difference What The Amt. Is , It Is Probably A Sin No Matter What.
 
If what you are doing is harmful to you or anyone else then stop doing it. Otherwise have fun and forget about what others opinions might be. Opinions like deciding for others what is a "sin" and what isn't a "sin" are only opinions.
 
If you choose not to answer this question in the open forum, I would understand. This topic is very controversial and has to many wrong answers. For example, Many Christian Pool Players will Play in a 80 dollar Tournament but will never bet any money one on one........What's the difference?? But, I do know of at least 5 Professional "Gambling Christians" that play long sessions and usually do very well. Feel free to PM me if want to answer at all.
 
Drake
As I said to you privately, this sounds more like a debating question rather than an inquiry into a Christian point of view. In response to JimS, sin is not based on opinion from anybody. We are all born with a sin nature. Sin begins in the heart. From the standpoint of a Christian, I always try to see what Jesus Christ would do in any situation. I fail to see him walking into a pool hall with a cue case hanging on his shoulder scouting out gambling prospects to line his pockets with easy cash - whether or not the odds were in his favor or not. So that being said, you go back to the popular question:
What Would Jesus Do? I don't think he'd be gambling. I hope that answers your question. I am somebody that has been on both sides of the coin, so I have a perspective of both sides of thsi issue. Prior to accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior I justified my behavior - sometimes brutally. It still didn't make what I was doing right in the eyes God. Being a Christian is not about holding yourself on a pedestal and looking down upon others. It's about walking with Jesus Christ.

Even Christians are tempted to sin. Nobody is perfect, nobody is any better than anybody else, and nobody is immune from temptation. There are several patterns of attack the devil uses to sway us off course, and I would say being tempted into gambling by the lure of dollar sign$$ would be a pattern of attack. I fell for that one over and over. When I gambled I was motivated by greed. I wanted to take and take and take. "What's in it for me?" Today I try to go to the opposite extreme and I try to give and give and give, and my question is, "What can I do for others?" Big difference. The Blackjack of 1985 would have flipped off the Blackjack of 2005. So if you don't agree with what I've said here, I've been there too.
 
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hi

Drake said:
I see in every interview that you have done that you feel that all of your sucess in due to your better half (the wife) and your christian beliefs. Do you gamble on pool games?? Does it conflict with your christian beliefs?? I've struggled with this issue for many years because I do gamble but feel that I'm not addicted to it and only wager what I can afford to lose. Just curious about your thoughts.


I don't gamble a whole lot myself. When I do, I pretty much follow the guide lines you follow. I don't feel that most anything (within reason) SHOULD affect my christian beliefs as long as they're not done excessively. Also, as far as gambeling is concerned, I feel that true gambling is dumb luck. When you gamble on the pool table, you're relying on SKILL. However, as you said, addiction will affect anyone's christian beliefs. Whose to say? These are just MY thoughts. And who am I to judge? :)
 
haha

RON GEARY said:
Good Question. I Always Wanted To Hear Other Peoples Thoughts About This Subject. You Know, Like Is Every Person In Vegas That Drops A Buck In A Slot Going To Hell,so To Speak.actually In All Reality, It Probably Doesnt Make Any Difference What The Amt. Is , It Is Probably A Sin No Matter What.


We could probally all argue about this subject forever, but why? As long as you live in belief of the Lord, and help others as he asks, I'm not sure that it's such a terrible thing to drop a buck or two into a few machines. As I said to Drake, compulsive obsessiveness, is a whole other subject, in MY OPINION. Also, why is it so BAD to have a little fun with your HARD EARNED MONEY?
 
not an issue

Drake said:
If you choose not to answer this question in the open forum, I would understand. This topic is very controversial and has to many wrong answers. For example, Many Christian Pool Players will Play in a 80 dollar Tournament but will never bet any money one on one........What's the difference?? But, I do know of at least 5 Professional "Gambling Christians" that play long sessions and usually do very well. Feel free to PM me if want to answer at all.


Again, if I'm comfortable with the situation, and don't feel that I'm hurting anyone, mentally or physically, then I think a little action is ok. You're right, there are too many wrong answers, and I don't mean to offend anyone, by any means. I hope that everyone sees that my belief's are strong enough for me to be comfortable with myself.
 
hello

Blackjack said:
Drake
As I said to you privately, this sounds more like a debating question rather than an inquiry into a Christian point of view. In response to JimS, sin is not based on opinion from anybody. We are all born with a sin nature. Sin begins in the heart. From the standpoint of a Christian, I always try to see what Jesus Christ would do in any situation. I fail to see him walking into a pool hall with a cue case hanging on his shoulder scouting out gambling prospects to line his pockets with easy cash - whether or not the odds were in his favor or not. So that being said, you go back to the popular question:
What Would Jesus Do? I don't think he'd be gambling. I hope that answers your question. I am somebody that has been on both sides of the coin, so I have a perspective of both sides of thsi issue. Prior to accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior I justified my behavior - sometimes brutally. It still didn't make what I was doing right in the eyes God. Being a Christian is not about holding yourself on a pedestal and looking down upon others. It's about walking with Jesus Christ.

Even Christians are tempted to sin. Nobody is perfect, nobody is any better than anybody else, and nobody is immune from temptation. There are several patterns of attack the devil uses to sway us off course, and I would say being tempted into gambling by the lure of dollar sign$$ would be a pattern of attack. I fell for that one over and over. When I gambled I was motivated by greed. I wanted to take and take and take. "What's in it for me?" Today I try to go to the opposite extreme and I try to give and give and give, and my question is, "What can I do for others?" Big difference. The Blackjack of 1985 would have flipped off the Blackjack of 2005. So if you don't agree with what I've said here, I've been there too.


I"m not really sure how to respond to you, because you really didn't ask a question, however, I do not disagree with you. However, I don't look at gambling on the pool table like you did. I don't have the "what's in it for me" attitude and I"m not obsessed with the addiction. I can't say I've even gambled more than a half a dozen times in the last four years. When I matched up, we were in agreement to play, and the games were VERY even match-ups. Also, whether or not it makes me a sinner, I am never out in search of action. Most players, want such a absurd "spot" that it's crazy. They make ME feel like I don't like to make others feel, so I simply don't gamble. Wheew!!! I don't know guys. I'm just a natural born sinner like everyone else. Again, this is just MY opinion. :D
 
all out of explinations

JimS said:
If what you are doing is harmful to you or anyone else then stop doing it. Otherwise have fun and forget about what others opinions might be. Opinions like deciding for others what is a "sin" and what isn't a "sin" are only opinions.


Please see my oter replys in answer to your post. :)
 
gambling

hello people: well and old man view, i have gambled, my opinion on the subject is if you compet in sporting avent, money as a prize you are not gambling you are competing with others to determin the best. but head to head you are gambling. just a old man view , look at all the golfers. tennis, etc, people that but up money to compet????? STICK :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
hillbilly said:
I don't gamble a whole lot myself. When I do, I pretty much follow the guide lines you follow. I don't feel that most anything (within reason) SHOULD affect my christian beliefs as long as they're not done excessively. Also, as far as gambeling is concerned, I feel that true gambling is dumb luck. When you gamble on the pool table, you're relying on SKILL. However, as you said, addiction will affect anyone's christian beliefs. Whose to say? These are just MY thoughts. And who am I to judge? :)

That is basicly the exact same opinion as mine. When matching up i don't go out of my way to make it even though. I will take the gamble if i am on the bad side or the good side of a 'bad bet' if offered to me. I justify all gambling at the table by playing my hardest at all times. I am against any type of hustling, but i feel a wager on a game of skill is is not really gambling at all. Betting on things that you cannot affect the outcome of, is true gambling, and I'll do that once in a while too. As long as I am not hurting myself or anyone i honestly don't feel that i am offending god. I think the principle of gambling being a sin, depends on both you and your opponents state of mind.
 
Mike Painter1

hillbilly said:
I don't gamble a whole lot myself. When I do, I pretty much follow the guide lines you follow. I don't feel that most anything (within reason) SHOULD affect my christian beliefs as long as they're not done excessively. Also, as far as gambeling is concerned, I feel that true gambling is dumb luck. When you gamble on the pool table, you're relying on SKILL. However, as you said, addiction will affect anyone's christian beliefs. Whose to say? These are just MY thoughts. And who am I to judge? :)


Charles,how did u do against painter saturday night in that 10 ahead for 5g!!
I watched it go even for 3 hours til 3am .He's one tough player that guy painter,what did u think of all that jaw action1
 
Charlie played like the true champion that he is. As soon as he got his break straighted out it was all over but the crying. Charlie was one ahead and hit Painter with 9 strait games. You should have hung around and watched the shot Charlie rifled in on the one ball in the last game. If I would have been playing him and he knocked that shot off like that I would have called it good. He hit it like king kong. Chalie, Thanks for the show and playing in that atmosphere like a true champion. I also did pretty good on the side betting on this one. :D
 
Drake said:
I see in every interview that you have done that you feel that all of your sucess in due to your better half (the wife) and your christian beliefs. Do you gamble on pool games?? Does it conflict with your christian beliefs?? I've struggled with this issue for many years because I do gamble but feel that I'm not addicted to it and only wager what I can afford to lose. Just curious about your thoughts.
Hi Todd. Gambling isn't a sin but the addiction is. Like our buddy BILLY !!! Call Me.
 
Gambling (to my knowledge) isn't even mentioned in the bible. I don't see anything wrong with it, unless it becomes an addiction. We are all sinners anyway, and shouldn't pass judgement on others or base our lives on what other people do.

And Shawn... The love sponge??? I don't think I want to know!
 
I hate to say this..., Because I usually try to avoid religious debates. There is a lot wrote in the Bible about Gambling.

I guess it just depends on how much of it is open for your own interpretation. there's lots of stuff wrote in there, that people just ignore in this day and time anyway.
 
Coop1701 said:
I hate to say this..., Because I usually try to avoid religious debates. There is a lot wrote in the Bible about Gambling.

I guess it just depends on how much of it is open for your own interpretation. there's lots of stuff wrote in there, that people just ignore in this day and time anyway.

I was taught that gambling wasn't mentioned in the bible. Do you know what book(s) in which it is mentioned?
 
I'm about as Agnostic as they come... But I researched several subjects like this a long time ago. More or less, because I have this fascination with knowing trival things.

here's you a couple...

Matt. 16:26
2 Cor 12:14
Prov 15:27


I do not believe gambling is wrong, and it's all in what people precieve from what they read.
 
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