RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Theology] >> Morality & Ethics



Message

SonInMe1 -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 8:34:53 AM)

quote:

Gambling IS sinful!!!



Only....if you lose.

There are many people who gamble for a living...and not just in casinos. Stock brokers gamble. Entrepeneurs gamble. A lot of things in life are gambles. The most successful people are often people who have declared banckruptcy many many times.

I am not sure of the tournament but last year one of the main poker tournaments was won by a christian who gave praise to the Lord when he won his hands. I am not saying one way or the other if that is right or wrong but that is what he did.

There was a "christian" who won a 300 million dollar lotto...and it messed up his life....but then, if you are drugged and mugged by a waitress and accomplice after leavinbg a strip joint....maybe buying lotto tickets wasn't exactly your first concern.

Yeah, his pastor said he was a nice fellow and gave a lot to the church but they had video of it....everyone knew he did it. To me, another sign he needed better discipleship.

I usta play cards for money all day long...we played nickle dime pitch and if you have a bad day you might lose ten dollars...but we had a lot of fun for ten bucks.

I also know a guy with a severe gambling problem. Six figures in debt, but this is just like alcohol, some can handle it and others cannot.



ta_mosquito -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 8:45:47 AM)

quote:

I usta play cards for money all day long...we played nickle dime pitch and if you have a bad day you might lose ten dollars...but we had a lot of fun for ten bucks.


Being cantankerous here - which is a better/worse waste of money: spending $10 on a night of playing cards, or spending $10 going to a lame movie? [8D]



krazyxsinner -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 9:29:41 AM)

Both are a sin. We must not support either cards or Hollywood or especially cards made in Hollywood.



McKate -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 9:39:09 AM)

Hehe...I grew up in an Irish family in Atlantic City (of all places). Most of my family gambled and drank themselves into nothingness. I don't like to use the word "evil" to describe anything, but it certainly brought a lot of pain and suffering to our family. It's a greedy practice that becomes compulsive, as anything can. I don't mind a game of poker now and again, but the moment that a game or winning money begins to hold priority over those who mean the most in your life, it's time for a reality check.



rcjames -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 9:47:36 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloak

Gambling IS sinful!!!


You equate playing poker with stealing; I would suppose that you do not have good knowledge of what playing poker is.

I think there are better ways to spend one's time, but I can find no Scripture support to classify gambling as sin.

Maybe someone could enlighten me.

Cloak, how about some Scriptures about the evils of playing poker.

THanks
RC

edited for spelling



Cloak -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 9:57:33 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: McKate

Hehe...I grew up in an Irish family in Atlantic City (of all places). Most of my family gambled and drank themselves into nothingness. I don't like to use the word "evil" to describe anything, but it certainly brought a lot of pain and suffering to our family. It's a greedy practice that becomes compulsive, as anything can. I don't mind a game of poker now and again, but the moment that a game or winning money begins to hold priority over those who mean the most in your life, it's time for a reality check.



Thanks McKate for the Testimony about the consequences of gambling. God Bless you!!! [:)]


As the adage goes: "The proof of the pudding is in the tasting."



Pauley464 -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 10:57:12 AM)

I haven't read all of the posts on this thread, but I felt the need to post my view of this subject, so please forgive me if I rehash what someone has already said.

Cards are not evil-they are simply objects to be used. An inanimate object cannot be either righteous or evil, but they can be used for evil.

Gambling is not sinful-it can become sinful if the gambler is addicted. Gambling comes down to proper stewardship of the resources God has blessed us with.

If I go to Las Vegas on vacation and include in my budget a limited amount of money for playing cards in one of the casinos and quit when that amount is used up, I believe I have stayed within the bounds of good stewardship. But if I get upset and start thinking that I can win it all back with just one more hand then I have strayed outside the bounds of good stewardship. The sin is improper stewardship of our resources. Some people believe that because of the risk inherent in gambling itself, any gambling-whether you win or lose-makes gambling a sin because of the Biblical mandate on good stewardship. This attitude is the same one that prompts some to believe alcohol is sinful because of the Biblical ban on drunkeness. People who believe this way are welcome to their opinions and are probably better off than the rest of us because it keeps them away from the possiblity temptation.
I have a problem with this attitude for one reason. If you claim that cards/gambling are evil because poor stewardship in a sin, or that alcohol is evil because drunkeness is a sin---What do you do with food? Is food evil because gluttony is a sin? Are guns and knives evil because murder is a sin? Is marital sex evil because adultery is a sin? How far can we take this analogy?

The plain truth is-the Bible doesn't speak against either cards or gambling. If you can examine yourself and your life and believe with all your heart that you can play cards or gamble without falling into sin or otherwise compromise your relationship with God, then go have fun. If you cannot, then avoid these things.

Now if you'll pardon me I'm going to eat a box of twinkies and play on-line poker.[sm=angelhalo.gif]



john_mark -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 11:29:02 AM)

playing cards are only sinful if you think they are.

in romans 14 paul deals with clean and unclean things and he is primarily speaking of eating certain foods but he concludes with this

14:23
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

paul is saying if you think something is a sin and you do it your not acting from faith and so you have sinned. IOW if you think a certain action is offensive to God and you do it, because you believed it was a sin you have sinned.

so if you grew up in a church where playing cards was taught to be sin and you firmly believe this then dont play cards and sin not.

but if you grew in a church where playing cards is accepted and can find no biblical evidence to show it is sin, enjoy the fellowship that comes with a good game of euchre.



Focusing -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 12:08:23 PM)

quote:

I was listening to a sermon by Lester Roloff and in it he said that playing cards were "of the Devil" and that no child of God should play.


Are playing cards "evil"?


Sometimes I play Go Fish with my son.




At any rate, thanks for the heads up. I won't be listening to anything Lester Roloff might have to say.



peace77 -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 12:17:00 PM)

quote:


so if you grew up in a church where playing cards was taught to be sin . . .



Then, you grew up in a church that taught error and legalism.



faithbyhishand -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 1:14:06 PM)

Seems that most of those saying playing cards is evil are mostly stating so in respect to gaining moneys or goods when playing and also saying that it is dishonest gain because it is not worked for. But if receiving moneys or goods not earned or worked hard for is a sin then many people out there are in constant sin in this respect: people who make lots of money at their jobs but don't work much to get it, people who have received an inheritance, making money off real estate/sale of your home (especially when the prices of homes were excessive), etc. There is a parable in Matthew that talks about workers who were paid the same pay but had worked differing amounts of time and the employer said isn't it my choice to pay what I want to my workers (summarizing). So saying that only money that is earned by hard work is money that is not dishonestly gained is saying that all the above (including the men in the parable that only worked an hour and received a day's pay) have dishonestly gained their wealth and have sinned in this matter. This issue has more facets such as gifts, money received from game shows, stockmarket (as some have already pointed out) , investments, etc.
My personal thought is that anything can be evil or sinful if it becomes our idol and takes the place of Jesus in our hearts.
J



kernsfamily -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 1:34:53 PM)

quote:

Gambling ? At it's core it is a very covetous practice. Some argue "so is the stockmarket" - well, I guess they're right. The sin of being coveteous simply means you want something someone else has and you wish they would lose it or be seperated from it so you could have it.


There's a HUGE difference between Gambling and Investing....(sure, there are some out there who "play" the stock market and do "gamble"...)...but, still, that's entirely different than investing.



rcjames -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 2:22:03 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Focusing

quote:

I was listening to a sermon by Lester Roloff and in it he said that playing cards were "of the Devil" and that no child of God should play.


Are playing cards "evil"?


Sometimes I play Go Fish with my son.

At any rate, thanks for the heads up. I won't be listening to anything Lester Roloff might have to say.


Lester Roloff was a fine man and a great man of God; yes he did have some "Legalistic" problems in my opinion; but I knew him personally and admired his work before he went to see Jesus.

He founded the "Light House Homes" for boys who had been deemed incorrugable, and the "Rebecca Home for Girls" in Texas. He helped many a young lost person find their way and he fought the State of Texas for the right to home school, etc.

Now he was also against the "Flying Barooms" (commercial airlines), movies, TV, modern music, etc. But as I say he saved many a confused yourg person from a life of perdition and death.

So please before we are too honery and mean to Roloff; how many young runaways have we devoted our lives to bring to Christ and keep away from the devil.

Thanks
RC

edited for spelling



Roberta_ -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 2:29:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dancre
Oi!! Where do these people come from?? The only time playing cards is evil is when you cheat or gamble. Don't let others drag you into their religious does and don'ts. Have fun playing cards.

kim


I think, but I could be wrong, that this thought comes from the fact that so many have used a regular deck of cards for fortune telling, et al.

However, there are many who have used cars to do evil things too, but not too many Christians are gonna give up their cars anytime soon. In fact, I'm gonna hop in mine in a few minutes to go to work. If I get all of my work done, I might sit down and play a sinful game of solitare or hearts. I should be safe though, because I'll be playing them on the computer and not with an actual deck of cards. [;)]



Cloak -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 2:46:28 PM)

Have fun playing them DD with no guilt whatsoever. I play them on my pc as well! [:)]



ruthyrich -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 4:20:52 PM)

Carefull, my sister, no matter how hard I have tried to get her to come to church, is one of those sinners who uses tarot cards. She can also read peoples future from a normal deck of 52 as well. I am not saying the cards are bad, as long as your playing innocent games, but I don't believe they should be used as tarots either.

Of course, I think it is all what you do with it. I mean there are palm readers too, but God gave us all palms. Just because some people read them, doesn't make our God given palms bad. Just don't let someone read them.
quote:

Playing cards are not the same as Tarot cards, which is what folks use to think
playing cards could be. They never were the same, so far as I know. Now
Tarot cards--I'd steer clear of, a wide-mile or so!



torath -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 6:09:22 PM)

Hello all, just felt the need to add my 2 cents.

First, comparing tarot and a deck of 52 is accurate, but so is comparing Christmas with vile pagan rituals.

"Charles Halff, director of the Christian Jew Foundation, chooses to boycott Christmas because of the pagan connection. “Thousands of years before Jesus was born, the heathen in every country observed Dec. 25 as the birthday of a god who was called the sun god Tummuz.” According to all the heathen religions of that time, writes Halff, “Tammuz had a miraculous birth; and for centuries his birthday was celebrated with feasts, revelry and drunken orgies. The heathen celebrated Tammuz's birthday according to the very example he set for them. He was the world's greatest lover of women, strong drink, dirty jokes, and other sensual fun.”

http://www.crosswalk.com/11562388/

For where ever something may have started, it has changed, evolved and grown to what we know today.

As for gambling being evil, I have heard this preached many times over, but I cannot square scripture with that belief. I understand about working to get money, but I get a bonus at work I did nothing for. It is based on profits that only come from the book guys balancing the company budget. My 8 hours only hurts that budget, so the only way I can raise the bonus is to skip work! I see gambling itself as not being evil, but money is one of the easiest ways humanity is corrupted. Winning the lottery, getting a huge inheritance, hitting it big in Vegas, getting that huge 6 figure promotion....all these things can destroy a person and their faith more rapidly than almost anything else. All of a sudden, even if you do not realize it, you will start to feel self sufficient. What thing in life would you look to God for then? Your house, cars, all expenses are taken care of. You would have more friends than you knew what to do with. No need or outward desire would not be able to be fulfilled with enough money. And that is where the sin comes in, in my opinion.

Do not gamble more than you can afford to lose it the old adage. But if you ask me, do not gamble more than you can afford to win.

Thanks all.

Fight the good fight



Holiday -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 8:15:01 PM)

Interesting...........because I asked "are playing cards evil?" I've been labeled as a Pharisee and a legalistic person.

I asked if playing cards were evil. Immediately, the thread turned into a discussion about gambling and so forth. Isn't it ironic that you cannot separate the term "playing cards" from the activity of "gambling" - i.e a game of chance where money is put forth?

I don't consider myself to be "legalistic" - a word which is overused these days anyway.

Legalism, by my understanding is descriptive of a doctrine that states that one becomes righteous by following laws. Legalism and self-righteousness go hand in hand. Christ came that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ. Christ is the Christian's righteousness. I know that God pursued me and accepted and saved me while I was yet a sinner - I cannot make a claim to being "self" - righteous. In my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing.

So, now we go onto a discussion of Holiness - i.e being separated for God for use by God. That is different from self-righteous legalism.



SonInMe1 -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 8:15:02 PM)

My mom's church was founded in 1803. They have the church histories.

In these documents are some of the transgressions of its members like....dancing...and playing cards.

Moderation. Self controll. Stewardship. If you can do these things and gamble then its ok.



ta_mosquito -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 8:40:29 PM)

Holiday - I didn't see where anyone called you a legalist for asking the question.



Kath -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 8:54:14 PM)

Moving from General Faith to Morality/Ethics



Kath -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 10:00:57 PM)

quote:

I asked if playing cards were evil. Immediately, the thread turned into a discussion about gambling and so forth. Isn't it ironic that you cannot separate the term "playing cards" from the activity of "gambling" - i.e a game of chance where money is put forth?


I've noticed that too.

Tricia already nudged once in this thread and yet it is still going back to gambling. It is not about gambling, it's about playing cards. We already have a thread on gambling if you'd like to look for it.

Please stick to the topic.

Sincerely
Kath
Volunteer Assistant Administrator

Please do not reply to this message within the Community.

Please do not send me PMs regarding this message as I am unable to discuss it further.

Please email Community@salemwebnetwork.com with questions, comments, or concerns. Please allow time for a response.

Posts which ignore this warning will be removed without warning and may result in other action in accordance with the Terms of Service.



makarizo -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/7/2008 10:26:33 PM)

quote:

RE: Are playing cards "evil"?

no



SonInMe1 -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/8/2008 8:06:05 AM)

If playing cards is sinful...

please tell me....what is NOT sinful?



saraimay75 -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/8/2008 8:48:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ta_mosquito

quote:

But then, one could argue "why would you play cards when you could read the Bible?" - to which I couldn't reply.


One could argue "why would you go to a baseball game / go to a movie / read a fiction book / read the newspaper / watch NASCAR / take a nap / visit with friends when you could read the Bible?" [;)]

Cards are amoral, just like a lot of things in life. It becomes immoral when you do something with them that is immoral.

Shooting a gun is not evil - shooting a gun at a person is evil.


Exactly



Page: <<   < prev  1 2 [3] 4 5   next >   >>



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI