But take just a moment and look at that word "casino." What do you see? Look carefully at the word and you will find that you can't spell casino without S-I-N. The very heart of casinos is sin. Contrary to the affirmation of some that casinos are just harmless places where people go and play a few innocent games, the truth of the matter is that casinos are far from innocent and harmless, notwithstanding their clever commercials which try to say otherwise. The casinos are very clever in their attempt to gain voter approval to enter a new community. They de-emphasize their connection with gambling and emphasize their magnificent hotels, resorts, and diverse recreational offerings.

It reminds me of parents who trick their children into taking their medicine by hiding it in food or mixing it into their drink. The parent hopes that the child will be so enamored with the food or drink that they won't notice what is hidden within it. Similarly, the casino industry hopes that the residents of this country will be so enamored with the resort and its recreational opportunities that we will forget that gambling and its attendant problems are hidden within the resort. At least what the parents are hiding from their children will actually help them and not harm them. Not so with gambling. Let us not forget that hidden within the plan to bring resorts and places of recreation into an area, is also the plan to bring gambling and all of the baggage that comes with it as well. As the remainder of this article will demonstrate, that baggage is too heavy and burdensome for any community to bear. The stakes are just too high to invite casinos into our neighborhoods. This is true because of both social and biblical considerations.

Social Considerations

Despite the glowing promises of hundreds of new jobs and multiplied millions of dollars flowing into the county coffer for education, road and sewage improvements, etc, etc etc, the real truth is that casino gambling promises liberty and brings slavery (2 Peter 2:19). Dr. Robert Goodman is a University of Massachusetts professor and an expert on gambling. He conducted a two-year study on states with gambling and concluded that gambling burdens taxpayers with more social spending, and increases taxes rather than reducing them. In fact, he discovered that gambling did not lower taxes in any state that introduced it. Instead, taxes went up!

Another researcher, Dr. John Kindt, is a University of Illinois Commerce professor. He has also authored a study on the costs of legalized gambling. In his research he observed that for every dollar gambling contributes to the economy, taxpayers spend at least three dollars on streets, crime control, and treatment of compulsive gamblers. Furthermore, a glance at what casino gambling has done for other communities where it has been introduced, proves this beyond a shadow of a doubt.

For example, since casino gambling was introduced into Atlantic City, the population has declined and nearly half of the 2100 businesses have closed (Parade Magazine, May 11, 1986, pp.12-13). Furthermore, serious crimes have tripled from 4,689 in 1977 to 14,914 in 1985. What is amazing about this increase is that it occurred at a time when the population of Atlantic City had declined by approximately 6,000 people (The New Orleans Time-Picayune, Jan. 12th, 1986, pp. 1, 18). Organized crime has also infiltrated Atlantic City despite the statement made by Governor Byrne when the casinos first opened. He stood on the Boardwalk and said, "Organized crime is not welcome. I warn them, keep your filthy hands out of Atlantic City." However, by 1984 one of Byrne's political aides said, "We were naïve to think we could keep organized crime out. Now we recognize that the price of legalized gambling is that we become the focus of attention for undesirable elements" (The Washington Post, January 16th, 1984, p.2). Consider the following additional facts:

Only two years after the opening of the first casino, organized crime activities such as narcotic sales, prostitution, and loan sharking had soared dramatically (The Tennessean, June 28, 1981, p. 13). Along this line, an article in USA Today, August 4th, 1988 declared, "Casinos create an atmosphere in which prostitution, drug abuse, loan sharking and street crime flourish."

From 1980-1986 there were almost 40 "mob" murders in Atlantic City (Parade Magazine, May 11th, 1986, p. 14). Even the liberal politician Mario Cuomo said, "Anyone who denies the influence of organized crime in casino gambling is just not being realistic." Former Florida governor, Reuben Askew declared in a 1978 speech in Miami, "Casinos will attract the mob like blood attracts sharks."

A CBS News survey of Atlantic City area residents found that 60% of the residents believed that gambling has not revitalized the city.

From 1977-1980, violent crimes, involving murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults increased 176% (U. S. News and World Report, March 9, 1981).

The suicide rate is the highest in the country in Las Vegas, Nevada (Time Magazine, January 10, 1994, p. 43).

The police department budget in Atlantic City has tripled to $24 million dollars since 1976 and the crime rate in Atlantic City is now the highest in the entire state (Time, Sep. 25th, 1989, p. 66).

Suicide rates for spouses of compulsive gamblers are 150 times higher than the national average (Georgia Council on Moral and Civic Concerns)

40% of white collar crime is committed by compulsive gamblers (Same source as above).

20% of wife abuse cases involve compulsive gambling (Same source as above).

The state of Nevada has seen its welfare case load rise 54% since 1991 (Time, January 10, 1994, p. 50).

Four of the past six mayors of Atlantic City were charged with corruption (Time Magazine, September 25th, 1989, p. 67).

In Deadwood, South Dakota, casino gambling was introduced in 1988. In the next two years arrests were up 250% and reports of child abuse were on the increase (Ladies Home Journal, September, 1990, p. 162). Since gambling entered Deadwood, on Main Street alone, a department store, a women's clothing store, a shoe store, a drugstore and two hardware stores have been shut down, having been replaced by novelty shops and casinos (Same source as above, p. 164.) Within the first five months after the casinos opened in Deadwood, the office of Child Protection Services was swamped with a 60% increase of calls in January alone. Complaints ranged from children being sent to school hungry, to physical and sexual abuse. Children had to be removed from at least five homes where gambling was directly related to the removal (Same source as above).

Countless other statistics could be recited, but these should be sufficient to demonstrate the fruits of gambling. Remember that our Lord said, "By their fruits ye shall know them" Matt 7:16-20. Have not the fruits of gambling been clearly shown to be corrupt? REMEMBER: the same glittering promises we hear concerning what "gaming" will bring to our communities, were also made to the communities of Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Deadwood, South Dakota. Did those promises come true? Time Magazine published an article about Atlantic City in their September 25th, 1989 issue. They entitled it, "Boardwalk of Broken Dreams." I can assure you that the casinos will break their promises and break the hearts of countless residents in any community if they are invited in. Is it really worth the risk? THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH!

It is not uncommon to hear the uninformed suggest that the Bible says nothing pro or con about the subject of gambling. While it is true that there is no "Thou shalt not gamble" commandment in the Bible, it is equally true that there is no "Thou shalt not drive through a school zone at 120 mph" statement in the Bible either. However, sufficient principles in Scripture enable us to know that such would be wrong though not explicitly condemned in so many words. Likewise, the act of gambling is implicitly condemned by biblical principles.

Gambling Involves Carnality And Covetousness. It is the will of God that his church be "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" Eph. 5:27. God desires that his children be set apart from the conduct of the world. The church is to be holy! Our focus is to be spiritual and not fleshly. The Greek word for "carnal" is the word "sarkikos." Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says the word signifies that which is "sensual, controlled by animal appetites." The carnally minded are those who focus upon the things of the flesh to the exclusion of minding the things of the Spirit. Gambling encourages us to become obsessed in our appetite for money and material wealth.

While it is true that money, in and of itself, is not carnal, there are some who have a carnal desire for money. Paul said, "godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us therewith be content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things" (1 Tim. 6:7-11a). Gambling does not encourage contentment. Even the winners are not satisfied with their winnings. More often than not, they gamble their winnings away in an attempt to win more.

Paul says that those who will be ("desire to be" NKJV) rich fall into temptation and a snare. Jesus spoke of some who hear the word, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection (Luke 8:15). The influence of gambling promotes laying up treasures upon the earth rather than laying them up in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20). In this same context, Jesus warned that we cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24). The word "mammon" was a common Aramaic word for riches. Satan seeks to convince us that we can serve both God and riches. One of the means by which Satan tries to obsess us with the acquisition of riches is casino gambling. Satan wants us to buy into the philosophy which says, "You only go around once in life; go for the gusto. Get all you can while you can!" Satan wants us to forget Paul’s admonition, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" Col. 3:1-2. It is not accidental that setting our affection on things above is coupled with putting covetousness to death in our lives (Col. 3:5). It is not accidental that Peter couples our being strangers and pilgrims upon the earth with abstaining from fleshly lusts upon the earth (1 Pet. 2:11).

Oh that I could convince all my brethren that gambling "is not of the Father, but of the world" 1 John 2:16. It is not spiritual, but carnal. To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Rom. 8:6). Gambling takes much more than it gives, but even that which it gives "passeth away and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever" 1 John 2:17. The casinos and the cash within them will someday melt with fervent heat and be burned up (2 Pet. 3:10). "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" 2 Pet. 3:11. 

REASONS I'M GIVING UP

The reasons why I'm giving up sports: football in the fall, baseball in the summer, basketball in the winter. I've had it all. I quit attending sports once and for all, and here are my reasons:

Every time I went, they asked for money.

The people I sat next to didn't seem friendly.

The seats were too hard and not comfortable at all.

I went to many games but the coach never came to call on me.

The referees made decisions that I couldn't agree with.

The game went into overtime and I was late getting home.

The band played numbers I'd never heard before and it wasn't my style of music.

It seems the games are always scheduled when I want to do other things.

I suspect that I was sitting next to some hypocrites. They came to see their friends and they talked during the whole game.

I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.

I hate to wait in the traffic jam in the parking lot after the game.

Sound Familiar?

In regard to prayer and healing the question is not whether or not God heals. He does, but the question is "How does He Heal?" Consider this, say a person cuts his finger, the natural functions of the body begin the healing process. These functions are a part of healing process of the human body. It is no less a work of God because it is natural.

Therefore, prayer and healing must be in accordance to God's Law. One of the conditions of prayer is that it be according to the will of God. Jesus taught, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” Matt. 6:10. Again, while Jesus was in the garden “yet not as I will, but as Thou will” Matt 26:39,42,44. Clearly, Jesus did not ask God to go contrary to His eternal plan to take away suffering. Prayer is harmonizing one's desires to God's will as much as it is seeking God's help in fulfilling one's desires. God works through Prayer and Providence. Both are in accordance to His eternal purpose. 

A man was visiting an insane asylum one day, and he noticed that all the insane people were on the field outside, but there was only one guard. 

He asked the guard, "Aren't you afraid?"

The guard said, "Absolutely not."

He said, "Don't you believe that since you are the only one here, these people could over-run you and break out of the asylum?"

He said, "That's impossible."

The man asked, "Why is that impossible?"

The guard replied, "Because lunatics don't unite."

One of the realities is that Christians have a propensity to lunacy.  We allow the enemy to split us from a common theme. Tony Evans

We hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study.

2 Sam 22:31
 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. NKJV

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