Christianity doesn't say anything about gambling. All the holy rollers think it does, because their pastor told them that gamblers are sinners. But it doesn't. I think that real Christians, not holy rollers, would tell you that the sinful part of gambling is wanting something for nothing. Like rolling a few dice and winning 10 grand. That and a lack of self control on the downside. I don't think that sportsbetting is pure gambling though. I would liken it more to stock and futures trading, because it takes just as much work and discipline for someone to make a living betting sports, as it does for an investor. And Christians sure don't have a problem with investors. I don't think that dice rolling would be a good living, mainly because you would be guaranteed to go broke! But if and when I choose to become a Christian, and if I end up being a very successful sportsbettor, I don't think that I will feel any tension between that and the Christian faith. The Bible is very big on following your own conscience, in terms of matters that are not covered directly in the Bible.
The difference is that some things in the Bible are clearly wrong, according to what it says. Some things, people have the authority, if you will, to label as sin. In other cases, they don't. I don't really care much what other people say or think about things that are in a gray area.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by oldmantime:
I seem to remember from my early church going days, that the good book (The Bible) says that Jesus, if you believe he is the son of god--Once said : "Judge NOT, that ye be Not judged".
Sadly--I don't think very many religious follow this theory--yet they "do" believe in Jesus!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
A judge is someone who passes sentence. When Christians "judge" people, they aren't really judging since they don't have the ability to pass a sentence. I think they are just predicting what the real Judge is going to say.
I seem to remember from my early church going days, that the good book (The Bible) says that Jesus, if you believe he is the son of god--Once said : "Judge NOT, that ye be Not judged".
Sadly--I don't think very many religious follow this theory--yet they "do" believe in Jesus!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
A judge is someone who passes sentence. When Christians "judge" people, they aren't really judging since they don't have the ability to pass a sentence. I think they are just predicting what the real Judge is going to say.
