Although there are some who experience gambling as something rewarding and fun, it tends toward being highly addictive and potentially ruinous. The Bible doesn't call gambling a sin as such, although the Bible warns against the love of money and get-rich-quick schemes.
The Bible warns against the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) and encourages contentment with what one has (Hebrews 13:5). The thrill of gambling can lead to greed, a desire for quick riches, and a lack of trust in God's provision.
Gambling can be linked to greed. It is the wanting of more even if that more has to be gained at the loss of what belongs to one' s fellowman. At its worst stage it becomes the insatiable desire that seeks to be satisfied even at the risk of losing everything a person holds dear. It is greed turned into sickness.
There is nothing in the Bible saying you can't gamble or play games of chance. What is bad is living your life in a way that is wasteful and if you gamble a lot and lose money it is considered living foolishly, which is sinful.
The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). Scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to “get rich quick” (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10).
“You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.” What does the Bible say about tattoos? That's it—that one line in Leviticus 19:28 of the Old Testament. But context is key—and this scripture may not apply to us in the way it looks.
In summary, while the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does provide principles of responsible stewardship and warns against the love of money.
Like addictive drugs such as cocaine, heroin, nicotine and alcohol, gambling activates the brain's reward system, which is powered by dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter inside the brain that reinforces sensations of pleasure and connects those sensations to certain behaviors or actions.
Baptists believe God has a perfect plan for every human being and that he works in history to accomplish that plan. Gambling ignores God in the affairs of men. It looks to luck and chance, leaving no room for God. — Lottery gambling violates the principle of how one is to live before God.
ESV And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one 's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." NIV Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."
While the Bible doesn't explicitly endorse cremation, there's also no scriptural passage that directly prohibits it.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 In-Context
10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. 26 That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse.
Paul says in Ephesians 5:17, "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." The word for "foolish" here In verse 17 differs from "unwise" in verse 15. It's a more offensive term. It's like Paul is saying, "Don't be stupid! Instead, understand what the will of the Lord is."
Since the Bible neither commands nor explicitly prohibits gambling, Christians must ask, “Will gambling help or harm me, others, or the cause of Christ?” What Is Gambling? To gamble means to risk something of value on events whose outcome is uncertain in the hope of obtaining something better.
The type of gambling considered the most addictive has traditionally been slot machines. However, with the rise of internet gambling sites, online gaming has become one of the most addictive contendors.
Problem gambling is an addiction, and there is no single reason why addictions develop. Many different factors can increase your risk of developing a gambling problem, including: having a relative, especially a parent, with a gambling problem. being introduced to gambling at an early age.
Lotteries are forms of gambling, offering scratch-off cards with instant winnings and draw tickets, for which the numbers are called. The odds of winning are very low, with scratchers having the best odds.
[9] Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, [10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Drinking is not a sin, and it is often a God-given blessing. However, Scripture's overwhelming testimony is that drinking alcohol can be spiritually dangerous. Christians are allowed by God to drink alcohol, but we are forbidden to get drunk.
Though the Bible does not specifically mention piercings as being a sin or unholy, it does condemn the practice of body mutilation such as cuts or tattoos. There may also be a difference in interpreted sinfulness based upon which piercing you're referencing.
Exodus 22:18 – You shall not tolerate a sorceress. Leviticus 19:26 – You shall not eat anything with its blood. You shall not practice divination or soothsaying. Leviticus 20:27 – A man or a woman who has a ghost or a familiar spirit shall be put to death; they shall be pelted with stones—and the bloodguilt is theirs.
Therefore, moderate cigarette smoking is not sinful, unless for special reasons a doctor forbids it, while immoderate smoking is a sin. It is probably only a venial sin for healthy smokers, explains Father Connell, because evidence of danger is not yet conclusive.