Question: Where and what Scriptures are there to show that gambling is wrong? We know that it is wrong, but how can we pinpoint it out to others who do not see this?
Answer: I do not call to mind at this time any Scripture that actually spells it out in black and white that gambling is wrong, but I can give you some solid, scriptural principles to be guided by. In Romans 12:17 it says, “…Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” II Corinthians 8:21 says, “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” I Peter 2:12 says, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
Can anyone actually say that gambling in any of its aspects is an honest, upright business? Until this age of permissiveness, in which anything goes and there is hardly any such thing as sin anymore in the eyes of many, it was considered immoral and those who engaged in it were considered as an undesirable class by the society in general. Spiritual people still consider it in the same light. State after state has legalized it, but in such cases it has been bitterly and strongly opposed, and one of the major arguments in its favor where it has been adopted has been the sizable amount of revenue it would bring into the state’s treasury through taxes. The fact that it has had to be legalized by legislatures and in some cases by the majority of voters in the state at the polls, and also that in some states it still is not legal, should convince any right thinking person that it is not an upright, honest, moral business.
The writer of the question referred to the professed Christians doing these things (wagering and betting) and seeing no harm in it. I would refer these people to the Christian code of ethics which is to govern Christian living as set forth in Colossians 3:17 which says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,…” and also in I Corinthians 10:31 which says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Could anyone actually say, when they place a bet on a race, ball game, card game, bingo game, or roulette, that “I am doing this in the name of the Lord Jesus and for the glory of God”? Certainly not.
Let these people take a second look at I Peter 2:12 and consider how far they think they would get in witnessing for Christ and talking to a person about Christ and salvation when that person knew they had been out there and engaging in such activities. It certainly is very clearly a thing for professed Christian people to avoid and not dabble with.
