Gambling, Child’s Play or Adult No No?

In order to discuss the topic of gambling, terms must first be defined. What does the word gambling mean, or what does it mean to gamble? How will we be using this word in this article?

A generic dictionary definition of gamble is: “To take a risk in the hope of gaining and advantage; speculate.” And because we will be making a comparison, we want to define the word steal: “To take without right or permission, generally in a surreptitious way.”

Now, certainly there are all kinds of gambling games, but truly, the heart of all gambling games is the same. The heart of all gambling, be it bingo, or lotto, or five card draw, or Texas Hold’em, or a raffle, is that someone is trying to get something for nothing and more often than not it is an attempt to get that something from someone who does not want to give it to you, but instead wants to get what you have. Oh, but you agree to losing whatever you have put up, you protest, really? Does agreeing to be robbed make it right? A prostitute agrees to have sex for a price, does that make it right? The reason you agree to lose what you have put up is for the sake of baiting the other person to put up something as well. The fact of the matter is that neither party is in the gamble for a lose. If that were the case, that both parties were in it to lose, then your protest might be one that says, but what about playing for fun? Well, if losing is fine and you want to play for fun, give you money to charity and play with chips. Now, if you still protest, then you have given yourself up, because if the money is not the issue, then you would be fine with chips.

Oh, you continue to protest, what about gambling on the stock market? The fallacy of this questions comes from a misunderstanding of the stock market. The stock market is not a gamble, especially not in the sense of how we have defined the terms, rather the stock market is a buying and selling of goods and services, so it is not a gamble.

Here again we see the heart of humanity, shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin. How often, not simply with the commandment that forbids stealing, but with all the commandments, do we attempt to find some “gray” area, or simply attempt to justify ourselves. The reason we have the commandments is so that we might know our sin and depravity, so that the Gospel, the good news of forgiveness, which is what truly motivates us to repentance, might have its way with us. So, rather than attempt to justify ourselves and our actions, let us confess our sins and be given forgiveness. And no, this explanation in no way is an attempt to give you an out, simply sin, confess and carry on. This explanation is no license to sin, rather this explanation is an attempt encourage you to do what is meet, right and salutary. So, instead of seeking quick wealth, diligently work, invest, return a portion to the Lord who gives all in the first place and the Lord will provide accordingly. As Solomon, by inspiration of the Lord, once said, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it” (Proverbs 13;11).

Vacation

When I was in college our adviser explained that the word vacation has in it the word "vacate" and we are to vacate when we go on vacation, so since I am on vacation I have vacated and thus am not preaching and further do not have a sermon to post this week. Please reread an older sermon.

With that note of explanation, let me assure you that I am working on the Jesus Directed Life and I hope to have at least fifty-two days of purpose beginning August 1. At the same time, I am continuing to work on other articles to help you in your vocation to always be ready to give a defense of your faith.

Thank you to those who do read these articles. Please encourage others to read by forwarding my web address. And, please leave notes, comments or questions as you deem necessary.

May the Lord richly bless your Sunday Sabbath (day of rest).

I Wish I Had the Power I Am Attributed to Having Or, How Do You Think God Will Respond?

“So and so made me do it.” It is so easy to pass the blame to someone else, when the truth is, we should answer, “I did not get my way and so this is my ‘adult’ way of pouting.”

But, let us take this to the ultimate, theological conclusion. Let us say we are standing before God on Judgment Day. We have not been to church in years. We have been bad mouthing our pastor, other church members, etc. We believe we are justified in our anger. (And Satan is proud!)

So, God asks, “Who are you?” “Do I know you?” “Have I seen you before?” and we answer, “Yes, we know you Lord, remember, we are members of Your Church.” “Then, why have I not seen you?” God asks. Our response, “Well, it is so and so’s fault.” “So and so made me do it.” Do we actually believe God will say, “Oh, okay, that makes sense, after all, I never did create you to be responsible for yourself.”

It is amazing how narrow focused, self-centered, we have become in this world. Our focus is rarely where it should be and needs to be, on the goal, eternal life with Christ. How little thought we give to the fact that our life in this world is truly fast and fleeting. Instead, we begin life thinking we are invincible and live life on the edge. We then live life thinking we need to make the most of this life while we can. And, unfortunately, it is not until and only if we live long enough that we begin to think about the goal and it is usually at this time that we begin to realize how short our life has been and the regrets we have for the things we have done and said.

Jesus told the parable about the rich man for a reason. Remember the story, the rich man believed he needed to build bigger and better barns, stock up and enjoy life, eat, drink and be merry and tomorrow he would worry about his soul, but that very night his soul was required of him.

None of us knows when we will die, because our birth certificate does not have an expiration date on it, so we need to be always ready, especially always ready to give an answer, even to our God, the judge who may not recognize us, because we have not been the people He would have us to be.

So, perhaps we would do well to keep life in perspective, to keep our eyes on the goal, to forgive as we have been forgiven, to not take offense, to not throw tantrums, to be ready to stand before God and answer for ourselves taking responsibility for ourselves. No one can make us do anything, not even God (well, I guess He could if He wanted to, but that is not how He operates). When we act, when we react, we do so according to our own intentions and we are accountable, before God for our actions.

How to respond to, “So and so made me do it?” “Well, if I made you do this, then would you have done the opposite if I had told you?” “Then why did you not do the opposite, because that is what I would have told you!”

The good news is this, God is gracious, God is love, and He loves us so much. He has earned forgiveness for us and He has the power and the will to stir in us, to guide us, to help us to be the people He would have us to be, to act and react appropriately, taking responsibility for ourselves, and even when we fail, He is there always ready to forgive and help us again.

You Know Where You Are By What You See

If you were blindfolded and taken into a store anywhere in the United States and the blindfold was removed, and you saw a store mostly painted red, with red circles and circles inside circles, you might imagine you were in a Target® Store. If you removed the blindfold and you saw predominately a blue paint and little flowers and smiley faces, and the brand Great Value you would know you were in a Walmart® Store. The same could be said for any of a number of department stores, Sears®, Penny’s®, Kohls®, Kmart®, and the list could go on. Simply by our observation of what we see in a store, the colors, the arrangement, the store name brand, and so forth, we know the store. The philosophy of business of the store dictates the design and function of the store.

There is a cliche that states, “If it looks like a duck and quakes like a duck, it is a duck.” This may be applied to what we have been saying about these large department stores. You would not go into a Walmart® and expect to see little red targets. You would not go into a Sears® and find the Great Value brand. Because of the particular business philosophy of each business, each business has a particular way of designing the layout of the store, a particular way of presenting the items for sale, a particular way of advertizing, having sales, etc.

Since this connection is true in the business world, and since too many (one is too many) in the church would like to emulate the business world and incorporate the business model into the church, believing the church should be run like a business, certainly we can make a comparison in the church. Interestingly enough, although there are those who would like to run a church like a business, they do not want to compare the connection of the business philosophy to the way the business carries out their philosophy. The reason for this resistance to compare the two in this manner is because those who would like to run a church like a business want to make a disconnect from the business philosophy and the business practice.

The “brass tacks” of this is that even in the business world there is a connection between philosophy and practice just as in the church there is a connection between doctrine and practice. In the church some label this as “style” and “substance.” Style is practice and substance is doctrine or philosophy. In the business world they go together so that no matter in what store you shop, you know you are in that store. When there is a disconnect, as has been attempted in the church, there is confusion. So, although in years past if you went into any Lutheran Church, you knew you were in a Lutheran Church, the same cannot be said today, because, there are some Lutheran Churches who attempt to make this disconnect today. Which means that as the practice has changed, the style has changed, and the heart of this change can be traced to a change in substance, in doctrine. So, just as a business that changes its philosophy reflects this change in how it conducts business, so a church that has changed its doctrine shows this change in its practice. And the reverse is also true, if a church has changed its practice, its doctrine will change.

If you go to a church that looks like a Baptist Church, sounds like a Baptist Church, acts like a Baptist Church, etc., then you know you are in a Baptist Church. It does not matter what the name on the marquee is, non-denomination, pan-denomination, un-denomination, etc., it is what it practices. If you attend a Church that has the Lutheran name, but sounds, looks and acts like a Baptist Church, do not be fooled, it is a Baptist Church.

Perhaps we would do well to stop trying to fool people concerning who are what we are and be proud of our history, name, doctrine and practice.