Wednesday, March 07, 2007

"You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk
away, know when to run," as the classic Kenny Rogers tune goes. SouthCoast
residents should run from any notion of organized casino gambling in their
midst as proposed by New Bedford City Councilor David Alves. Mr. Alves and
countless others, including, possibly, Gov. Deval Patrick, are willing to
make economic stability in Massachusetts a crap shoot rather than return to
the values of hard work and Christian faith, which established this
Commonwealth over 350 years ago. Casino gambling is a poor bet for many
reasons. Lest we think that casinos are the economic jackpot we seek, let us
consider the example of Atlantic City, best summed up this way: "... look at
Atlantic City. It used to be a slum by the sea, and now it's a slum by the
sea with casinos." (Los Angeles Daily News, Aug. 7, 1994). According to
research, most casinos attract 80 percent or more of their market from a
35-50 mile radius. Casinos absorb existing entertainment, restaurant and
hotel business, and deplete dollars available to other retail businesses.
That destroys other jobs in the trade area and eliminates their sales,
employment and property tax contributions (Grinols, Earl L. "Gambling in
America, Costs and Benefits"). While politicians wish to focus the public's
attention on big payoffs, I, as a pastor of a Christian church, am compelled
to warn of the spiritual danger casino gambling poses to us and to our
communities. Gambling is seen by many rational, intelligent people as a
completely harmless activity, but how harmless is it really? Gambling is a
violation of five well-established biblical principles. The early church
pastor, Tertullian said, "If you say that you are a Christian when you are a
dice-player, you say you are what you are not, because you are a partner
with the world." 1. Gambling is idolatrous. We live under God's providential
care, but when a person gambles, the focus is altogether different -
shifting to luck, chance, and fortune instead. 2. Gambling is poor
stewardship of what God provides for us. Many spend money needed for
clothing and food for their families on gambling in hope of "striking it
rich." Those who can least afford to lose their money are the ones who are
the most addicted to gambling. The American Psychiatric Association says
between 1 and 3 percent of the U.S. population is addicted to gambling,
depending on location and demographics. 3. Many gamble hoping to strike it
rich or at least win enough money so they will not have to work. The Bible
says that the lazy person who will not work should not eat. Those that
subscribe to the philosophy of "wanting something for nothing" violate the
work principle given by God. 4. Gambling is based on covetousness! The
desire to gamble is fueled by the love of money, and we know "... the love
of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (I Timothy 6:10). Note the rest of
the verse: "Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and
pierced themselves with many griefs." Gambling insidiously leads its
participants further and further from the way of God. The question residents
have to ask themselves is this: Is this really a Christian nation, or a
Christian community, or is the word just used when it suits some political
agenda? If the answer is "no." and there is no wish for the founding faith
to inform the current culture, then casino gambling will be the wedge - the
disconnect that completely separates legislation from morality and opens the
door to legalized prostitution and hard core drugs over the counter. If,
however, voters see the sense in morality and yearn to return their
communities back to paths of righteousness, they will be informed and
inspired by the Scriptures and by commons sense, and not by the desperate
ploys of a government that has no better answers.