Admittedly, I never had any luck gambling, which is probably a big reason why I’m so opposed to the vice. As much as I deeply loved my Grandma, and she loved me, the lottery ticket in my holiday card was never a winner, and the one in my younger brother’s card always was! Way beyond $1 scratch-off available at every gas station, now I have the opportunity to lose at gambling on my iPhone waiting in the checkout line or while watching a live game from my couch. I chose not to gamble but I have more opportunities to lose everything than I ever have had before, and I for one do NOT think that is a good thing.

If you’ve watched any TV lately then you’ve seen commercials for sports betting, every commercial break seems to be required to have at least one ad for the gambling company I refuse to name. I’m writing this on Election Day, not yet knowing the results but what I am positive of- no matter who wins or loses today, it is now perfectly legal and morally acceptable to place a bet on your favorite candidate. And I’m still flabbergasted by this logical extension of legal gambling. In America, political issues on the ballot that for some more than for others could mean significant harm to their well-being, other people can make a buck off of. It is not hyperbole to say that some folks are betting against their own livelihood and that some are directly financially benefiting from an issue that harms members of their own family. I get sick to my stomach just thinking about this! Of course, those with the least amount of means stand to be at risk to lose the most and I’d imagine more tempted by life circumstances to risk it all.

Which is perhaps the underbelly of the reasoning I despise gambling, I don’t like the odds. The game is set up for the house to win, that is the powerful wealthy always seem to profit the most from games of supposed ‘chance.’ I see this system as directly opposed to the Way of Jesus, who flipped the tables in the temple. Jesus not only flipped tables of greed and corruption, His ministry flipped the ways of the world on it’s head. Against all odds the Gospel spread and flourished, as recorded in Acts. The Apostles are in constant trouble from all power structures- religious, political, cultural, economic. The early Christians evangelists had no reservations about speaking Truth to power. They risked it all many times, and often found themselves in court, or jail. Yet still the Holy Spirit bear much fruit! In the times of the most persecution, when all the odds were against the apostles, the Spirit did miraculous things and the faithful followed. In other words, the Church is founded by folks who beat all the odds of the world! And in the mysterious ways of God Almighty, it is just when the apostles are placed in a situation with all the odds stacked against them that the Spirit blows in!

So, it is a good thing to have faith in beating the odds. However, our faith should not be in Mammon (the Old Testament term for Money as God). Our faith for miracles comes from God Creator, Liberator, Sustaining Spirit. In a small but pivotal sense when someone choses to gamble they are choosing to put their faith in something other than the Spirit. Simon the Magician in Acts 8:9-25 tries to buy the Power of the Holy Spirit; we all know that is something money can’t buy. Right?! In gambling it sure seems like we try to obtain a cheap replacement in Lady Luck and shiny coins.

John Wesley hated gambling and the UMC Social Principle against gambling is rightly harsh.  “Gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destructive of good government and good stewardship. As an act of faith and concern, Christians should abstain from gambling and should strive to minister to those victimized by the practice…”

Christians are called to put our faith in God, not in the luck of fate. We should rely on grace, not on good fortune. In this sense gambling is antithetical to the Gospel, no wonder the soldiers at the crucifixion cast lots for Christ’s clothes.