Moral question - mainly for Christians

[Leonis]

I am primarily interested in getting other Christians' ideas on this, but if non-Christians have an opinion they want to express, go ahead.

I am a Christian. I currently work for a casino too.
Now casinos go against my religious beliefs. I feel they are immoral, greedy and depraved places that thrive off taking money from others (often people with big problems) and give relatively little back (despite their charity donations etc)

Yet I work at one. It offers me a stable and interesting job, security, a pleasant work environment and very, very good conditions, pay, etc...
I am not paid by the casino but as a contractor with an entertainment agency, however, this is a moot point as I help to keep the place running. I also have very little to do with keeping the gambling facilites running - also a moot point as supporting part supports the whole.

I reconcile this as 'being in the world but not of it'. My team is made up of like minded (but non-Christian) guys who have had very similar life and work experiences to me. I feel I can be a healthy example of a Christian and God's active power in a life to them. I don't 'Bible bash' anyone, nor do I attempt to conceal my spirituality, I just live my life normally and let that speak for itself.

I believe it is hard nowadays to work anywhere that does not conflict somehow with Christian beiefs. Eg, Government (including civil servant type), Pubs, Banks, Legal firms, etc... Even ones that seem ok may have parent companies involved in other activities. For eg, when I found out my music publisher Polgram's parent company manufactured weapons. (This was before the Universal takeover)

How do other Christians see and deal with this issue though?

[ 01-27-2003, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Leonis ]

[Lavindathar]

I'm a Catholic.

I would carry on working at the Casino, have the occasional flutter, and enjoy my life with my good job.

If you believe you will got to hell for going against your religions by just working in a casino, then, something is wrong with the religion.

[Melusine]

Hope you don't mind my posting this Leonis, but I don't think this is relevant just to Christians. Anyone with a strong moral system or a different religion would have the same ethical problems working for, for instance, a company that also makes weapons, or a casino, as your colleagues show. I understand you're interested specifically in the viewpoints of fellow Christians but I think anyone with high morals would have similar ideas, also of similar value. [img]smile.gif[/img]
But you already said others could answer too, so maybe I'm nitpicking...

Edit: man it's late..... I should be in bed

[ 01-27-2003, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: Melusine ]

[Sir Krustin]

Leonis, as long as you personally aren't sinning then you aren't doing anything wrong. Yes, you should be concerned with the effects on other people but remember they are doing it to themselves. If you don't do the job, someone else will - and as you suggest, some good could come of it. Just do your job and be a good influence. [img]graemlins/arcadefreak.gif[/img]

[cormack]

Oh Leonis, their is nothing wrong with the way you have explained your goings. If you were stealing somehow then it would be wrong.
If you are feeling a little uneasy about it keep your focus and some other doors will open up for you if you look!

[Vaskez]

Yeah I reckon just carry on with the job and keep trying to live your life to set an example to others. By being there and setting a good example, you're doing much more good than quitting just because it's a casino. You're not doing any gambling anyway are you? Personally I don't mind a bit of gambling anyway, but I realise it's dangerously addictive so I don't do it. I'm just sayin I have friends who like going on fruit machines and I like to watch but that's about it.

[/)eathKiller]

Originally posted by Leonis: Now casinos go against my religious beliefs. I feel they are immoral, greedy and depraved places that thrive off taking money from others (often people with big problems) and give relatively little back (despite their charity donations etc)... How do other Christians see and deal with this issue though?[/QB]

an operation of any descent be it man's or anothers is simply existant and therefore unchallangable by any God. It is only considered a thing of moral question because of programing which the Churches have placed into our culture. You can say "...casinos go against my religious beliefs..." but that doesn't mean a thing. How does a place where money is exhanged and made anything that places itself between you and your beliefe in God. If there is no challange here for you to deny the almighty then you are saved. Jesus died for our sins, the entire Old testemant and ten comandments are like a fairy tale, though the universe still seems to revolve around them to a point, we must know that not all sins are evil for repenting is the thing which God killed his own son for all of us. It took a sacrifice to save so many souls that Hell's number be overthrown in the battle of armageddon AND that my freinds will be the day when we realize just who is of proper valor or not, NOT in life, but in afterlife. What we live now is a challange of stresses and factors an we can judge and we can face things and we can say that God is related to the things which we detest as well as enjoy, but the fact is that God is everything and in every one of us, sinner and saint alike, and though we may not all go to church on Sunda, Jesus at one point even said that Church was unecessary for faithe in God! Every Preacher on EARTH will disagree with the things i've said here today because they are TRUE and TRUTH is what people who run churches (especially Catholic (NO OFFENSE)) are most willing to NOT accept! just look at what they've been doing and living large off of the art of publically speaking and ruling the community in part. They think that they can be our spiritual leaders which they belive over-rate our political ones. It's plain and simple as that. The fact is, the bibile depicts everything, but NO ONE has the right to give a depiction of it, it is in the right of every human being to theorize and view the message of God in his or her own way! So You might not like my views I might not like someone else's (like this guy) but God made us imperfect creatures for the reason of being his children! God is imperfect, WE'RE imperfect, that is what makes us EACH unique and blessed and gives us our own identiy and soul!

thus, fear nothing, but if you want to be safe, check the pathways of the Khabal and live your life on a single path (or some multiple ones) which doesn't run through so much sin that it blocks you off from reaching from earth to heaven... Each section is based on a comandment, as well as a planet, a way of life, and well everything imaginable, See: The Tree of Life

That being said...

i bid you Adeu...

[Cerek the Barbaric]

I have no religious objection to gambling myself. I have not found any specific Biblical reference condemning or criticizing gambling.

From a purely Christian viewpoint, Leonis, there are two ways for you to look at this.

First, as others have said, you are not gambling yourself. You are using your talents to support yourself and your family. You may not care for the venue, but how many other opportunities do you have in your area that would allow you to provide for your family through your music.

Second, if you ARE having doubts and moral qualms about working in the casino...that may be the Holy Spirit prodding you and telling you that you are serving yourself rather than God. I know that you understand what I'm talking about. Just remember the old axiom, if you have to ask God if He "disapproves" of what you're doing....chances are good that you already know the answer.

Pray about it. And allow God and the Holy Spirit to guide you where they will.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: I have no religious objection to gambling myself. I have not found any specific Biblical reference condemning or criticizing gambling.

Gambling in Australia has some serious social ramification Cerek. It's legal and gambling addictions ruins families lives. It also provides false hope for many. A lie that people pursue to escape or find solutions to their problems.

It's also killed off the live music scene in Sydney.

Lav, the issue is not about Hell or not. Why do people presume that a Christian wrestles with "going to hell" if they sin? We believe we are saved from the penalty of sin, past present and future.

The 'wrestling' is precisely what happens in a Christians life, and why we seek to do the right thing. Not out of fear, but the urging of the Holy Spirit. Out of love. Out of a desire to do Gods will. Positive impetus. The only time fear of hell could play a part is in the decision to make a decision for Christ in the first place.

-- Leonis. Western capitalist society itself is part of the problem, yet you're in western society. Don't hide your light. If it wasn't you, it would be someone else. As it is you can experience that which certain Christians wouldn't, and be in a position to help, love or counsel people who you otherwise couldn't.

Jesus hung around "the sick" not the healthy. Are not those addicted to gambling "the sick"?

In any case it's no different to a Christian doing a show at the casino. Richard Fowler (you remember him?) ran 'The Buddy Holly Story' there for a fair while.

The issue is, if you can justify it in your mind, it is fine - see the analogy with 'eating meat' that Paul uses. For some it's fine, for others it's not. If you think eating meat is wrong, and you eat it, you're sinning.

Similarly if you're praying about it and feeling it's not right for you to be doing it, you shouldn't. You'd be going against what you believe is the right thing. Enter moral corruption.

However, I'd have no problem doing the job per se Delboi. Especially if you're tithing..

[WOLFGIR]

Hmm joining in on the same grounds as Mel took

It seems that you are in a real dilemma Leonis. One that actually as Mel said (she is smart the lil' elflet) concerns all with a high moral.

Personally I think that ree choice and responsibility should always (IMHO) be to each and everyone of us, but with a good social structure to help thoose that fall to rise again.

I personally think that as a person, you would have to do what you can to get by first, provide for yourself and your family. That is how you can build a ground to stand on and to work from to try and change viewpoints etc. (Sorry if this is a little fuddled..).
By doing this you can work to achieve a higher level on all fronts;
You can get real famous and maybe choose another job that gives you equal or hopefully better prospectives for yourself. You will come out of it wiser and with more insight.

If you think that gambling is wrong, and see many people at the casino, you might be of some comfort to people by your music. Thus you might actually be the right person on the right place? I don´t say I know these things very well mind you Leonis, I´m just guessing. I hope that you will find an answer to this dilemma and hopefully a way to correct it!

Cheers and good luck!