proud2Bwhack
Rock Star
Silver Level
Ok, wow. this post totally caught me off guard!
So Frank, Im a Christian and have been for 36 years, I have lived in Las Vegas and gambled as a job as a Christian praying for an edge, insight, wisdom, the ability to win, etc. (mostly horses and sports) I have listened to God talk to me on this topic for a long time, Im sure I could write a book, but I will keep it short, well relatively short...
The Bible is quiet on gambling because all of life includes risk for reward, and there are many times in the Bible where God rewards people for taking risks! (Johnathan and his armor bearer attacking an entire camp of Philistines, the woman who touches Jesus cloak and gets healed, and many more) So we know that taking risks for reward is not a bad thing or God wouldnt reward it. Without "gambling" there would be no private business, no restaurants, no stores, no manufacturing, all this involves risk for reward on the part of the owner. As per restaurants... You would be better off shoving with 7-2o vs AA than opening a restaurant (90% fail).
Where things get tricky is when you start to love anything more than God; money, poker, your wife and kids? anything you put ahead of God is going to be an idol, and idolatry is always a sin. But idolatry is not inherent to poker or gambling.
Where I have hit a wall with God and gambling is the time spent, and my desire to make a living at it. God had other plans for me, and I could feel it even when I was handicapping 15-16 hours a day. So it wasnt Gods will for me to do it all day.
FOR ME. Keep in mind that Doyle Brunson has been a dedicated Christian his entire career and an excellent family man too, so God's will for Him has been different. Also, Jerry Yang who won the wsop main event in 2007 was a Christian at the time, and if God didn't want him to win, I would like to know why He gave him AA something like 6 times in the first four hours (I read the book he wrote it is a great book).
One last thing I would like to say, many will tell you that poker is bad because it is empty, its all about money, etc. This is my final opinion from years of thought on this: Poker is a skill and an art form rooted in competition which makes it a sport. Money is a main element to it but that is now true of all sports. I love to watch the Yankees and Cubs play baseball, and I love to watch Daniel Negreanu and The Brat go head to head, both bring me pleasure because Im watching excellence compete. Does Major league baseball make the world a better place? I say yes, in the joy it brings those who enjoy watching it, and when it gives back to the world. Poker offers both those things too. As per giving back, poker does it all the time, Barry Greenstein has played and given his winnings to charities for years, and there are many other times that things like that go on.
some independent thoughts:
Poker creates community which is never a bad thing!
Competition for money is why my new amazing phone only costs $150, and why my dentist can't charge me $6,000 for a filing (though he gets closer and closer everytime I visit. lol)
when you play poker you exercise your mind, you ask more from yourself, you grow mentally, always a good thing again.
I hope that helps you! and if you are ever playing and you hear God whisper, "come spend some time with me." Turn it off and go be with Him; he wants your heart. Good bless you and all who read this.
So Frank, Im a Christian and have been for 36 years, I have lived in Las Vegas and gambled as a job as a Christian praying for an edge, insight, wisdom, the ability to win, etc. (mostly horses and sports) I have listened to God talk to me on this topic for a long time, Im sure I could write a book, but I will keep it short, well relatively short...
The Bible is quiet on gambling because all of life includes risk for reward, and there are many times in the Bible where God rewards people for taking risks! (Johnathan and his armor bearer attacking an entire camp of Philistines, the woman who touches Jesus cloak and gets healed, and many more) So we know that taking risks for reward is not a bad thing or God wouldnt reward it. Without "gambling" there would be no private business, no restaurants, no stores, no manufacturing, all this involves risk for reward on the part of the owner. As per restaurants... You would be better off shoving with 7-2o vs AA than opening a restaurant (90% fail).
Where things get tricky is when you start to love anything more than God; money, poker, your wife and kids? anything you put ahead of God is going to be an idol, and idolatry is always a sin. But idolatry is not inherent to poker or gambling.
Where I have hit a wall with God and gambling is the time spent, and my desire to make a living at it. God had other plans for me, and I could feel it even when I was handicapping 15-16 hours a day. So it wasnt Gods will for me to do it all day.
FOR ME. Keep in mind that Doyle Brunson has been a dedicated Christian his entire career and an excellent family man too, so God's will for Him has been different. Also, Jerry Yang who won the wsop main event in 2007 was a Christian at the time, and if God didn't want him to win, I would like to know why He gave him AA something like 6 times in the first four hours (I read the book he wrote it is a great book).
One last thing I would like to say, many will tell you that poker is bad because it is empty, its all about money, etc. This is my final opinion from years of thought on this: Poker is a skill and an art form rooted in competition which makes it a sport. Money is a main element to it but that is now true of all sports. I love to watch the Yankees and Cubs play baseball, and I love to watch Daniel Negreanu and The Brat go head to head, both bring me pleasure because Im watching excellence compete. Does Major league baseball make the world a better place? I say yes, in the joy it brings those who enjoy watching it, and when it gives back to the world. Poker offers both those things too. As per giving back, poker does it all the time, Barry Greenstein has played and given his winnings to charities for years, and there are many other times that things like that go on.
some independent thoughts:
Poker creates community which is never a bad thing!
Competition for money is why my new amazing phone only costs $150, and why my dentist can't charge me $6,000 for a filing (though he gets closer and closer everytime I visit. lol)
when you play poker you exercise your mind, you ask more from yourself, you grow mentally, always a good thing again.
I hope that helps you! and if you are ever playing and you hear God whisper, "come spend some time with me." Turn it off and go be with Him; he wants your heart. Good bless you and all who read this.
