THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST

YOUHT MINISTRY

SCHOOL OF APOLOGETICS
NAME:

APRAKU-DEBRAH
THOMAS

AREA:

OBUASI

DISTRICT:

APAGYA

**GAMBLING
GAMBLING
# [MEANING]
# [THREE MAIN REASONS WHY
GAMBLING IS NOT GOOD]

INTRODUCTION
AND MEANING
This presentation takes a critical look at Gambling from sociological and theological
perspective to bring out three main reasons why gambling is not acceptable . According
to the OXFORD ADVACEND LEARNERS DICTIONARY, Gambling is the
activity of playing games of chance of money and of betting of horses.

Gambling is to put money or valuable items on an event with the aim of winning
additional money or material items. This means that gambling is to risk loosing
something with the hope of being successful at a later day. Examples of gambling are
betting, lottery, tossing or casting of lots which involves losing money or valuable items.

REASON
REASON1-BAD
1-BAD
ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY
Every society expert people to engage in hard work. Hard work is a venture of certainty, whilst
gambling is a game of chance. In fact, hard work contribute greatly to the development of an
economy. When people work, they pay tax to the state. The collection of income tax are used for
the development of the economy of the state. Gamblers normally say, they also one way or the
other, support the economy. But it is a fact to state that gambling does not. Gambling is not just a
mere game, but rather a wild of life.

If you want to support the economy, the perfect approach is to engage in acceptable work and
pay tax to the state not to gambling agencies. Gambling is a way to by pass hard work.

REASON 2- LEADS TO
OTHER SOCIAL VICES
People who engage themselves in gambling end up their lives miserably and also loose their dignity. Gambling is not done
alone. Gamblers indeed engage themselves with the company of other gamblers who drink, smoke, fight among
themselves, others also practice rubbery, prostitution, homosexuality, as well as other detestable sins. This is what the
Bible denotes as wild, foolish and useless living. Gamblers push all their possessions, it being money or material goods,
into gambling with a mere perception of winning more of whatever they have wasted.

They then come to a point in life where they are left absolutely with nothing.

They are deserted by friends, they loose their jobs, home and integrity as well. Life indeed become miserable for them.

REASON
REASON3-3-ALL
ALLMAJOR
MAJOR
RELIGIONS
RELIGIONSFROWN
FROWNUPON
UPON
GAMBLING
GAMBLING
All the major religions in Ghana do not accept gambling. The traditional religion hates this practice. In fact, the
Traditional religion abhors unacceptable practice in the society, of which gambling is one. It is therefore a taboo in
the traditional religion. The Islamic religion also frown upon gambling. Christianity also teaches against gambling.

Below are some scriptural references on gambling. Proverbs 28:22 (NLT) - Greedy people try to get

rich quickly but dont realize they are heading for poverty. Prover13:11(NLT) -wealth from get rich-quickly
schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. 1Timothy 6:10(NLT)- For the love of
money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money have wandered from the true faith and
pieced themselves with money sorrows. 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NLT) -You say, I am allowed to do anything but
not every thing is good for you. You say I am allowed to do anything but not everything is beneficial.

CRITICAL VERSES:
CRITICAL
VERSES:
LUKE 15:11-32
LUKE 15:11-32
Considering Luke 15:11-32, a man had two sons. The younger son told his father to give
him his share of his fathers estate before he dies. The father agreed to divide his wealth
between his sons. A few days later, the younger son packed all his belongings and moved
to a distant land, and there, he wasted all his wealth in wild life including gambling.
In no time, all his wealth ran out and he begun to starve.

He was then hired by a farmer on his pig farm. He became so hungry that even the pods
he was feeding the pigs looked good to him.
But no one gave him anything. He then returned to his father and fortunately for him, his
father accepted him back as his son. His father even went on to prepare a feast for him to
enjoy.

CONCLUSION-CRITICAL
CONCLUSION-CRITICAL
THINKING
THINKING
Let
Let us
us conclude
conclude with
with aa situation
situation in
in the
the Bible.
Bible. Israel
Israel in
in the
the Bible
Bible is
is noted
noted as
as Gods
Gods nation.
nation. A
A
generation
generation grew
grew up
up in
in Israel
Israel who
who did
did not
not know
know God.
God. They
They did
did evil
evil in
in the
the Lords
Lords sight
sight and
and served
served
the
the image
image of
of Baal.
Baal. This
This made
made God
God to
to turn
turn his
his face
face from
from Israel
Israel and
and the
the people
people were
were in
in aa very
very
great
great distress
distress (JUDGES
(JUDGES 2:10-15).
2:10-15). Despite
Despite the
the fact
fact that
that Ghanaian
Ghanaian societies
societies are
are also
also noted
noted as
as
societies
societies of
of good
good norms
norms and
and moral
moral values,
values, ifif gambling
gambling is
is not
not halted,
halted, and
and itit continue
continue to
to dominate
dominate
the
societies
within
which
we
live,
it
will
get
to
a
time
where
the
next
generation
will
know
the societies within which we live, it will get to a time where the next generation will know no
no
societal
societal values.
values. They
They will
will engage
engage in
in gambling
gambling and
and other
other indiscipline
indiscipline practices
practices instead
instead of
of hard
hard
work.
work. I,I, as
as an
an Apologist,
Apologist, must
must emphasize
emphasize on
on the
the fact
fact that,
that, those
those who
who have
have fallen
fallen victims
victims to
to
gambling
gambling and
and other
other indiscipline
indiscipline acts
acts must
must repent
repent and
and seek
seek refuge
refuge in
in Christ
Christ Jesus
Jesus because
because
these
these practices
practices are
are punishable
punishable in
in hell.
hell. No
No matter
matter the
the state
state and
and the
the load
load of
of frustrations
frustrations of
of aa
person,
person, once
once we
we come
come to
to
Christ
Christ Jesus
Jesus and
and accept
accept Him
Him as
as our
our Lord
Lord and
and savior,
savior, He
He will
will help
help bring
bring every
every load
load down
down
(MATTHEW
11:28).
(MATTHEW 11:28).

S
S TT O
OP
P G
GA
AM
MB
BL
L II N
NG
G A
AN
ND
D H
HA
AV
VE
E A
A B
BE
E TT TT E
ER
R LL II V
V II N
NG
G !! !! !!
G
GA
AM
MB
BL
L II N
NG
G K
K II L
LL
LS
S !! !! !!

REFERENCES
*All Bible scriptures are from the
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
*COP-Streams Of Living Waters-2014(page 247,248)
*Photos are from the websites below:
worldpress.com, ussmass.org, www.aproundtable.org

TO GOD BE
THE GLORY!!!