1 of 1

Key Bible Verse: "Be courageous! Let us fight bravely to save our people and the cities of our God" (2 Samuel 10:12). Bonus Reading: 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

When the religious voice triumphed in Alabama, supporters retreated into sour grapes: There were the religionists again, imposing their fanatical opinions on everybody else.

Of course, this argument cuts both ways. Another view might be that the fanatical lottery backers were trying to impose their opinions on every- body else. It isn't enough for supporters to answer that nobody is forced to play. Available choices aren't simply available choices. A culture defines itself in large part by what it chooses to make available. It's not at all fanciful for religious (or nonreligious) parents to suppose that it will be harder to raise good (disciplined, unselfish, thoughtful) children in a state that encourages its citizens to gamble than in one that abstains from such an assault on the will.

Religionists who fought the lottery, like religionists who fought against slavery, were working to make God's creation better—or to prevent others from making it worse. One can't help but hear echoes of the old pro-slavery separationism in the shrill insistence of lottery supporters that their opponents, because they were moved by religion, shouldn't have forced an entire state to live according to their morality.

—Stephen Carter in God's Name in Vain

My Response: Is my state/province tied to the gaming industry? Have I formed a thought-through stance on this issue?

Thought to Apply: Gambling: The sure way of getting nothing for something. —Wilson Mizner (screenwriter)

Adapted from God's Name in Vain Basic Books, 2000) by permission.

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

Thank you, Lord, that your power not only changes individuals but also societies. Use me as one of your agents of social improvement.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help