The President, Issues, and GIC 2008 - Sermon Intended to Preach - 10/26/2008

Due to the nature of the service tonight (10/26/08), I chose not to preach what I had originally planned. Below is a synopsis of one of the issues (gambling, lottery, etc.) I planned to address from a biblical perspective. In the following post, I will present the second issue (parental rights over their child's education) I had planned to address...



On the Ballot in Arkansas on November 4th…

“Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3”

(Abbreviated Description) A constitutional amendment authorizing the General Assembly to establish, operate, and regulate state lotteries to fund scholarships and grants for Arkansas citizens enrolled in certified two-year and four-year colleges and universities in Arkansas.

A “FOR” Vote…

…would amend the state constitution to all the creation of state lotteries to fund college scholarships and grants.

An “AGAINST” Vote…

…would not allow an amendment to the state constitution. Arkansas will not implement state lotteries.

*Information taken from http://ppc.uaex.edu/


How would God vote on this amendment to the state constitution (and, hence, how would He want His people to vote?)?

6 Biblical Themes/Truths Prompting an "Against" vote from God's People:

1. Jesus and the Rich in Luke’s Gospel…

Luke 12:13-21 – “Rich Fool”
Luke 16:19-31 – “Rich Man and Lazarus”
Luke 18:18-30 – “Rich Young Ruler”
Luke 19:1-10 – “Zaccheus”


2. Paul urged believers to have an ethic of work in order to get so that you might give.

Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”


3. The Christian life is one of “becoming poor” so that others might “become rich.”

Luke 9:58 says, “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.”

Philippians 2:5-11


4. Jesus and Paul both spoke strongly against wanting to become rich.

Matthew 6:24
1 Timothy 6:6-10


5. Godly wisdom discourages oppressing the poor and encourages hard work.

Proverbs 6:6; 13:4, 11; 14:21, 31; 19:17; 21:25; 22:16


6. Jesus does not need ‘Lottery Money’ to build His church.

Matthew 16:18


Al Mohler said, “The Bible is clear on this issue. The entire enterprise of gambling is opposed to the moral worldview related in God’s Word. The basic impulse behind gambling is greed—a basic sin that is the father of many other evils. Greed, covetousness, and avarice are repeatedly addressed by Scripture—always presented as a sin against God, and often accompanied by a graphic warning of the destruction which is greed’s result. The burning desire for earthly riches leads to frustration and spiritual death.”