Are playing cards "evil"? (Full Version)

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Holiday -> Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 6:49:36 PM)

I was listening to a sermon by Lester Roloff and in it he said that playing cards were "of the Devil" and that no child of God should play.

Now, I am not a gambler, and I don't even much like card games, would like to hear from others if they have encountered this type of preaching.

In one sense, I agree, since most of the time card games are portrayed in a lewd light, often with drinking and smoking and foul-mouthed speech.

In the other sense, I don't see something wrong with a game of cards if there is not the above elements, and there is no gambling of money.

But then, one could argue "why would you play cards when you could read the Bible?" - to which I couldn't reply.

So, help me out here.



1love1God1way -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 6:53:12 PM)

I didn't know that Satan was such an Old Maid fan. . .

No. Cards are not of the devil. In fact, I don't think drinking, smoking, and gambling are of the devil either.



ta_mosquito -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:00:49 PM)

quote:

But then, one could argue "why would you play cards when you could read the Bible?" - to which I couldn't reply.


One could argue "why would you go to a baseball game / go to a movie / read a fiction book / read the newspaper / watch NASCAR / take a nap / visit with friends when you could read the Bible?" [;)]

Cards are amoral, just like a lot of things in life. It becomes immoral when you do something with them that is immoral.

Shooting a gun is not evil - shooting a gun at a person is evil.



Dancre -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:06:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Holiday

I was listening to a sermon by Lester Roloff and in it he said that playing cards were "of the Devil" and that no child of God should play.

Now, I am not a gambler, and I don't even much like card games, would like to hear from others if they have encountered this type of preaching.

In one sense, I agree, since most of the time card games are portrayed in a lewd light, often with drinking and smoking and foul-mouthed speech.

In the other sense, I don't see something wrong with a game of cards if there is not the above elements, and there is no gambling of money.

But then, one could argue "why would you play cards when you could read the Bible?" - to which I couldn't reply.

So, help me out here.


Oi!! Where do these people come from?? The only time playing cards is evil is when you cheat or gamble. Don't let others drag you into their religious does and don'ts. Have fun playing cards.

kim



Holiday -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:08:39 PM)

Drunkeness is a sin. If the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the only way to get drunk is to drink...........I don't know how you would say "drinking is not a sin"

Same with smoking. It is sinful to hurt our bodies and it is a plain old proven fact that smoking is harmful to our bodies. It also hurts our testimony, esp. when some people are so in bondage to it and actually want to quit, but cannot find the strenght. Imagine a Christian who smokes preaching "deliverance from sin" to someone so entangled - it is almost useless.

Now, I can honestly say that I struggle with smoking. I feel ashamed when and if I do it. I had been free for 5+ years and walked right back into it. It is a terrible addiction & sin.

Gambling ? At it's core it is a very covetous practice. Some argue "so is the stockmarket" - well, I guess they're right. The sin of being coveteous simply means you want something someone else has and you wish they would lose it or be seperated from it so you could have it. It is rooted in the lust of the heart of man. We all do it everyday - if we are honest we will admit it and call it what it is. Gambling is a game of chance where some people risk their fortunes and then their families fortune by taking such risks. Many marriages and families have been broken up by the negative financial / spiritual effects of a gambling obsessed person.



Cloak -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:15:19 PM)

It depends if you're playing Poker or with $ then yes it is definitely sinful.

But if you're playing one of those innocent games, I don't see anything evil in that!



jfaye -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:22:54 PM)

Playing cards are not the same as Tarot cards, which is what folks use to think
playing cards could be. They never were the same, so far as I know. Now
Tarot cards--I'd steer clear of, a wide-mile or so!



bluestone -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:28:20 PM)

Lester Roloff was a nutcase, and has been dead for over 25 years. He also preached that Sandi Patti sang the devil's music.[8|]

I would not take everything he said literally.



rcjames -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:29:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloak
It depends if you're playing Poker or with $ then yes it is definitely sinful.


Cloak,

Do you have any Scripture to support your theory?

Thanks
RC

edited for clarity



Cloak -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:35:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloak
It depends if you're playing Poker or with $ then yes it is definitely sinful.


Cloak,

Do you have any Scripture to support your theory?


Don Not steal!!!

Thanks
RC

edited for clarity



LCannon -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:35:13 PM)

Probably the 'cards' themselves aren't sinful however the activity engaged in, gambling, is. The fact the activity is closely tied to the device it becomes synonymous to the activity hence the probation. Romans 14:1-"The notion of[this gifting]isn’t to make distinctions in narrow judgments but to bring the gifts of faith together in obedience. 2 One’s judgment can eat all things in freedom yet some regard such freedom as weakness so the weak eat vegetables only. 3 Neither boldness or frailty are regarded with contempt since the action isn’t the obedience for God has accepted both of them. 4 What business is it of yours since it’s not your servant to order about? Is it not His Master’s responsibility whether he stands or falls for the Lord’s discipline will make him stand or fall."

Personally, I have no qualms using playing cards principally I have lost appreciation of the symbolism of the suits and royalty. However, I wouldn't ever flaunt my freedom in face of a 'weaker' brother for to him to would be sin on my part.



peace77 -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:42:07 PM)

Cards aren't evil. In fact they can be holy. There have been various versions of the following story circulating for over 200 years.

This is an updated version:
Deck of Cards Bible

A young soldier was in his bunkhouse all alone one Sunday morning. It
was quiet that day, the guns and the mortars, and land mines for some
reason hadn't made a noise.

The young soldier knew it was Sunday, the holiest day of the week. As
he was sitting there, he got out an old deck of cards and laid them out
across his bunk.

Just then an Army Sergeant came in and asked, "Why aren't you with the
rest of the platoon?"

The soldier replied, "I thought I would stay behind and spend some time
with the Lord."

The sergeant said, "Looks like you're going to play cards."

The soldier said, "No sir, you see, since we are not allowed to have
Bibles or other spiritual books in this country, I've decided to talk to the
Lord by studying this deck of cards."

The sergeant asked in disbelief, "How will you do that?"

"You see...
-The Ace, Sergeant, it reminds that there is only one God.
-The Two represents the two parts of the Bible, Old and New
Testaments.
-The Three represents the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
-The Four stands for the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
-The Five is for the five virgins, there were ten, but only five of them were
glorified.
-The Six is for the six days it took God to create the Heavens and Earth.
-The Seven is for the day God rested after working the six days.
-The Eight is for the family of Noah and his wife, their three sons and
their wives, in which God saved the eight people from the flood that
destroyed the earth for the first time.
-The Nine is for the lepers that Jesus cleansed of leprosy. He cleansed
ten but nine never thanked Him.
-The Ten represents the Ten Commandments that God handed down to
Moses on tablets made of stone.
-The Jack is a reminder of Satan. One of God's first angels, but he got
kicked out of heaven for his sly and wicked ways and is now the Joker
of eternal hell.
-The Queen stands for the Virgin Mary.
-The King stands for Jesus, for he is the King of all kings.
-When I count the dots on all the cards, I come up with 365 total, one for
every day of the year.
-There are a total of 52 cards in a deck, each is a week, 52 weeks in a
year.
-The four suits represents the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and
Winter.
-Each suit has thirteen cards, there are exactly thirteen weeks in a
quarter.
-So when I want to talk to God and thank Him, I just pull out this old deck
of cards and they remind me of all that I have to be thankful for."

The sergeant just stood there and after a minute, with tears in his eyes
and pain in his heart, he said, "Soldier, can I borrow that deck of cards?"



Peace,
Anne



krazyxsinner -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:44:44 PM)

We have already wallowed in gambling and drinking threads. There are no prohibitions on either. Five bucks says no one can find either forbidden in Scripture.



bigboytenor -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 7:52:35 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Holiday

Drunkeness is a sin. If the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the only way to get drunk is to drink...........I don't know how you would say "drinking is not a sin"

Same with smoking. It is sinful to hurt our bodies and it is a plain old proven fact that smoking is harmful to our bodies. It also hurts our testimony, esp. when some people are so in bondage to it and actually want to quit, but cannot find the strenght. Imagine a Christian who smokes preaching "deliverance from sin" to someone so entangled - it is almost useless.

Now, I can honestly say that I struggle with smoking. I feel ashamed when and if I do it. I had been free for 5+ years and walked right back into it. It is a terrible addiction & sin.

Gambling ? At it's core it is a very covetous practice. Some argue "so is the stockmarket" - well, I guess they're right. The sin of being coveteous simply means you want something someone else has and you wish they would lose it or be seperated from it so you could have it. It is rooted in the lust of the heart of man. We all do it everyday - if we are honest we will admit it and call it what it is. Gambling is a game of chance where some people risk their fortunes and then their families fortune by taking such risks. Many marriages and families have been broken up by the negative financial / spiritual effects of a gambling obsessed person.


What Pharisee were you trained under. Legalism is the killer of God's grace.



delete123 -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:00:23 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bigboytenor

quote:

ORIGINAL: Holiday

Drunkeness is a sin. If the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the only way to get drunk is to drink...........I don't know how you would say "drinking is not a sin"

Same with smoking. It is sinful to hurt our bodies and it is a plain old proven fact that smoking is harmful to our bodies. It also hurts our testimony, esp. when some people are so in bondage to it and actually want to quit, but cannot find the strenght. Imagine a Christian who smokes preaching "deliverance from sin" to someone so entangled - it is almost useless.

Now, I can honestly say that I struggle with smoking. I feel ashamed when and if I do it. I had been free for 5+ years and walked right back into it. It is a terrible addiction & sin.

Gambling ? At it's core it is a very covetous practice. Some argue "so is the stockmarket" - well, I guess they're right. The sin of being coveteous simply means you want something someone else has and you wish they would lose it or be seperated from it so you could have it. It is rooted in the lust of the heart of man. We all do it everyday - if we are honest we will admit it and call it what it is. Gambling is a game of chance where some people risk their fortunes and then their families fortune by taking such risks. Many marriages and families have been broken up by the negative financial / spiritual effects of a gambling obsessed person.


What Pharisee were you trained under. Legalism is the killer of God's grace.

Amen!
CRH



Cloak -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:02:44 PM)

Gambling IS sinful!!!



phosadaud -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:11:16 PM)

You mean all those years playing solitaire on my computer at work (a church), I've been sinning?[sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif]

I thought that was better than playing with actual cards which makes it much easier to cheat.... [8D]



bluestone -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:11:44 PM)

gambling may be stupid, a waste of money, and a good way to get robbed. But I think we are hard pressed scripturally to call it sin.

I grew up hearing that "cards are the devil's tools" and to even own a deck of cards is a sin.
Never ever saw any scripture to back it up.



1love1God1way -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:17:03 PM)

Gambling and playing poker for cash isn't stealing. It's earning. It's winning. Sheesh.



1love1God1way -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:18:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloak

Gambling IS sinful!!!


That's so silly.



Cloak -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:18:16 PM)

I just need to clarify something~ there is nothing wrong with playing Solitaire or any of those games, be it on your pc or by cards.

Here is a simple definition of Gambling: "betting money: the practice of playing games of chance or betting in the hope of winning."

So bottom line there is $$$ making involved which you did not earn it or worked hard for it and that is downright DISHONEST.


A WISE man steers clear from any fishy or dishonest games like betting and gambling.

I hope I clarified my point! [;)]



1love1God1way -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:25:45 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloak


So bottom line there is $$$ making involved which you did not earn it or worked hard for it and that is downright DISHONEST.



Two things:

Have you ever done a raffle at a high school basketball game or something? Play bingo? Flipped a coin to see who gets something? None of that is earned.

Secondly, anyone who plays poker will tell you that it is definitely earned. I often play poker for cash. It's not about randomly throwing around money. . . it's about knowing odds and statistics, being able to read people, etc.

Even then, I took $10 to the table and played for two hours. I could have taken that same amount of money and sat in a movie. At least this way I had fun joking around with the other guys.



Cloak -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:34:27 PM)

"Have you ever done a raffle at a high school basketball game or something? Play bingo? Flipped a coin to see who gets something? None of that is earned."

There is Nothing wrong with raffle and bingo. I myself participated in this.


"Secondly, anyone who plays poker will tell you that it is definitely earned. I often play poker for cash. It's not about randomly throwing around money. . . it's about knowing odds and statistics, being able to read people, etc.

Even then, I took $10 to the table and played for two hours. I could have taken that same amount of money and sat in a movie. At least this way I had fun joking around with the other guys."


This kind of stuff is the one I am suspicious of. Ask an elder or a mature Christian in your Church and he will agree with this. Casinos and poker games are unquestionably sinful.

This is just my opinion, but then again you may ask your pastor or an elder in your church. [:)]



1love1God1way -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:42:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloak



This kind of stuff is the one I am suspicious of. Ask an elder or a mature Christian in your Church and he will agree with this. Casinos and poker games are unquestionably sinful.

This is just my opinion, but then again you may ask your pastor or an elder in your church. [:)]


Well, I have a degree in Biblical studies, and in a couple months will be an ordained minister. My dad is a church elder, and he joins me in my poker games. My pastor set up a poker tournament where the cash purse went into missions.

You say they are unquestionably a sin in one sentence, and then say it is just your opinion the next. If it is your opinion, that's fine. You don't have to approve of my poker playing.

But, if it is unquestionably a sin, I would like to see something to back up that my little poker home games with my Christian buddies is so evil.



jkdjr25 -> RE: Are playing cards "evil"? (3/6/2008 8:42:57 PM)

Personally I think this argument is dangerously close to the kind of thing we were warned not to argue about.

For some people gambling becomes an addiction and an overwhelmingly negative influence on their lives. These people should stay away from the activity because for them it is an unclean act.

Other people can go their whole lives playing poker and be perfectly fine. For these people it may not be an unclean act.

Also keep in mind that we are to go into ALL the world. That includes card tables.



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