Finding the Way Home
The eNewsletter Archive

Below is the archived version of Marshall Hayden's eNewesletter "Finding the way Home." If you would like to be added to to mailing list, please send a blank email to evangelism-subscribe@worthingtoncc.org.

You may also view our archived articles here.

September/October 2008

A Really, Really Bad Idea

When we think about finding our way home, our number one concern is preparation for heaven — salvation issues and a growing godliness. When it comes right down to it, when we compare this brief earthly life with eternity, it’s “what’s coming after” that matters. This chapter that we’re in now is pretty short. So most of the things that we think about in this little monthly note relate to getting ready for things that will last. Sometimes we can pay too much attention to little skirmishes, consumed with wrestling with things that will pass.

But this month I would like to talk about a “now” issue — a really silly “now” issue — a casino in rural southwestern Ohio, issue #6 on next month’s ballot.
It’s not only reasonable to talk about something like this, but important. Because individual people are important to God — their lives, dignity, health, and growth, and particularly their opportunities for an encounter with the Lord of Lords, the giver of every good and perfect gift, the way, the truth, and the life. If they are lured into idolatry and captivated by selfishness they’re lost.

This week I heard again for the “too-manyeth” time one of the commercials in support of the stand-along-casino-and-mega-resort. It moaned about all those people who drive down our interstate highways to gamble and donate their money to other states. “Can thirty-eight states be wrong?” I shouted at the television “yes!” Of course! Jesus talked about the broad way that leads to destruction. Lots of mobs, and many majority decisions, have been wrong.

The other day someone made a list of some of the biblical principles violated by gambling.

• Honesty — When I was about twelve I heard it described as “stealing by consent.” It’s rooted in deception.
• Love — When I’m out to win from you do I “love my neighbor as myself?”
• Stewardship — Doesn’t everything I have belong to God? What does he think?
• Work ethic — Something for nothing is not God’s plan.
• Greed — What explanation do we need for that?
• Trust — Am I putting my hope in luck, or in God?
• Danger — Addiction, bankruptcy, crime, corruption, family destruction, suicide!

It takes three to five years for casinos to produce their fruit. Then there is always an explosion of crime. Always! Study what has happened in Atlantic City, and in the towns and cities with river boats. For every dollar that a state receives there will be three dollars in social costs. Three out of every four gamblers will go to an ATM for extra money — didn’t bring enough to lose. It makes criminals out of normal people; because money is always the bottom line.

One little indelicate illustration! Some people wear adult diapers, so they won’t to leave their slot machines, especially the new nickel slots which are the crack cocaine of the industry. You can lose $54 in one minute. And the casinos employ a group of people whose only job is to clean human waste from the stools. Hundreds of people won’t leave to take care of their needs.

This is a really, really bad idea — for everybody but a few big-money gaming titans — those who think they will get great, new jobs included. It will wreck that community, and the collateral damage will be huge. Please vote NO! on ballot issue #6.