IS GAMBLING ALWAYS SIN

Over at the Pulpit Magazine, they posted the outline of a MacArthur sermon on gambling.

His sermon said that gambling is wrong:

1. Because it denies the reality of God’s sovereignty (by affirming the existence of luck or chance)
2. Because it is built on irresponsible stewardship (tempting people to throw away their money)
3. Because it erodes a biblical work ethic (by demeaning and displacing hard work as the proper means for one’s livelihood)
4. Because it is driven by the sin of covetousness (tempting people to give in to their greed)
5. Because it is built on the exploitation of others (often taking advantage of poor people who think they can gain instant wealth)

I think it opens a good discussion concerning areas of Christian liberty and matters of conscience. I posted a comment that hasn't yet been posted, but in light of 1 Co 4:6 evaluated this reasoning.

1 Corinthians 4:6 (NASB95) "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other."

I have never bought a lottery ticket in my life and I understand something of the horrible consequences gambling. I would vote everytime against casino gambling coming to Ohio. But can we honestly say that Scripture would condemn gambling as sin in every instance? I used to think yes, but after reading “Who are you to judge” by Dave Swavely; I have become a little more guarded. I don’t want to go beyond the Scripture.

So shouln’t we say:
1. IF gambling denies the reality of God’s sovereignty (by affirming the existence of luck or chance), then gambling is sin.
2. IF gambling is built on irresponsible stewardship (tempting people to throw away their money), then it is sin.
3. IF gambling erodes a biblical work ethic (by demeaning and displacing hard work as the proper means for one’s livelihood), then it is sin.
4. IF gambling is driven by the sin of covetousness (tempting people to give in to their greed)
5. IF gambling is built on the exploitation of others (often taking advantage of poor people who think they can gain instant wealth)

OK, that would make gambling sin in 99% of the instances, but shouldn’t we be careful not to go beyond what is written. Couldn’t a Christian moderately gamble trusting in God’s Sovereignty, exercising self-control and good stewardship, is a hard-worker and doesn’t gamble to make money, not gamble out of greediness but simply to enjoy, not exploit others in their gambling.