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Ever owned any stock?
Compulsive risk taking is a sin (lack of self control), but is all risk taking (financially) a sin?
This week I refinanced our home. I locked in at 4.75% (15 YR fixed). I am gambling that the rates will not go lower.

Good questions. I was talking about smaller context as it pertains to what we traditionally think of as gambling for money.

I think that there are many things "wrong" with the way our society operates but are tolerated by God because he realizes we live in secular societies that are not physically ruled by him today. For example charging interest on loans is clearly against biblical principles and won't be part of God's future kingdom on earth. In the same way financial transactions (and possibly money itself) that involve risk taking are not neccassarily "right" but are tolerated. In a world physically governed by Christ there will be no need to take any kind of finanicial risk...it's an example of man doing his own thing.

In the case of casino and organized gambling though it's an entirely different story. You have an entire industry built upon greed and lust...the lure of getting something for nothing. Acquiring wealth for the sole purpose of acquiring wealth. I see a difference.

You seem to be making the case that unless a sin is out of control it's not a sin. For example, if I shoplift something once from a store it's not a sin, but if I do it habitually it is?

Taking financial risk is not inherently sinful (in distinction to shoplifting which is theft). Habitual shoplifting is a combination of the sin of theft with the sin of lack of self control.

Eating is not sin, gluttony is. Financial risk motivated by greed or lack of self control is sinful. Financial risk when there are no other sinful issues involved is not sin.

Your posts raises questions:

[1] Have you ever owned stock? If financial risk is sinful, owning stock (or any other asset that potentially increases or decreases) is sin.

[2] Have you ever had a mortgage? If interest is sinful having a mortgage would be supporting sin. Why settle, as a Christian, for something you believe God merely "tolerates?"

Judaism, Christianity and Islam have all taught that lending money for interest is usury and forbidden. However, I agree with you that casino gambling provides an unwholesome atmosphere and attracts people that Christians ought not to associate with. Wall Stree may believe that "Greed is good," but it is the founding principle of Vegas.

You seem to be making the case that unless a sin is out of control it's not a sin. For example, if I shoplift something once from a store it's not a sin, but if I do it habitually it is?

Do you ever go to a movie? Out to dinner? etc. Gambling can be considered a form of entertainment when, like anything else, done in moderation. Which is why I said that whether or not its sin is between him and the Lord. Although its an "appearance" of evil. And even that is subjective. You don't do what causes one to stumble I guess.

This week I refinanced our home. I locked in at 4.75% (15 YR fixed). I am gambling that the rates will not go lower.

Good questions. I was talking about smaller context as it pertains to what we traditionally think of as gambling for money.

Well, let's not limit our scope here. The doctor here, motivated by a desire to reduce as much as possible his outflow, has renegotiated his mortgage. He does this out of a desire to either steward his resources to a maximum efficiency or because he is greedy. It's all in the perspective.

I think that there are many things "wrong" with the way our society operates but are tolerated by God because he realizes we live in secular societies that are not physically ruled by him today. For example charging interest on loans is clearly against biblical principles and won't be part of God's future kingdom on earth. In the same way financial transactions (and possibly money itself) that involve risk taking are not neccassarily "right" but are tolerated. In a world physically governed by Christ there will be no need to take any kind of finanicial risk...it's an example of man doing his own thing.

Well, presumably in God's Kingdom we won't have inflation, either. Or opportunity costs. Both justify moderate interest rates.

You are correct that there will be no type of risk in the Kingdom. But that does little for us here. We must live in and consider the world as it is.

In the case of casino and organized gambling though it's an entirely different story. You have an entire industry built upon greed and lust...the lure of getting something for nothing. Acquiring wealth for the sole purpose of acquiring wealth. I see a difference.

Wealth, once acquired can do any number of things, both good and bad. I don't think anyone acquires wealth just for its own sake. Casino winnings can go to prostitues or it can go to a charity. Or it can be put into the economy in a more useful way, like paying for a contractor to put a new roof on your house.

The money is not tainted cause it passed through a casino first.

You seem to be making the case that unless a sin is out of control it's not a sin. For example, if I shoplift something once from a store it's not a sin, but if I do it habitually it is?

Shoplifting is always a sin. You have not made the case that every wager is by its nature a sin. When one needs to win because she is playing with the grocery money, one has gone beyond control. If one is playing with legitimate entertainment money, it is perhaps not the wisest choice, but I dont' see it an any more sinful than the above-mentioned leisure activities.

SD