I remember hearing it said in RF (by some houseleader in yet another unprepared and unthoughtful talk) that shares were just another form of gambling. Is gambling that sinful? Where's all the non-gambling scriptures? We used to get a verbal caning if we hinted at buying a scratchy ticket. I put a used scratch-it ticket in the tithe bag once (I may have mentioned that already before).

Isn't bank investing just a gamble but with better odds... or any sort of investing? Life is a gamble. Going out for a drive is a big damn gamble sometimes.

Our Revivian branch seemed to get sucked into every muli-level marketing scam that came their way - a product of a naive and overly trusting people? I've seen heaps of Revival people lose many thousands to pyramid scams... over and over again! The definition of insanity?

Anyway, I remember most pastors in our area to be pretty shrewd stockmarket investers. They have to be, because, honestly, most people I knew didn't tithe much. Heck, as if giving away a good Sunday afternoon wasn't giving enough.

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In all the 14 years I was with the RCI, I never gave up my once a year bet on the Melbourne Cup. Nor did I give up buying the odd scratchie. Nor did I give the irregular Lotto investment and enjoy the thrill of watching the balls fall with the numbers on them...... and I'd like to bet that there are RCI and RF "pastors" who do exactly the same...and I still maintain my once a year bet on the Melbourne Cup.anon

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Glad to have that off your chest? I bet there are many pastors who have bought a scratch-it, or bought some risky shares, or bought some shares that weren't so risky... the odds are better, but it's still a gamble. For that matter, buying real-estate can be a bit of a gamble, and many types of investments... and so can walking down King's Cross with a pocket full of fifty bucks. My point is - the bible doesn't directly forbid gambling and the actuality of what a gamble is is subjective to the punter.

The bible says to 'abstain from all appearances of evil' (1 Thess 5:22) but this is way open to interpretation. In my opinion, a $2 scratchie from your local newsagent is not evil unless your kids are missing out on food... or you're wearing a dracula suit while purchasing it.

The following  website offers some scriptures, none of which directly forbid gambling. Perhaps this is one of those isues where you have to make up your own mind without tatooing a scripture to the back of your hand.

• All I have belongs to God ("The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1).
• The normal means of gaining money is through work ("Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands" - Ephesians 4:28).
• It is better to earn money than to gain it quickly ("Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it" - Proverbs 13:11).
• Covetousness and greed are wrong ("You shall not covet..." - Exodus 20:17).

Feels naughty and exciting to have a drink or take a punt while in Revival... especially when no one else admits doing it too. We used to encourage people to refrain from gambling, drinking and short skirts because it looks worldly... and we can't have that amongst the holy saints.