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Articles
Play Responsibly
I was listening to the radio the other day while traveling in the car, and they were advertising for the Kentucky Lottery. At the end of the commercial spot they said to remember to "Play responsibly". I've seen beer advertisements where it says at the bottom of the ad to drink responsibly. Now I have not seen or heard say, in a Coke-Cola or Pepsi commercial to "drink responsibly". Nor have I seen any warning on Rook cards, Monopoly games, or Scrabble games, any warning like "please play responsibly". Now the problem with the gambling and booze consumption is that these things can highly addictive and completely destructive to men and women's lives. Gambling is wrong because it is merely a form of stealing; (yes by consent, but stealing nevertheless), Rm.13:9-10, "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law". And the problem with alcohol consumption is what Peter spoke about in I Pet.4:3, "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries". The NAS says, drinking parties instead of banquetings. Thus the drunk, the half drunk and the people just drinking booze are spoken of as doing the will of the Gentiles. We need to spend our time doing the will of God instead. So when people talk about "Playing responsibly" or "Drinking responsibly" this would be like saying "Cursing responsibly" or "Fornicating responsibly" (actually some do, they say if you are going to do it, be sure to wear a condom; or they call it having safe sex). The only way to be responsible when it comes to booze it to avoid its intoxicating influence, and your best bet is not to make one. Be not deceived with the deceitful lusts, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts" - Eph 4:22.
