I have a friend who is a great Christian and wants to live for God, but also could be a little stubborn sometimes if its something she might not want changing. Shes a good friend of mine and it bugs me that she plays card games. I mentioned it once a while back but it didnt seem to matter. Im not sure if i should talk to her again or not because i dont want to force things on her, but i feel like i need to pass on what i know and let her make the choice.

I have been raised to avoid cards from all angles. I have occasionaly played different games, but that has stopped years ago. Im not here to start a debate because there will always be someone who will not agree and will try to make it into an argument, but here is what i know and would like to share. Maybe someone will find it useful.

I have searched on some information on cards and have found some interesting things. The fact that cards purpose is used in casinos where it involves gambling, money, leads to anger etc, that should be enough info to not play them. Also used for witchcraft and fortune telling. Also the fact that the first deck of cards was invented by King Charles of France in the year 1392, he was insane. Not to mention that a deck of cards used to be called, "The Devil's Bible" and in the Seventeenth Century it was called, "The Devil's Picture Book". It has also been heard for cards having different meanings, like prince of darkness, violence and murder, queen being Marry and joker as Christ.

Churches in the past used to hold bond fires and people would bring their deck of cards and burm them. There is a Pastor who said that he would rather have his children play with snakes than a deck of cards.

"Why don't people when they play cards first ask God to bless their card game?" Can you do that? Of course you cannot. Well, the Bible said, "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:17)

Sure playing cards can be harmful, but does it bring you closer to God, does it glorify Him? If its hard to stop doing something then its a problem, if its a matter of just wanting to do something, may it be bad or good, then its the freedom of will that God gave us all.

http://www.geocities.com/alstor/cards.html
http://www.eaec.org/bibleanswers/playing_cards.htm

there is no Law against card playing or games in all of Scripture.

You are not permitted to judge another by your Halacha (choice of observances). If it is a stubbling block to you personally tell her so and ask that she not do so in front of you and not speak of in front of you... if she can easily avoid it.

We should not seek to put a burden on others in the name of Yehoshuah(chirst). Respecting where people are at and their freedoms to honor God in a slightly different manner than us, allows them to be conformed to Christ's immage instead of our own.

bananna

" Not to mention that a deck of cards used to be called, "The Devil's Bible" and in the Seventeenth Century it was called, "The Devil's Picture Book".
[/quote]


These titles are used to describe TAROT cards, not a regular deck of playing cards or other various card games.

I don't like playing cards, but that's just me. Sometimes I play Phase Ten with my family, but that's a rare occasion. In scripture, some decisions were made by drawing lots. That could be considered gambling. I think that if your friend simply enjoys the game, there's probably nothing wrong with it. If there's a greater problem, like gambling, debt, or addiction, then it has become an evil and needs to be dealt with. You will probably get as many different answers as people who respond, though. BTW, welcome to the forum!

God bless you and peace to you.
Your sister in Christ, Angela

HOO-HOO-HOO... (HUHU!)
I used to play cards, read Tarot (which I never could ) but "dropped the thing" plain and simple ever since I got born again. Threw them away. Backed off, pfuy, pfuy!

I stay away from gambling, cards, and the likes. Never brings anything.
Your friend has a God-given FREE WILL just as any one. It's up to her to want to change and to stop playing cards. Pray for her. She needs to repent and stay away from them. I don't even feel like playing cards games any more, even if it's not for divination. I can't explain it, but something tells me not to touch them!
Because it's so easy to want to do more with them, like foretelling the future, trying to find out what the future has in store for us. We have that weakness. If we do so, we are telling God we don't trust him, but rely solely on "the created", pieces of cardboard with fancy pictures and numbers on them...

I believe that's the problem with Ted Haggard. He has been indulging his sin of homosexuality, refusing to repent and to turn from it; and since he has a free will like any one, it's still up to him to want to admit he has a problem, and to repent. Jesus has alraedy paid for this sin at the cross. Ted Haggard is in denial just as any one of us who keeps sinning and refuses to repent. I hope and pray that God gives us all the strength and the grace to do good and to keep from sinning...

They are only used in gambling because of the random element inherit in a shuffled deck, just as with throwing dice. Randomness lends itself to gambling. This doesn't mean you can't enjoy a good card game without gambling, though. Or a dice game for that matter. People bet on sports too, and all manner of other things. It's not the cards that breed greed, greed and a thirst for money is an inherit aspect of human nature.


There is nothing mystical or malevolent in a deck of cards. Thats incredibly superstitious.

Playing cards is Satanic? Maybe if you have a gambling addiction... but yours is a PERSONAL feeling and what they used to be called or used for doesn't mean a thing . I like playng cards, spades bridge, rummy, etc. I do not gamble or play them all the time.

People whittled blocks of wood into idols of gods. Does that mean whittling wood is evil? Should I tell woodworkers to stop because they are sinning by creating a wooden duck because they enjoy it?

How about a christmas tree? DO you have one in your house? You know those were pagan symbols to Asherah during Yule---

If you think it is a sin then don't play them--- however do not judge others for playing them. If it bothers you that much then kindly tell your friend that cards make you uncomfortable.

senteami3 said:
She needs to repent and stay away from them.
***
I respond:
If she needs to repent, then you're stating that playing a card game is sinful. If that's the case... please show me where the Bible states that it's sinful to play a card game.

The fact is... it's not a sin (in and of itself). If my family sits around a table and plays a game of Spades... how are we sinning?
If I play a game of Go Fish, Crazy 8's, or Old Maid with my little nephew... how are we sinning?

Lastly... even if this friend is gambling... the Bible never states that gambling is sinful. I believe there's nothing wrong with playing a game of poker every now and again... or to buy the occasional lottery ticket.

The Bible tells us to be good stewards of what we are given...
So this brings me to a question.
If I spend $50 on a poker game... what have I done? I've payed $50 for entertainment.
If I take my family out to watch a movie ($8/ticket x 6 people) I've just spend $48 for enternainment.
I don't see why one is sinful and the other is not.



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senteami3 said:
I don't even feel like playing cards games any more, even if it's not for divination. I can't explain it, but something tells me not to touch them!
***
I respond with:
Romans 14:1-4
"1As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

And if you're personally convicted about it... then you shouldn't play cards.
However... your conviction is not mine. I do not believe it is wrong for me to play a game of Solitaire.
And accusing those who play cards of living in sin is passing judgement based on your personal convictions.

1 Timothy 4:4-5
"4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer."

Colossians 3:17
"17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Thank you, God, for giving me card games so that I may fellowship with the family and friends that you have given me.

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senteami3 said:
Because it's so easy to want to do more with them, like foretelling the future, trying to find out what the future has in store for us. We have that weakness.
***
I respond
No no... not "we"... "you".
I can honestly say that I've never had the desire to try and listen to what the Jack of Diamonds is telling me about the future. (and if the Jack of Diamonds ever spoke to me... I'd seek professional help)

Again... just because you struggle in this area does not mean that every Christian does... nor does it mean that it is sinful for anyone else to play cards.

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And for nickt916...
Unless your friend has a serious gambling problem... I wouldn't worry about her.
If all she's doing is playing a card game... and she's not convicted that it's wrong... then she's not sinning.

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Lastly...
Why do the quote tags (as well as the other tags) continue to stop working? I hate making my posts in the format above... it gets so confusing and putting things in the quote boxes makes things so much easier to read. Is there anyway any of the mods/admins can correct this problem?

there is no Law against card playing or games in all of Scripture.

You are not permitted to judge another by your Halacha (choice of observances). If it is a stubbling block to you personally tell her so and ask that she not do so in front of you and not speak of in front of you... if she can easily avoid it.

We should not seek to put a burden on others in the name of Yehoshuah(chirst). Respecting where people are at and their freedoms to honor God in a slightly different manner than us, allows them to be conformed to Christ's immage instead of our own.

bananna

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I wholeheartedly agree with this reply from bananna.A mature reply.The principles layed out in Rom. chapter 14 is in my opinion a must know for all Christians who wish to walk in love while here.
Stay cool brothers!

HeSaves

You're concern is admirable, but where would we stop?

Satan has the ability to take good things, non harmful things and [b]twist [/b] them and [b]distort[/b] them into something bad...


if gambling is the issue, my friend we can gamble on anything....


FWIW: I play cards for fun (any Canasta fans here)... I rarely bet. For instance tonight (Christmas Eve), me and my kin might play texas hold em with chips... Will we have a buy in? Possibly... but the main thing is that we our in fellowship...

all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial... it all depends on the spirit of play and what actually takes over duering play.... Playing with a deck of cards is no more satanic than christian coffee houses, it all depends on the why and what you expect to get out of it... The catalyst, (the cards) can be good or bad.

So true
bananna