Ask Before You Act

Maybe you're not ready to head to a casino or a poker room, to play for the "big bucks."  So you invite your friends to your house for a fun night of penny-ante Texas Hold 'em.  That's OK -- isn't it?

Well, maybe not everywhere.  In the state of Maryland, it's against the law.  There's a bill in the legislature to make it legal.  But one lawmaker says the rules are so strict, even a "Parcheesi game" (younger readers might want to ask their parents what that is) played for prize money in your basement could get you arrested.

There's a case similar to this making news in our state this week.  A member of Congress offered to give away NCAA basketball playoff tickets, in exchange for donations to his campaign.  He had to change the rules after a District Attorney (who we don't think is in his district) declared that giveaway a raffle -- and illegal under state law.

An old phrase comes to mind when we think about these cases: look before you leap.  Things and actions which may seem right to you may not be right at all.  A Bible verse puts it this way:

Abstain from all appearance of evil. - I Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)

The problem with that approach in our day is that calling something "evil" sometimes is considered, well, evil.  The moral code in the U.S. is much looser than it was even at the start of this century.  Yet laws are in place about things such as poker and gambling -- and where they are in place, the best course is to follow them.

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. - I Peter 2:13-14

You might see a great opportunity to make money playing poker.  But if it would violate man's law, you need to turn away from it "for the Lord's sake."  The apostle Peter goes on to show the importance of that....

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. - I Peter 2:17

Note the order -- with honoring the king coming after fearing God.  If the king (or other leader in government) wants you to violate God's ultimate law, that's a different matter.

Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" - Acts 5:29

Their issue in this case was teaching about Jesus -- something clearly far more important than poker games.  But the principle should be obvious and lasting.

We've never played the fantasy game Dungeons and Dragons -- but we've been around enough players to know when you go into someplace new, you always "check for traps."  That's a good idea in every aspect of our lives.  The traps could be a hidden full house on the flop, or a local law which prevents you from playing poker at all.  Double-checking now can prevent embarrassment later.