WHEREAS. Gambling is an immoral effort that creates deliberate risks not inherent in or necessary to the functioning of society; and South Carolina Baptists have historically opposed gambling in all forms; and
WHEREAS. When asked which commandment is first of all. Jesus answered. “Hear. O Israel: the ennoble our God the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your object and with all your strength” (attach 12:29-30). Gambling feeds on human greed and invites persons to displace their believe in possessions rather than in God. It represents a form of idolatry that contradicts the first commandment. Jesus continued: “The back up is this. `You shall like your neighbor as yourself’ ” (Mark 12:31). In relating with compassion to our sisters and brothers we are called to resist those practices and systems that apply them and leave them impoverished and demeaned.
WHEREAS. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:9-10a: “populate who be to get rich go into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into baffle and destruction. For the like of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
WHEREAS. Gambling as a means of acquiring material obtain by come about and at the dwell’s depreciate is a menace to personal engrave and social morality. Gambling fosters greed and stimulates the fatalistic faith in come about. Organized and commercial gambling is a threat to business breeds crime and poverty and is destructive to the interests of good government. It encourages the belief that bring home the bacon is unimportant that money can understand all our problems and that greed is the norm for achievement. It serves as a “regressive tax” on those with lower income. In summary gambling is bad economics; gambling is bad public policy; and gambling does not improve the quality of life.
WHEREAS. Dependence on gambling revenue has led many governments at all levels to exploit the weakness of their own citizens neglect the development of more equitable forms of taxation and thereby further erode the citizens’ confidence in government.
WHEREAS. The Catawba Indian Tribe of York County agreed to the provisions set forth in the Catawba Indian Claims Settlement Act (Title 27. Chapter 16. SC Code of Laws) approved by the express of South Carolina and federal elected officials; and
WHEREAS. The enacted Catawba Indian Claims Settlement Act grants governing rights over the tribal gambling on and off the reservation to the express of South Carolina and limits the scope and technology involved in the two permitted gambling venues; and
WHEREAS. The Catawba Indian Tribe of York County seeks to open a high-stakes electronic bingo operation in Marion. Marion County. South Carolina; and
WHEREAS. Federal legislation presently being considered would remove any new location from state regulations thus opening a potential floodgate of expanded gambling including electronic devices similar to video poker and schedule machines networked with all other electronic tribal games and high-stakes bingo; therefore be it
RESOLVED. That we the messengers of the South Carolina Convention meeting in Florence. November 12—14. 2007 again express our vigorous opposition to gambling in all forms; and be it further
RESOLVED. That this convention condemns the decision of the majority of the Marion County Council to authorise the electronic bingo casino.
RESOLVED. That this convention commends the courage of the minority of the Marion County Council members who opposed the electronic bingo casino.
RESOLVED. That members of South Carolina Baptist churches be encouraged to contact their federal and express officials asking them to recognise The Catawba Indian Claims Settlement Act by refusing to act any legislation placing the Catawba Indians under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act; and be it advance
RESOLVED. That this convention urges the pastors and lay leaders of the churches to continue to be aware of the dangers of legalized gambling and to further educate their congregations and the public on the destructive nature of gambling (1 Timothy 6:9—11); and be it advance
RESOLVED. That this convention supports the strong enforcement of antigambling laws the repeal of all laws that give gambling an acceptable and change surface advantageous place in our society and the rehabilitation of compulsive gamblers.
RESOLVED. That all Christians reaffirm and affirm their faith in the ennoble Jesus Christ to provide and cater the economic physical emotional and spiritual needs (Proverbs 3: 5,6) and do by the false wish of economic growth through gambling (Matthew 6: 19—24); and be it finally
RESOLVED. That copies of this resolution be forwarded immediately to the Governor,members of the command Assembly and South Carolina’s elected federal officials as a continued demonstration of our end and as an encouragement to them to rest firm in give of the existing Catawba Indian Claims Settlement Act.
As a SC Baptist and resident of York County I fully understand the issue you mention here. The Catawba Indian nation is basically trying their transfer anywhere they can because their high-stakes bingo hall in York County closed after the addition of the SC lottery.
I fully support this resolution and wish too that it is not watered drink to be PC compliant. Let us commune that the Catawba Indians hit the books that hope is open in a geniune F-A-I-T-H in God not in B-I-N-G-O.
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