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Pastor Matt gives us an important perspective on the Casino.
August 31, 2024 12:20 PM
A Christian Perspective on the Casino
My wife and I moved to the area in 2000 after graduating college, partly because we wanted to raise our family in a place that valued faith, family, and morality. We also saw the strength and value of the smaller schools where our children would be blessed with a good education. We bought our first home in Madrid, eventually moving to Grant and then Ogallala after taking the Pastorate at New Hope in 2018. Our experience here has been good. Small-town values are what make our communities so special. Bringing a casino here will jeopardize our way of life. What makes our community special? It depends on what you value. If you like the nightlife, entertainment, fancy restaurants, and casinos, then SW Nebraska is not for you. At least not yet. That will change if we invite a casino into our community. I understand the lure of possible economic growth but at what cost? A recent quote from a study funded and produced by the casino through a pro-gaming company called The Innovation Group claimed that there is no increase in crimes when a casino is brought into the community. I’m not sure that we can trust that. You can certainly find studies that say that but there are far more studies that report a significant increase in crime, especially burglary, and sex trafficking. I would encourage you to research it for yourself. Common sense says that crime will increase. I don’t think this is something that will make our community better, but sadly worse, all in the name of economic development and entertainment. While a handful of people will get rich the rest of us will suffer the effects of crime, poverty, and likely increased taxes.
Our strength is our common ground in holding fast to our small-town values. I have never wanted to live in Las Vegas or New York. I know that many good people live there but I chose to live here. I would have lived there if I had wanted to live where I could access the big city life. The big city has a lot to offer, but you can have it. I would be safe in saying that many of us enjoy quiet evenings on our porches watching the sunset. We also love that our children can still walk to school and that we don’t have the constant threat of violent crime on our streets. Granted, there is some crime here, but it is not at the level we see in the city and most of us would like to keep it that way.
As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I must also speak forthrightly about the spiritual side of this issue. This is a spiritual battle. Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy (1 Pt. 5:8). He is also the great deceiver. The attempt to put a pretty face on this casino by showing the fancy horses on a racetrack and not the devastating effects of crime, poverty, or gambling addictions is strategic. A more honest picture would have at least portrayed someone sitting at a slot machine and a picture of the horse races. That is really what this is about, money and the house always wins. The portrayal that this is family-friendly entertainment is a deception. Make no mistake, this is all about making money for the casino owners. If they really cared about bringing family entertainment, they would not be bringing a casino. It is not about our community. Imagine the best-case scenario for a moment. Our community has an economic boom, but there will still be people gambling away their life savings, kid’s college fund, or food for their families. Then they will come to all of the generous organizations in our community for help because they can’t afford their power bill.
The bottom line is this: Would Jesus be in favor of bringing a casino to Ogallala? If you know the Jesus of the Bible, the answer is “no.” Therefore, as Christians, we should be standing against it. My hope and prayer is that God will open the eyes of our leaders and that they will see the reality of this situation through God’s perspective.
How can we stand against this? First, remember this is a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 says, “12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.1” We need to begin to pray that God would stop the casino from coming. Second, we must let our commissioners and city officials know we do not want it here. Third don’t be ugly. As Christians, we do not get the option of being mean-spirited, vulgar, or hateful. No one is going to listen to a self-righteous jerk who preaches Jesus and hates everyone who disagrees with him. That is not how to win people to faith. We must stand on truth in love. Sadly we often come across as self-righteous and arrogant. This is not the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, and self-control. Jesus died for sinners and I am one of them. Remember, the right thing said in the wrong way is the wrong thing altogether.
Do not let this issue consume you. Ultimately God is still in control. Stay focused on loving people in the name of Jesus no matter where they stand on these issues. The only issue that counts in the end is whether or not someone belongs to Jesus and has come to saving faith in Him. The worst-case scenario is that the casino comes to town, bringing a wave of brokenness and crime. It would be sad, but it brings more opportunities to love the broken and introduce them to Jesus. Our goal as Christians is to fulfill the great commission and tell others how to be saved through the Gospel of Christ. It is not ultimately to have peaceful quiet lives, make a lot of money, or live in safe environments. God sent Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego into the fire, but he met them there and walked them safely through to the other side.
Pastor,
My wife and I moved to the area in 2000 after graduating college, partly because we wanted to raise our family in a place that valued faith, family, and morality. We also saw the strength and value of the smaller schools where our children would be blessed with a good education. We bought our first home in Madrid, eventually moving to Grant and then Ogallala after taking the Pastorate at New Hope in 2018. Our experience here has been good. Small-town values are what make our communities so special. Bringing a casino here will jeopardize our way of life. What makes our community special? It depends on what you value. If you like the nightlife, entertainment, fancy restaurants, and casinos, then SW Nebraska is not for you. At least not yet. That will change if we invite a casino into our community. I understand the lure of possible economic growth but at what cost? A recent quote from a study funded and produced by the casino through a pro-gaming company called The Innovation Group claimed that there is no increase in crimes when a casino is brought into the community. I’m not sure that we can trust that. You can certainly find studies that say that but there are far more studies that report a significant increase in crime, especially burglary, and sex trafficking. I would encourage you to research it for yourself. Common sense says that crime will increase. I don’t think this is something that will make our community better, but sadly worse, all in the name of economic development and entertainment. While a handful of people will get rich the rest of us will suffer the effects of crime, poverty, and likely increased taxes.
Our strength is our common ground in holding fast to our small-town values. I have never wanted to live in Las Vegas or New York. I know that many good people live there but I chose to live here. I would have lived there if I had wanted to live where I could access the big city life. The big city has a lot to offer, but you can have it. I would be safe in saying that many of us enjoy quiet evenings on our porches watching the sunset. We also love that our children can still walk to school and that we don’t have the constant threat of violent crime on our streets. Granted, there is some crime here, but it is not at the level we see in the city and most of us would like to keep it that way.
As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I must also speak forthrightly about the spiritual side of this issue. This is a spiritual battle. Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy (1 Pt. 5:8). He is also the great deceiver. The attempt to put a pretty face on this casino by showing the fancy horses on a racetrack and not the devastating effects of crime, poverty, or gambling addictions is strategic. A more honest picture would have at least portrayed someone sitting at a slot machine and a picture of the horse races. That is really what this is about, money and the house always wins. The portrayal that this is family-friendly entertainment is a deception. Make no mistake, this is all about making money for the casino owners. If they really cared about bringing family entertainment, they would not be bringing a casino. It is not about our community. Imagine the best-case scenario for a moment. Our community has an economic boom, but there will still be people gambling away their life savings, kid’s college fund, or food for their families. Then they will come to all of the generous organizations in our community for help because they can’t afford their power bill.
The bottom line is this: Would Jesus be in favor of bringing a casino to Ogallala? If you know the Jesus of the Bible, the answer is “no.” Therefore, as Christians, we should be standing against it. My hope and prayer is that God will open the eyes of our leaders and that they will see the reality of this situation through God’s perspective.
How can we stand against this? First, remember this is a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 says, “12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.1” We need to begin to pray that God would stop the casino from coming. Second, we must let our commissioners and city officials know we do not want it here. Third don’t be ugly. As Christians, we do not get the option of being mean-spirited, vulgar, or hateful. No one is going to listen to a self-righteous jerk who preaches Jesus and hates everyone who disagrees with him. That is not how to win people to faith. We must stand on truth in love. Sadly we often come across as self-righteous and arrogant. This is not the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, and self-control. Jesus died for sinners and I am one of them. Remember, the right thing said in the wrong way is the wrong thing altogether.
Do not let this issue consume you. Ultimately God is still in control. Stay focused on loving people in the name of Jesus no matter where they stand on these issues. The only issue that counts in the end is whether or not someone belongs to Jesus and has come to saving faith in Him. The worst-case scenario is that the casino comes to town, bringing a wave of brokenness and crime. It would be sad, but it brings more opportunities to love the broken and introduce them to Jesus. Our goal as Christians is to fulfill the great commission and tell others how to be saved through the Gospel of Christ. It is not ultimately to have peaceful quiet lives, make a lot of money, or live in safe environments. God sent Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego into the fire, but he met them there and walked them safely through to the other side.
Pastor,
Matt Waitley