"In Jesus' name we pray..."

With states turning toward gambling as a revenue stream to help in balancing their budgets, should a minister offer his thoughts when invited to open a joint legislative session that is to consider a bill to legalize gambling?

Evidently, a Kentucky pastor, Hershael York of Buck Run Baptist Church, called gambling "a terrible thing" during his opening prayer minutes prior to Governor Steve Beshear proposing a casino gambling bill.

According to the Baptist Press, York began by invoking to grant the legislators and Governor wisdom in their decisions.  But, York then switched gears.

Help us to admit that we cannot truly love our neighbor as ourselves and then scheme to get his money by enticing him with vain hope.  May [legislators] not lead this state to share profits from an industry that preys on greed or desperation. 

Help us to foster salaries and not slot machines, to build cars and enable jobs---not license casinos and seduce the simple into losing what they have.  May their greatest concern not be that we get our share of the family's losses, but that we foster a sense of hope and justice that creates opportunity and leads to success.

Kentucky's legislators were divided on the issue.

Whether they agreed with Pastor York's sentiments or not, some Kentucky state senators insisted that the Pastor used the wrong venue. State Senator Dennis Perrit said:

There's lots of other avenues to make your opinion known on how your feel.

State Senator Kathy Stein opined:

A minister...should try to bring people together...should try to unite them rather than to divide them. I think it was disrespectful to the Governor and to other elected members of the general assembly.

However, Scott County State Senator, Damon Thayer, countered that it's not up to the state to decided what a pastor can preach:

I respect his right to come before the general assembly and to give a prayer of his choosing.   I don't think it was inappropriate.

Pator York told Baptist Press he felt burdened to speak out.

I want to frame this as a moral argument, not a fiscal or financial one....To some I'm a hero and to others I'm an idiot.  I try not to get too worked up over either one.  All of us in the trenches [are] caring for people...we all know this is bad....I'm going to rally every pastor in the state that I can against this.

In view of the fact that gambling can be addictive for some personalities and, in turn, cause grave financial loss, the destruction of marriages and families, as well as suicide, all The Motley Monk can respond is "Amen, Pastor York."


Let the discussion begin...



To read the Baptist Press article, click on the following link:
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36995