Dear Blessed Bettors:

In May of 2018, the Supreme Court of the U.S. struck down a 1992 law prohibiting sports gambling in every state except Nevada. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. said, “A more direct affront to state sovereignty is not easy to imagine,” placing restrictions on sports betting squarely at the feet of state legislators. New Jersey, where the case originated, unveiled online betting apps before the end of the next month. Since then, 22 states have legalized sports gambling in some form or another. Illinois joined the club the following June, and gamblers everywhere were off from the races, as the legislation marked the death of Arlington and other horse racing venues. Even the Cubs' friendly confines are receiving a gambling facility attached to Wrigley Field, which The Tribune’s Paul Sullivan said, “looks like a bus shelter grafted on the side of The Picasso” (Chicago Tribune, October 29, 2022).

As this is the Minister's Musing, you may think I’m about to moralize on the evils of gambling, and although in my pastoring career I have watched dozens of homes ruined by wagering addiction, telling folks not to gamble is not my project today. (If your math skills are so poor that you cannot calculate the power of probability over time, I can’t help you. As Warren Buffett, the "Oracle from Omaha", has said, “Gambling is the most regressive tax known to man. It’s not industry; it’s wealth transfer.”) As players are quick to point out, gambling is in the Bible—Jonah was tossed overboard playing some primitive form of Rock, Paper, Scissors; at the foot of the cross, Roman guards tossed dice for Jesus’ valuable tunic; and the disciples drew straws to determine Judas’ successor at the boardroom table of the Apostles. No, it’s stewardship season, and I’m bemused by how some folks set their giving priority.

Consider this: from June of 2018 through the beginning of October 2022, legal wagering on sporting events topped $152 billion, or $3B per month in 22 states (this amount does not include casino transactions or the gaming machines recently tucked into the corner of your favorite burger joint). Compare that to national church and non-profit giving rates of approximately $4.17B per month (statistics here), and you may understand why Pete Rose should be shaking his head.

Of course, church potlucks, mission trips, worship services, fellowship gatherings, prayers for joys and concerns and study groups cannot compare to the wonders of the Major League. But remember, wagering is on top of money spent on tickets, parking, souvenirs and $17 beer. Which brings me to our 2023 pledge drive and my humble attempt to compete.

As you consider your contributions for the coming year, I’ll bet your church giving will bring you more joy than any wager you can place on the World Series. More than that, odds are that the contributions you make to your church will pay off in ways that bring more satisfaction than beating the spread on an NFL match-up. In fact, I’d wager that our best contributors do not gamble. They’ve found that when it comes to their giving priority, investing in their community of faith is a sure thing. Chances are, you will too.

Staking our future on your generosity, I remain,

With Love
Jonathan Krogh
Your Pastor