Biggest Loser Contest at Work

[Cliff Hanger]

My work is having a Biggest Loser contest and with a $20 entry fee the winner gets the pot. Now don't berate me and this might be a dumb question to ask as a christian but that would be considered gambling correct?

[John81]

I don't know. Some might call it such but it's actually a contest. The money isn't being gambled, it's an entry fee that's used to supply the prize and one has to win the contest in order to win the prize. There really is no "gamble" per se, no winning of something for nothing, one must actually do something in order to win the competition.

[Cliff Hanger]

Couldn't you say the same about poker? The more skill you have, the better your odds are. Like Kenny Rogers said " you gotta know when to hold them and know when to fold them". Many poker players spend alot of time and money perfecting their game. I wouldn't say they won all that money by doing nothing. Thanks for your input.

[HappyChristian]

I don't think something like this contest is similar to poker. In poker, the player is not really in control of the cards (unless they are a cheater, of course, and that is automatically wrong). In this contest, each participant willingly signs up and that $20 is similar to a pledge to work hard to win the objective. There is personal effort in weight loss vs. just dumb "luck" in cards (or other gambling). And the $20, if lost, can be viewed as being a congratulatory gift to the person who worked the hardest and won.

[JerryNumbers]

Of course you can say the same thing about poker, raffles, & many other things.

Jesus ought to be the only incentive one needs, Philippians 4:13.

And why would anyone want to win money off a worldly contest when Jesus is helping them?

[Cliff Hanger]

Jerry, what if I won and gave all the winnings to my church? Would that be ok?

[JerryNumbers]

What if I went and played poker, them give all the money I won to my church?

What if I bought a lottery ticket, & if I won, gave in all to my church?

What is I bet on the race horses, them gave any money won to my church?

And why would a true New Testament Church accept such money? Would that not encourage such activities?

And yes, I know many pastors, many churches will accept most any money that's offered them, & I say shame on them.

[John81]

I don't think something like this contest is similar to poker. In poker, the player is not really in control of the cards (unless they are a cheater, of course, and that is automatically wrong). In this contest, each participant willingly signs up and that $20 is similar to a pledge to work hard to win the objective. There is personal effort in weight loss vs. just dumb "luck" in cards (or other gambling). And the $20, if lost, can be viewed as being a congratulatory gift to the person who worked the hardest and won.

True, Poker is a game of "chance", whereas the contest mentioned above is just that, a contest.

To win a weight loss contest one must put forth effort in competion with others in order to win. This would be more similar to an athletic event that requires an entry fee and also gives a prize to the winner.

[no name joe]

I don't see anything wrong with it. I run half-marathons with $70 entry fees. The winner takes the purse. There is no difference. When peopel put something financial in, even if it is minimal, their committment goes up (why do you think Jesus says it is important for us to give?). This is just providing some good fun and incentive to get and stay healthy.

A friend of mine played one hand of poker in Vegas when passing through and won $100,000. lol. He asked me if he should tithe on it. I told him absolutely.

[Invicta]

What if I went and played poker, them give all the money I won to my church?

What if I bought a lottery ticket, & if I won, gave in all to my church?

What is I bet on the race horses, them gave any money won to my church?

And why would a true New Testament Church accept such money? Would that not encourage such activities?

And yes, I know many pastors, many churches will accept most any money that's offered them, & I say shame on them.

Our church would not accept money knowingly obtained from such sources. Edited January 11, 2012 by Invicta

[JerryNumbers]

And to win at poker one has to put forth an effort, you best stay out of the poker game of chance if you know nothing about poker, cards. Of course the worldly poker player is always looking for one that knows lee than him, for that is his true money maker.

But the game of chance always has one end, you lose, or you win, yet 1st you must put down the money, whether it a dollar for a raffle ticket, or five dollars on a horse, or thousands in the poker pot, in the end its about winning the pot.

And of course, once again, why would you need a worldly incentive to do something that's the right thing to do, in order to lose weight. In fact for the true believer it would be cheating to enter such a thing to gain money. For if he is a true Christian, has real faith in Christ, he can do anything though Christ which strengthens him, that is he would be cheating, have an unfair advantage over the others.

Of course one can use human reasoning to make it OK, & worldly people do, but why not use wisdom which only comes from above, them you will not have trouble with that leading you to another level of chance. In fact if we really use wisdom from above, one would not even think about being in a game of chance trying to win the pot because of losing weight.

[JerryNumbers]

I don't see anything wrong with it. I run half-marathons with $70 entry fees. The winner takes the purse. There is no difference. When peopel put something financial in, even if it is minimal, their committment goes up (why do you think Jesus says it is important for us to give?). This is just providing some good fun and incentive to get and stay healthy.

A friend of mine played one hand of poker in Vegas when passing through and won $100,000. lol. He asked me if he should tithe on it. I told him absolutely.

Jesus ought to be enough, but for some they have to have worldly, momentary, incentives.

[JerryNumbers]

Our church would not accept money knowingly obtained from such sources.

That is great, sad to say many will, & they will accept blood money eagerly, they seem not to care how it was gained

Of course many churches are all about money. I've only been a member of one church that leaned in that direction. I can understand many that attend churches that gets totally tuned off because its more about money that Christ. Many times it almost as if they beg for your money.

If the pastor will put out the right message, getting the members hearts in the right place, they can pass the collection plate around and never have to beg for money.

I heard of on church, a Baptist Church, and even an Independent Baptist Church, that the pastor sent the collection plate around, when it got back he did not think it was enough, gave a big talk, sent it around a 2nd time, and again he did not think it was enough, gave another big talk, sending it around the 3rd time.

[no name joe]

Jesus ought to be enough, but for some they have to have worldly, momentary, incentives.

This game at work is all in good fun. It is not preying on people who are downtrodden, such as gambling and lotteries are (which I am very opposed to...for example, a lottery in my State pays for scholarships...it preys on low income people to give money to middle class and upper class families to send kids to college). This is just a game, and the prize at the end is to keep peoples motiviation and interest.

In fact, this is probably a good thing for the company and all employees. If they lose weight, and continue exercising and keep it off, there will be fewer heath problems, and fewer claims on their group insurance, which will cause insurance premiums to go down.

It is a bit of fun and healthy competition. I'm not trying to be argumentative. I agree that a person should lose weight and exercise for one's self and for the glory of God. I am not arguing with that. But the fact is, sometimes people need a little help or motivation. It is no different than paying Weight Watchers for their weight loss program. When people put a bit of money in, they are invested and more interested and motivated.

[JerryNumbers]

Not being argumentative, just trying to be biblical.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Them that’s admitting, that for some, Jesus is just not enough