May 12, 2003
EDITORIAL:
Bennett's gambling lesson worthy of 'Book of Virtues'
___Disclosure of William Bennett's deep involvement in gambling provides a cautionary tale for every person of faith who seeks to witness in the public square: Your sins will find you out. Or, more precisely, people will find out about your sins.
___Bennett is known globally for his advocacy of integrity. His "Book of Virtues"--a fine collection of stories, essays, fables, poems and speeches extolling high morals--became a best-seller and made him a wealthy man. Moreover, the book positioned Bennett as a spokesperson for character development. Recent news stories claim he has received up to $50,000 per speech to lecture on virtue and proper morals.
___Articles in Newsweek and The Washington Monthly report Bennett obtained a $200,000 revolving line of credit at casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. They said he once wired $1.4 million to cover losses at a casino. They also cite casino estimates that he has lost more than $8 million, although he claims he has "come out pretty close to even" in his wagers during the past decade.
___As reports about his gambling began to circulate, Bennett learned three lessons every preacher's
Your life may be the only Bible some people ever read. |
kid instinctively knows: Life in a fishbowl leaves no room for privacy. Fair or not, people who are expected to lead exemplary lives are held to higher standards than most people apply to their own actions. And adversaries always hang around to harangue about even a hint of hypocrisy.
___Last week, Bennett declared he had dropped his last dollar in a slot machine.
___"It is true that I have gambled large sums of money," he conceded. "I have also complied with all laws on reporting wins and losses. Nevertheless, I have done too much gambling, and this is not an example I wish to set. Therefore, my gambling days are over."
___As an outspoken conservative Christian under the microscope of public scrutiny, Bennett needs the prayers of fellow Christians. If, as his friend James Dobson said, Bennett is a gambling addict, his quest to quit will not be easy. However, he also finds himself in a position to reveal the power of redemption by showing how God's Spirit can cleanse a life and restore a soul.
___ Bennett's gambling incident reveals a distinction between most Roman Catholics and millions of other people of faith. Bennett grew up around gambling in Catholic bingo halls and never looked at it as a "moral issue," he explained. Most Baptists and other conservative Christians view it as a moral evil.
___"It has the power to ensnare and wound not only its victims, but also those closest to them," said Dobson, chairman of Focus on the Family. "'Gaming,' as the industry euphemistically refers to itself, is a cancer on the soul of the nation."
___Coincidentally, that's why Baptists are struggling mightily to defeat bills in the Texas Legislature that would expand gambling across the state. Suzii Paynter, director of citizenship and public policy for the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Christian Life Commission, cites the progressive ABCs of gambling--addiction, bankruptcy and crime. Bennett apparently makes enough money to gamble heavily without falling into bankruptcy and descending to crime. One pundit noted last week that, at $50,000 a speech, Bennett can earn about as much per minute at a lectern as he can lose per minute at a slot machine. However, Bennett is the exception, and people of common sense, goodwill and compassion demonstrate their care for society by preventing the expansion and promotion of gambling so that more people who cannot "afford" to gamble do not fall into that pit, pulling their families and taxpayers (who foot the bill for all the related social costs, such as crime, bankruptcy, welfare, etc.) in with them.
___Another interesting aspect of Bennett's public failure has been the response of high-profile Americans. Several conservative Christians have decried Bennett's gambling weakness but have been rather gentle with the man. That contrasts sharply with their treatment of Bill Clinton after his sexual affair, in which they hated both the sin and the sinner. Conversely, some of the same people who sought slack for Clinton have behaved quite smugly regarding Bennett, glad for the opportunity to bash a conservative stalwart.
___Both men have worn their Christianity publicly, and both have hurt the cause of Christ. As fellow Christians, we understand that God's grace can redeem a multitude of sins. But the public usually only sees sin's stain and remembers it for decades.
___So, we need to learn from Bill Bennett. If we are going to speak about our faith so that others hear what we profess--and we should, for Christ commanded it--we better live our faith so they see its transforming power. Of course, no one is perfect, but faithful, redeemed lives can shine as beacons for Christ.
___That's why I admire former President Jimmy Carter so much. He's a Sunday School teacher and public Christian. And he lives out in Plains, Ga., or Atlanta or Africa the same faith he professes on Sunday mornings at Maranatha Baptist Church.
___Fortunately, the spotlight of public awareness doesn't shine on most of us the way it illuminates Bennett, Clinton or Carter. But we never can forget that others are watching us, and as the old preacher said, "Your life may be the only Bible some people ever read."
___We should talk the talk. We must walk the walk.
--Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
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News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
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