Card Playing: What’s the Real Deal?

Most evangelical denominations either discourage card playing or prohibit it altogether because of its close association with gambling. Because of this affinity, Believers should “abstain from the appearance of evil” (I Th. 5:22). Christians are mandated to disassociate themselves from evil and not to touch unclean things (II Cor. l 6:17). Gambling leads to poverty and at the very least exhibits poor stewardship.

Playing cards originated in China after 600 AD. Throughout their history, cards were designed and developed by Satan worshippers, occultists, and astrologers. The Tarot Cards are the ancestors of the modern deck of cards. Tarot originated in Egypt among those who practiced astrology and occult magic. Card playing clearly has its roots imbedded in witchcraft. The deck of cards has often be referred to as “The Devil’s Bible.”

The game of cards was created in 1392 AD for the insane King Charles of France. He hated God and the Bible. The message imbedded in the cards was deliberately intended to be the opposite of the message of the Bible. The KING represented Satan. The QUEEN represented Mary, the Virgin mother of Jesus, but was deemed “The Mother of Harlots” (Rev. 17:5) in the language of cards. The JACK was a pimp and a very immoral man. The illegitimate son of Mary and Jack was the JOKER who blasphemously represents Jesus Christ. The 10 was a mockery of the 10 Commandments and was intended to lampoon the laws of God. The ACE is symbolic of the “alpha and omega” – the beginning and the end.

Each of the four suits held a malevolent significance. The CLUB was the weapon of choice for murder and violence in the 1300’s, for firearms were in a primitive stage of development. The SPADE represented the shovel used in grave digging. The DIAMOND was symbolic of riches and the lust for money. The HEART mockingly represents the heart of Jesus broken for sin.

Each suit also held demonic significance, for they correspond to the four seasons. Each suit has 13 cards and represents the 13 lunar months. Adding up these months totals the 52 weeks in a year. Each of the 52 cards has a hidden mystical or astrological significance. If you count all the dots in a deck – assigning 11 to the Jack, 12 to the queen, and 13 to the king – you will arrive at 364: the number of days in a lunar year.

Cards have been used since medieval times to cast spells, curses, perform magic tricks, and fortune telling by witches and warlocks. Seventy percent of all magic tricks today are performed with cards.

Their demonic origin explains why cards are so often found in places of ill-repute. Poker was the game of choice in the dance halls and saloons of the Old West, where it was associated with violence, cheating, drinking, prostitution, and murder. About ninety percent of all gaming addictions involve card playing in some form. Almost all gamblers learned to play cards at home. A large percentage of slot machines are set up for various cards to appear in order to win. Most card playing is driven by the lust to win free money.

With this history in mind, who else but Satan could have inspired the seemingly innocent card game? While playing cards, players naturally concentrate on the hand they are holding. When doing so, given what the cards truly represent, every player opens his or her soul to demonic influences. Satan is not our King, and the Savior is not a Joker.

Since a deck contains 52 cards, Christians who play cards every week might consider praying for that same amount of time 52 weeks a year. If you think this indictment against card-playing is harsh, ask yourself a couple of questions. Have you ever seen a deck of cards at a prayer meeting? Can you imagine anyone sincerely praying to God before they deal?

Maxim of the Moment

The bonds of matrimony don’t profit you unless the interest is kept up.