Churches and Lottery Winnings: A Losing Proposition

idahosugarbear »

Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:37 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

I will agree that playing the lottery isn't a super-spiritual thing to do, nor do I believe that it a horrible sin (unless you neglect, bills, feeding the kids, etc). How many of these people that decry the spending of $1 on a lottery ticket would go to their child's school fair and spend that same dollar on a cake walk or some other raffle. Same dollar different prize.

Quecat »

Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:59 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

"How do you know that everyone who gambles is motivated by worldly or fleshy greed".

Get real! I suppose your imagination can conjure some honestly altruisitic reason for playing the lottery?

Shall we consider the biblical admonition that we are to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to our care?

I would like to see a valid argument for how throwing away money on gambling is being a "good steward".

And please don't bore me with some song and dance about "I have $100 to give to a charitable cause, but if I go to the dog track and win I could increase my funds fivefold and be able to give $500 to charity - so this is a good thing!" Uh huh, and I have some beachfront property in Arizona to offer for sale, cheap.

Mat 6:21 "...Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

bcoontz »

Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:19 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

I'm not sure that I agree with the premise of this article. I have never found any specific admonitions against gambling in the Bible. While I respect the men mentioned in the article, their Biblical injuctions are extrapolations of verses that are not contextual to gambling. Greed is the love of money that will drive a person to dishonest measures to attain it. I'm not sure that this qualifies as the odds are the same for everyone and the rules are agreed upon by all who participate. In terms of advancing the kingdom on the backs of the poor, does this mean that the church should refuse the tithes of the poor? We are to give a tithe of all of our increase. God doesn't need chance to advance His Kingdom. Proverbs 16:35 states "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." In other words, there is no such thing as chance. Coveteousness is the harmful desire for things and people that belong to your neighbor, but if he or she volunteers it, it is a gift. I feel bad for the church that lost so much of their membership, but you really can't make a causal connection. Who knows what was going on there in the years leading up to the tithe? I am open minded to change my mind on this topic, but the arguments above are neither Biblical or persuasive.

mike »

Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:01 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

is that so mr. creech? gambling is a form of coveteousness? what about pastors / televangelist who buy multi million dollar homes, luxury cars & private jets. isn't that covetousness? is that living a high & holy standard? that is hypocrisy. I don't see them deciding to be poor, but want the whole package for themselves.