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Should Christians buy lottery tickets?

Friendly Face Posts: 256 **1/16/16 9:15 am**

With all of this power ball talk I wonder if the belief that buying lottery tickets is wrong has changed. I know of a pastor who preached long and hard for may years that it was wrong. Once he retired he started buying lottery tickets. I was shocked.

It is still wrong or does it matter anymore?

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **1/16/16 9:26 am**

COGLayman, the ole timer has never bought a lottery ticket or scratch-off ticket, and I never will. Will it send a feller to hell? THe judge of all the earth will decide that. I have simply chosen not to participate.

COGlayman

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **1/16/16 9:28 am**

With great respect, my brother, why would you conclude that it is wrong to buy a lottery ticket?

I certainly grew up with that understanding. Then, during the Christmas season a number of years ago, my boss gave everyone in his department a lottery ticket. I have to tell you that it was a DELIGHT! Now, I don't think I expected to win, but it sure gave me a few days of enjoyment while thinking about just what I might do with the winnings if I did win.

I think we all agree that unwisely spending our money--whether on lottery tickets or those high heels that OTCP claims are for his wife (SMILE)--is poor stewardship. But how many of us go out to eat at restaurants that are just a little above our pay grade (so to speak) to buy a meal that satisfies us no more than a more modest one? Is that poor stewardship, or is such celebration allowed. (I finally figured out that Ruth's Chris was not markedly better than Outback or other good steakhouses, yet you pay 2 or 3 times more for the food--why would I do that?).

And if a person can spend a dollar--that would otherwise be lost and forgotten on minor little things--to "buy" a day of fun and hope and dreams, why not?

Basically, that person is paying a small amount for a day or two of delight. If he/she loses, it's not really a big deal. But if he/she wins, it's HUGE!

Oh, we could spend that dollar on missions instead? We sure could. And no doubt we should. But I wonder how many Church of God members have decided to drink no more Coca-Cola--or other unnecessary purchases--so they could contribute all the proceeds to missions, the church, etc.?

That's right, none. So I just don't get the least bit upset if someone buys a lottery ticket. If they don't pay tithes, it's not because they want to buy lottery tickets. If they do pay tithes, well, then the rest is theirs to do with as they wish, I reckon.

If my spending was perfect, I might have something to say. But enough poor Snickers candy bars have been sent to heaven by my hand to make me think that if I'd spent all of that on lottery tickets, I might be quite wealthy by now (SMILE).

Love ya, my bro. At the same time, please know that I absolutely get where you're coming from. You do exactly as God leads you, my friend.

Re: COGlayman

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **1/16/16 9:42 am**

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3382 **1/16/16 11:54 am**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/16/16 12:04 pm**

When we do not have a specific chapter and verse in the Bible that expressly prohibits an action, we must then always go back to the fundamental moral law of God as revealed in Scripture and in our consciences: Love God supremely and one's neighbor as oneself. Obedience to this universal imperative requires that one consider what the highest good for all might be in any given situation. Gambling, being essentially parasitical, wasteful, and counterproductive, is in no way consistent with the highest good of all, but actually is quite contrary to it.

Quiet Wyatt...oh, c'mon!

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **1/16/16 12:21 pm**

Buying a Coke doesn't impact the community positively either. Obesity. Trash. Ants. Support of this or that by Coke.

Neither does a LOT of things we buy. Things that aren't necessary, but you want them anyway.

Let's see if buying a lottery ticket is as you indicate....

1) Proceeds go to support Florida education.
2) Knew someone that was employed by the Florida Lottery to work on the various machines. So there's jobs to be had.
3) The paper, machines, printing, etc.--someone has a job.

Now, if it were illegal or wrong or immoral, that's one thing. But it's not. Nothing any more wrong with this than going to see a movie, sitting around watching television, etc.

Very simply, personal conviction should guide us, because there's nothing in the Bible to hinder us doing it.

OTCP...anything taken to the extreme can be an issue.

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **1/16/16 12:25 pm**

If someone spends the rent money on lottery tickets, yeah, that's an issue.

But if someone simply repurposes money that would have otherwise been spent on healthy candy bars and dentist-friendly Coca-Colas, NOT A THING WRONG WITH IT.

What I'm trying to do here is prevent anyone from trying to act like the Bible somehow tells us to not do it. Why should we lay things on people that don't have any basis in scripture or reason?

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/16/16 1:00 pm**

Aaron,

Your answer doesn't surprise me. From your perspective, the end justifies the means. Prostitution and drug dealing would be justified by the same token, at least supplying employment to some.

Quiet Wyatt...really?

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **1/16/16 1:30 pm**

Really? You think that I THINK that so long as it brings you hope and happiness, it's OK to go to a prostitute, etc.? You think that buying lottery tickets is right up there with adultery and fornication?

Really? Well, if you think that poorly of me, I don't imagine there's much I could do to change your mind, so I won't try.

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/16/16 1:34 pm**

I'm just going by the reasoning/justifications you have presented in this thread. I sincerely hope you don't really believe the end justifies the means, or if you do, that you will change your thinking.

Re: OTCP...anything taken to the extreme can be an issue.

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **1/16/16 1:40 pm**

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3147 **1/16/16 1:51 pm**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **1/16/16 1:54 pm**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **1/16/16 1:55 pm**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **1/16/16 1:57 pm**

Golf Cart Mafia Capo Famiglia Posts: 4682 **1/16/16 2:04 pm**

I'm going to side with you on tis one Aaron.
I thing in the hopes of trying to make a point we try too hard to win the debate, hence the comparison to sexual sins or other vices.

Now a quick question hangs in the air: would any of us pastors turn a tithe away in the amount of hundreds of thousands of dollars?
Some will say, 'I won't take a dime of the devil's lottery money" but thats because it's not in the offering plate being counted by the church clerk.

If the church needs a roof, parking lot repairs, AC replacement, insurance premium due, tires on the bus & funding for teens & children's ministry, I think almost 100% of us pastors would say, 'put that huge check in the bank' - we can act like we wouldn't all day long when it's probably never going to happen, but thats because the check isn't being discussed by the pastor's council, clerk, Women's Ministry, music ministry & most of all ...pastor's wife.

We've had a few CoG's who benefitted by the tithe of big winners & I haven't heard of any rampant apostasy or sale on cheap sin taking place in those churches who cashed the tithe check. I personally know of one CoG that paid off the mortgage & then did major remodeling along with other things with that tithe from lotto winnings.

I know it makes us uncomfortable to think we are benefitting from a form of gambling but again, if your member hits a big win on a slot machine or plays in the poker challenge or some other casino event & then pays tithe are you going to investigate the source of that tithe & turn it away? Trust me, we can't answer that in this premise because it's hypothetical.
You want to say no & take a firm stand but wait until it's there & let's see what you say then.

Do you go on vacation? Do you bowl? Do you play video games at the arcade? When you play the arcade with $20 or more you're putting money into a machine for the purpose of scoring points or earning tickets & then collecting a prize ...isn't that similar? Notice it isn't compared to adultery or drug dealing or prostitution.

On the flip side it's probably not the healthiest way to spend disposable cash & people who witness this may stumble at the notion of the minister playing the lotto, so you're right, work out your own salvation but do so in the fear of the Lord.

.
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Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **1/16/16 2:11 pm**

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3382 **1/16/16 2:19 pm**

OTCP...

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **1/16/16 2:23 pm**

Games of Chance.

I have not followed this rule very closely. I can't tell you the number of times I have played Monopoly or other games that include dice. It didn't say "games of chance that cost money," did it? So, I assume we are both in the wrong here?

When I joined the Church of God, I felt, as I do then, that we have the finest doctrine of any denomination. But as I matured, I realized that some of our Practical Commitments were not exactly ordered by the New Testament, though it flowed from hearts that truly loved the Lord.

For instance, against the use of narcotics. I was all for that, amen! Until I got my first kidney stone. I had never had narcotics before, but when it took away the pain that was almost unbearable, I looked at it as something akin to manna from heaven (SMILE).

NO, I am NOT against the use of narcotics if it is helping to alleviate pain and suffering! I imagine you feel similarly.

So, back to games of chance. As I indicated before, just about anything, if taken to extremes, can become bondage and sinful. Yes, if someone is spending more than a penance on a lottery ticket, is doing damage to their family or wellbeing or going contrary to godly conviction, then they should not do it. Period.

But if someone is simply taking the dollar they would have spend on a Coke or candy bar and buying a ticket instead, I don't think that is wrong. There's nothing in scripture that would cause us to think that buying a lottery ticket under such circumstances would be wrong or sinful.

You might as well argue, as some used to, that playing golf or pool or cards was sinful.

Is it very smart? Almost always the answer is no if it's about winning. But when you realize that part of the money goes to education, it's not a complete loss, is it.

Is it a good idea? Maybe. Maybe not. But the question that seems to have surfaced is "Is it a sin?" NO, it is not.

In fact, for the untrained speculator, putting money in the stock market is not a whole lot different in terms of results.

There are plenty of good reason to NOT play the lottery. But don't dare let's act like the scriptures have anything to say. If they are silent about it, maybe we need to be too.