Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

I was at an Apostolic church a while back that was having a raffle as a small fund raiser. The pastor was promoting the raffle as a form of outreach. (The individual who won the raffle drove over an hour to come back and pick up the prize). Having been taught most of my life that we don't participate in games of chance of any kind, I looked to the scriptures and, of course, found no scripture that said "thou shalt not gamble". I've read various opinions on the matter....pro & con. If anyone is interested in sharing their viewpoint on the subject, please provide scripture references to support it.

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

There's is no scripture for it, so it boils down to personal conviction.

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

Neutral.

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

Depends on whether I won or lost! :foottap

Dead Horse Raffle

Young Chuck moved to Montana and bought a horse from a farmer for $100.00. The farmer agreed to deliver the horse the next day. The next Day he drove up and said, "Sorry, Son, but I have some bad news, The horse died."
Chuck replied, "Well, then just give me my money back."
The farmer said, "Can't do that. I went and spent it already."
Chuck said, "Ok, then, just bring me the dead horse."
The farmer asked, "What ya gonna do with him?"
Chuck said, "I'm going to raffle him off."
The farmer said, "You can't raffle off a dead horse!"
Chuck said, "Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead."
A month later, the farmer met up with Chuck and asked, "What happened With that dead horse?"
Chuck said, "I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars a Piece and made a net profit of $898.00."
The farmer said, "Didn't anyone complain?"
Chuck said, "Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back."
Chuck grew up and now works for the government. :happydance

Been Thinkin

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

From what I understand the teaching gambling has to do with being good stewards over your finances

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

That's right. You just gotta know when da hold'm, and know when da fold'm...

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

I don't do raffles unless I just want to donate and don't care about the prize.

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

I always found it interesting that many Christians treat gambling in any form as if it is an outright sin listed in the Bible when in fact there is no direct Biblical prohibtion against it.

Not to mention that "casting lots" (drawing the short stick) was used as a method of selection in a pretty important biblical account. Something that the AMF does today I believe in selecting their GS or chairman or whatever they call their leader from among a few nominees.

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

My Blackjack and Craps system will make anyone rich!

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Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

Lucky number 7........Don't fail me now! The Lord's blessed number!

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

We often do them as fundraisers...right now our church is doing one to help a sister that is battling cancer.

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

LOL...one smart guy

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

We were always taught from the viewpoint that it might be ok for some, but if you are trying to win someone to the Lord that has a gambling addiction, it could be a stumbling block to them...you can't win the world by giving them more of what they already have. I've known some people that on payday, would cash their checks and spend it all in the slots at the local pubs.

So if raffles are ok, then it must be ok to play the lotteries, or go to Vegas. Where do you draw the line?

While I was researching, I found a news article dated 4/30/2010 about church raffles being illegal in South Carolina. Here's the link to the article:

http://www.thestate.com/2010/04/30/1...ainst-the.html

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

Someone gots issues if a raffle ticket sends them over the edge. That's like saying no nyquil because alcohol in it will lead to the bar.

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

Not sure on that one...

From what I've researched, when you are dependent on alcohol, your body craves it. The person may rely on an alcoholic drink as a nightcap, and not be able to sleep without it. Nyquil does help people sleep.

Any recovered alcoholics out there that could shed any insight on the topic?

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

well...if someone has problems with it by all means don't do it. We often do raffles for the sick or to help people in need. I personally see where a person might get involved to much and go overboard but that is so in just about every thing in life...balance is the key word. Reminds me of a preacher that ripped and snorted about the evils of television in a big conference and for the most part what he said was true...the figures he gave, the shows he talked about...but low and behold when he took us home with him the first thing he done was turn on his huge computer and watch youtube...lol...he didn't even hardly talk to us he was so absorved in youtube...
Many things boil down to the human heart....it is not always those that know how to rip and snort at campmeetings but it is really our everyday life...who we really are.
One campmeeting preacher told me...these are his exacts words...I don't need to pray for a sermon when I preach I just get them shouting...that verses my son who is really a shouter but often when I am around him I hear him praying for hours...
In anything we do in our life living for God we must do it with a sincere heart...a prayerful attitude
If nyquil makes you want to head to the bar then by all means don't take it....however I would not be tempted to go to any bar because of a dose of nyquil...however I do understand it is possible to have that effect on some people and by all means don't take wine for communion if alcohol has such a holt on you...

We are all different...what may hinder one does not even fase the other one...however most of us KNOW what our weakness really is....that is what we need to deal with...

Re: Church Raffles - Pro or Con?
 

[QUOTE=Sister Alvear;1088533]Many things boil down to the human heart....it is not always those that know how to rip and snort at campmeetings but it is really our everyday life...who we really are.
One campmeeting preacher told me...these are his exacts words...I don't need to pray for a sermon when I preach I just get them shouting/QUOTE]

Have to agree with you on it being about how we live our life day to day....
the shouting on sunday gets you through until maybe monday morning. I really believe it's the Word that gets you through the really rough times. It's concerning that a preacher would think he didn't need to pray for a sermon...sad to say, I've known a few who get the congregation all hyped every service. Not a lot of preaching and teaching going on there.