Is this a sin?

[good samaritan]

As far as receiving tithes from a lotto winner:

I probably would not question any donations made to the church. I would go by the teaching of Paul concerning meats sacrificed to idols.

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake

I don't screen church members where they make their money. I would certainly have to give it some thought before receiving an offering that was made questionably if it was public information. No doubt if the people who won this billion dollar lotto where church goers and tithed their income then the church will be on record publicly for receiving these gains. If you teach not to play the lotto then it would be inconsistent and hypocritical to knowingly receive offerings from those sources into the church treasury.

Although, the lotto may be up for debate, hypocrisy is certainly a sin. It is important to live consistently with the things that we teach. Our witness should be full of integrity and should not be bought at any price.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

So, I should preach against something because some people have problems controlling themselves? Yes the Spirit does lead and guide, but it would be nice for someone to point out the verses that say that a lottery is against God.

You are correct, there is not. I probably would never call out the lotto while preaching unless I was certain it was God. I try to teach principles in scriptures which people can take and with the leading of the Holy Ghost make personal decisions. Although, I do openly express my feelings against gambling, I am still clear about the lack of scriptural support to just call it a sin.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

So, I should preach against something because some people have problems controlling themselves? Yes the Spirit does lead and guide, but it would be nice for someone to point out the verses that say that a lottery is against God.

The Third Commandment:

Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

To take the name of YHVH primarily refers to the taking of oaths, swearing, prayer, blessing, and other actions whereupon the name of the One True God is called upon. To take the name in vain would mean to do so profanely, meaning without any sanctified purpose, for empty and foolish or frivolous reasons. An example would be making an oath in the name of the LORD with no fear of God and with no intention of honouring the oath. Another example would be to pray to God with a profane attitude, to mock, make light of, or otherwise treat as common the One to whom fear and reverence is justly due.

Now what does that have to do with lotteries? Glad you asked.

Pro_16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

A lot was a method of generating what today would be called 'a random result'. Placing coloured pebbles into a bag, and drawing them out without looking in the bag, for example. Or taking a set of straws of even length, plus one of unequal length, whether longer or shorter, mixing them up so one cannot tell which is which, and then drawing them out. The idea is to create a situation where human intervention cannot determine the outcome. Shuffling cards, tossing a coin, rolling dice, etc are all variations of the lot. The idea is that a decision is rendered based on something outside direct human control.

The text says 'the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.' This of course is perfectly clear, if one thinks about it. There is no such thing as true 'randomness' in the universe, for God upholds all things by his power. There is no such thing as 'luck' or 'fortune' or 'chance', in the sense of a truly random event. Every effect or event has a cause. Furthermore, God's Providence rules out the idea of genuine 'chance' or 'luck'. To assert otherwise would be to affirm atheism. Not a bird falls to the ground 'without your Father', meaning even insignificant events that appear to be random are in fact under the control of Divine Providence.

The casting of a lot is a form of prayer. It is an appeal to God to render a decision. The decision so rendered was understood to be God's disposing of the lot, and therefore represented God's decision. It was beyond appeal. No 'best two out of three' allowed. Prayer (specifically petition) likewise is an appeal to God to intervene in the affairs of men. Praying profanely without reverence to God, without the fear of God, without faith in God's hearing and answering prayer, without any thought of God, without any genuine intent to come before the throne, is essentially a violation of the Third Commandment, it is a taking of the LORD's name in vain.

Since the casting of a lot, of whatever kind, is an appeal to God, and thus a species of prayer, specifically petition, then it follows that the casting of a lot for a profane purpose (entertainment, lust for riches, or other worldly foolishnesses) likewise constitutes a violation of the Third Commandment, a taking of the LORD's name in vain. The state run lotteries are lots (hence the name, lot-tery). A random number is generated. People choose their numbers (they choose their lots) and the lot is cast (the wheel is spun, the numbered balls whir around and pop out, etc). Who holds the winning lot gets the prize.

If that is not a profanation of 'casting lots' nothing could be. And if lots are an appeal to God, they are a form of petitionary prayer. And if that be true, they fall under the Third Commandment. So then if one casts lots profanely, for a profane purpose, then one violates the Third Commandment and sins.

And, the LORD will not hold him guiltless who does such.

[good samaritan]

Interesting point, but is there in scripture anywhere God endorses this method of seeking his direction? I have never felt this as a valid method for seeking God. I have even doubted the validity of the apostleship of Matthias because of lots being the determining factor of his calling to the apostles.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

Interesting point, but is there in scripture anywhere God endorses this method of seeking his direction? I have never felt this as a valid method for seeking God. I have even doubted the validity of the apostleship of Matthias because of lots being the determining factor of his calling to the apostles.

There is nothing that invalidates the casting of a lot as an appeal to God to render a decision and make his will known.

It is generally believed by practically everyone that the 'urim and thummin' of the priesthood was a lot of some kind whereby they could 'enquire of the Lord'. The text in Proverbs explicitly states the 'whole disposing thereof is of the LORD' meaning God Himself determines the outcome of the casting of a lot. Since God determines the outcome, then the casting of a lot constitutes an appeal to God to render a decision.

The apostles cast lots to choose a replacement for Judas. All eleven apostles were in on it. The entire church was supportive of it (otherwise they would have balked). This was after the ascension of Christ. At no time did anyone give any indication that they understood Christ to be teaching against the use of lots as a reverential appeal to God. If he had, surely they would not have cast lots. Or at least, surely Luke would have indicated such was a bad thing.

Luke explicitly speaks of 'the twelve' in Acts 6:2, indicating that Matthias at that time was counted among the eleven, and was counted as the replacement of Judas.

Neither Luke nor Paul nor anyone else anywhere at any time suggests that Paul was the 'twelfth' apostle. Paul himself rejects such a notion, for in 1 Corinthians 15:5 he explicitly states that the resurrected Christ was 'seen of the twelve'.

'The twelve' is a reference to the 'twelve apostles'. Judas fell from his position. The Psalm prophesied that 'another' would 'take his place'. That 'other' was Matthias, chosen in Acts 1 and recognised by everyone in the early church, including Paul.

[Esaias]

On the Divine sanction of lots:

Act 13:17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
Act 13:18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
Act 13:19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

God himself is the subject in this passage, the one who chose the fathers, brought them out of Egypt, suffered their manners forty years in the wilderness, destroyed seven nations in Canaan, and 'divided their land to them by lot.' God specifically used the lot to divide the land among the twelve tribes.

Lev_16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

The Lord specifically ordained the casting of the lots to determine the destinies of the two goats on the Day of Atonement. God himself sanctioned and commanded the use of the lot.

1Ch 24:3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.
1Ch 24:4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.
1Ch 24:5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.

David appointed Levites and priests by lot for duties in the house of God.

Pro_18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

The lot is a final answer, with no appeal.

Isa 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
Isa 34:17 And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.

God himself is said to cast a lot to demonstrate the certainty of his determination.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Esaias

There is nothing that invalidates the casting of a lot as an appeal to God to render a decision and make his will known.

It is generally believed by practically everyone that the 'urim and thummin' of the priesthood was a lot of some kind whereby they could 'enquire of the Lord'. The text in Proverbs explicitly states the 'whole disposing thereof is of the LORD' meaning God Himself determines the outcome of the casting of a lot. Since God determines the outcome, then the casting of a lot constitutes an appeal to God to render a decision.

The apostles cast lots to choose a replacement for Judas. All eleven apostles were in on it. The entire church was supportive of it (otherwise they would have balked). This was after the ascension of Christ. At no time did anyone give any indication that they understood Christ to be teaching against the use of lots as a reverential appeal to God. If he had, surely they would not have cast lots. Or at least, surely Luke would have indicated such was a bad thing.

Luke explicitly speaks of 'the twelve' in Acts 6:2, indicating that Matthias at that time was counted among the eleven, and was counted as the replacement of Judas.

Neither Luke nor Paul nor anyone else anywhere at any time suggests that Paul was the 'twelfth' apostle. Paul himself rejects such a notion, for in 1 Corinthians 15:5 he explicitly states that the resurrected Christ was 'seen of the twelve'.

'The twelve' is a reference to the 'twelve apostles'. Judas fell from his position. The Psalm prophesied that 'another' would 'take his place'. That 'other' was Matthias, chosen in Acts 1 and recognised by everyone in the early church, including Paul.

I want to clarify, while Matthias was not counted as one of the twelve AT THE TIME he saw the resurrected Christ, nevertheless he did in fact see the resurrected Lord. And, he being later admitted into the number of 'the twelve', Paul could accurately say the Lord was seen 'of the twelve', even if one of those twelve was not counted as one of the twelve at the time He was seen.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

I hear people ask often whether or not I think something is a sin or not. I think that thinking process can be counterproductive. The lottery comes to my mind. I have no scripture that comes to my mind that I could win a debate over playing the lottery. I could appeal to someone's common sense though.

I have read statistic that the average American household spends an annual amount of $500.00 a year. If a person invested that amount in a savings fund of some kind there would be a principle amount of about 10,000 dollars not to mention the much added interests that it could have gained over 20 yrs. The lottery system is set up on losers. There are corporate guys who have hit a goldmine on hope of winning by poverty level Americans. America needs to wise up.

So many times people look to see if it is right or wrong in terms of whether we will go to hell or not. We should look at things as to whether they edify or build up or not. I believe Jesus died to deliver us from the ball and chain of legalistics and to lead us into a life of productivity for the kingdom of God. I am not saying that we should not condemn certain behavior or decisions, but more importantly we should lead people to a change of perception to right and wrong.

Playing the lotto might not be a sin... but it is foolish.

[Disciple4life]

In-jesting caffeine, sugar and soda in massive dosses a day is foolish to but I don't see anybody raises Cain about that. Not saying the lotto is bad or not. Me personally I think drugging yourself and every man woman and child with legal heroine is worse!

[Disciple4life]

I just don't get why people so mad about what I do with one dollar. If I want to buy a lotto ticket what business is it of anybody else? MYOB mind your own business!