Christians & The Lottery

[Michael74]

You have to be smart and know how to manage that money.

Maybe the simple way would be to put it in an inexpensive balanced index fund. Spend the dividends, and leave the principal alone. Research shows that most people are able to stay in the balanced index fund, but tend to sell all stock funds at the wrong time.

Professional investors can do better, but lottery winners are not likely to be pros. Keep it simple.

 

[iLOVE]

There is freedom in Christ. There are those who do not think their faith allows them to do certain things that the strong feel free to do. And by no means does this make them lesser Christians.

I do not gamble nor do I play the lottery. I believe God is not in the luck business.

Believers must fully accept other believers with whom they disagree without trying to change them! This demands freedom of conscience as the basis of fellowship, not an imposed uniformity. Believers are all in process. They must give the Spirit time to work and mold each into maturity, but even in maturity, they will not all agree.

 

[Pizza]

And acquiring wealth without earning it can lead to greed..

Greed? What is greed?

: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed

How much is "more .... than is needed"?

 

[th1b.taylor]

Greed? What is greed?

: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed

How much is "more .... than is needed"?

Who's greedy? Do I know him, her, it?

 

[Kathi]

I think it takes a huge step of humility to stay in the right place where God wants you if you were to win that much money.

 

[Lewis]

I see gambling as a high-risk investment which, other than the risk involved, is no different from any other investment. If I buy a lottery ticket, and that ticket wins, then I make money. If it doesn't win, I lose money. If I play poker and I win, then I make money. If I lose, then I lose money. If I buy a share in a company, and that company does well, then I win. If the company does badly or even goes bankrupt, then I lose money. In both cases, I have no control over the outcome. Why are two of those considered sins, but the third isn't? They seem pretty much the same to me.

I am still stuck on what TOG said in the quote above. He makes a very good point, so will somebody give their take on it ?

 

[Obadiah]

I am still stuck on what TOG said in the quote above. He makes a very good point, so will somebody give their take on it ?

There are some differences in the three things he mentioned, but none are sins lacking any scripture (relevant and in context) saying any of them are sinful. The concept that an activity can lead to a sin (like greed) for the weak does not make the original activity in itself sinful. Unwise in certain situations perhaps, but not sinful.

 

[Lewis]

Well what I am getting at is, Christians are quick to tell you don't play the lottery or don't play the slots. Reason' because that is not the way that we are supposed to get our blessings. Now if a Christian gambles on the stock market and loses nothing is said about that, even though the investment was a gamble.

 

[Obadiah]

Well what I am getting at is, Christians are quick to tell you don't play the lottery or don't play the slots. Reason' because that is not the way that we are supposed to get our blessings. Now if a Christian gambles on the stock market and loses nothing is said about that, even though the investment was a gamble.

Exactly. And just where in scripture are we told that God said the lottery (or slots, or whatever) is a way we are not supposed to get blessings? I've never read that anywhere in scripture unless it was someone using some verse taken out of it's proper context and massaged to say something it's not supposed to say.

 

[Obadiah]

Oh, and what I mentioned before about those three having some differences is that in slot machines (for example) it is completely chance, a pure gamble. In the stock or commodity markets there are ways to predict what will happen if one takes the time to learn those ways and doesn't let their emotions or sentiments take over. So stocks and commodities aren't the pure gamble (when traded by knowledgeable and disciplined people) that a slot machine is. But I still see no scripture condemning any of them.

 

[Lewis]

Oh, and what I mentioned before about those three having some differences is that in slot machines (for example) it is completely chance, a pure gamble. In the stock or commodity markets there are ways to predict what will happen if one takes the time to learn those ways and doesn't let their emotions or sentiments take over. So stocks and commodities aren't the pure gamble (when traded by knowledgeable and disciplined people) that a slot machine is. But I still see no scripture condemning any of them.

Good enough

 

[Kathi]

Oh, and what I mentioned before about those three having some differences is that in slot machines (for example) it is completely chance, a pure gamble. In the stock or commodity markets there are ways to predict what will happen if one takes the time to learn those ways and doesn't let their emotions or sentiments take over. So stocks and commodities aren't the pure gamble (when traded by knowledgeable and disciplined people) that a slot machine is. But I still see no scripture condemning any of them.

Years ago I went to Lake Tahoe with my then husband.I would play the slot machines.I would have a whole cup of quarters and I was thinking I would stop and run away with the quarters.I was always thinking Hmmm maybe if I just play a couple more times I will hit it big.Well the cup of quarters was gone and I definitely did not hit it big.

 

[Lewis]

I have won at the slots about 25 years ago in Atlantic City, I won to times nothing real big about 100 bucks or so.

 

[Kathi]

I used to love the sound of that money clinking down.Of course they will bring you all the free drinks you want while you are playing.I am sure the Casinos have a reason for that.

 

[Lewis]

Kathi a lot of slots now print out a voucher and you go to a machine in there, put it in and it gives you your money.

 

[Obadiah]

A lot of slots now print out a voucher and you go to a machine in there, put it in and it gives you your money.

I'm surprised they've gone to that. The sound of coins dropping into the pans was a big part of the psychological game they played with the customers to keep them putting in "just a few more" coins. That's the whole reason the pans were bare metal instead of something padded. Maybe now they just make the free drinks a little stronger instead?

 

[Lewis]

I'm surprised they've gone to that. The sound of coins dropping into the pans was a big part of the psychological game they played with the customers to keep them putting in "just a few more" coins. That's the whole reason the pans were bare metal instead of something padded. Maybe now they just make the free drinks a little stronger instead?

When the slot machine is counting what you have won it makes the coin dropping sound. Also each machine you use you put your own personal card in that way they know everything

 

[Kathi]

Kathi a lot of slots now print out a voucher and you go to a machine in there, put it in and it gives you your money.

I would not have a clue.I have not played for years and years.

 

[Obadiah]

When the slot machine is counting what you have won it makes the coin dropping sound. Also each machine you use you put your own personal card in that way they know everything

LOL. It makes some kind of electronic coun dropping sound??? That's just... wrong somehow! Even though I have a friend that lives in Vegas that I visit, I guess that shows how often I gamble, eh? Last time I played a shot machine it still had real coins that dropped into a real metal bowl and made a real sound. That was half the fun of getting a payout!

 

[Karl]

Man I'm surprised no one has thrown this out,

The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. Pro 16:33

The dice are thrown, but the LORD determines every outcome. Pro 16:33 GW

So if that be true, then to have a winning lotto ticket one would have to hear from God to buy it in faith.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17

and add to that,

...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Rom 14:23