Is playing the lottery a sin?

[bapmom]

Originally posted by Johnv:
Let's be honest. If the ticket has been a winner, would the giver have asked for it back? Also, we tend to get stuck on the "millions" issue. Most lottery winners win $1 to $10, and there are thousands of those in every drawing. I think we get stuck on the "millions" issue out of our own greed. What saith that about us?

I was going to ask that myself, but you beat me to it!

And it just goes to show what I know about the lottery. I didn't realize that there were any other winners besides the thousands or millions.

Either way, I just dont play and then I dont have to worry about it.


I have heard some who have less of an objection to the even money games for precisely the reason you gave.....theres a fair chance to win, but if you don't theres also a fair chance to break even.

 

[Johnv]

I don't play either. But if someone gives me one in a birthday card of the like, I'd accepted with thanks. 'Tis the thought that counts, ya know.

 

[KenH]

Done in moderation, I see no problem with participating in a lottery.

 

[Artimaeus]

It is blockheaded, dense, doltish, dumb, hebetudinous, obtuse, stupid, thickheaded, thick-witted, dimwitted, and dopey. Does this help or does it hurt in our efforts to be a wise Christian? It certainly doesn't edify.

1 Cor 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

 

[Bro. James Reed]

It is blockheaded, dense, doltish, dumb, hebetudinous, obtuse, stupid, thickheaded, thick-witted, dimwitted, and dopey.

Tell that to the folks who have won the jackpots.

My dad won several thousand dollars last year playing the lotto.

You can't win if you don't play.

My chance to win is as good as anyone, and better than yours.

I don't play often, but I don't see anything wrong with it.

Whether I want to spend a few dollars on a lottery ticket or on a candy bar, isn't that my business? Would you call getting the candy bar a sin? I guarantee you the candy bar does more damage to you than the lottery ticket.

If I ever win, don't come asking me for money. I'd hate to taint you by giving you some of that ill-gotten wealth.

 

[Glory-to-God]

1 Cor 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Great verses

 

[billreber]

imho, ANYTHING that we humans do COULD be a sin (even our attempts to worship God Himself). For me, it would be a sin to buy a lottery ticket. However, if I am given a lottery ticket, playing it is not a sin, since I did not buy it.

The same logic applies to ANYTHING that God has spoken to me about not doing.

Bill

 

[cojosh]

Should people who play the lottery be able to use their money spent as a tax right-off?

 

[Bro. Curtis]

No.

 

[hisglory]

Yes,Artimaeus&Glory-to-God I too think the same way
so do many,many of my friends.In fact I do not know any of the christians in Eastern Ky. that go fot it. I think Gambling is wrong.

 

[blackbird]

Originally posted by Debby in Philly:
I really don't like receiving a lottery ticket as a gift, which I get from time to time from well-meaning co-workers. My reason is, since it is more likely to not be a winner, the person has really given me nothing. And since it was not my choice, I've been cheated out of a gift.

Sister Debby--Debby---Debby!!! If you just go ahead and send Blackbird those tickets you get that you don't want---he promises that if he wins--he'll be "out of your life" faster than a speeding bullet--it'll be like this:

"Where'd Blackbird go??"

"Has anyone seen Blackbird??"

 

[richard n koustas]

 

[Gib]

Blackbird, I bought you a Padre a ticket. If you win I'll be sure to fax you the check.

 

[blackbird]

Gib---you are such a friend---but there's a question----how will Blackbird know he's won???

 

[Gib]

When I show up in my 2006 Hummer with spinners.

 

[shannonL]

Bro. Curtis,

Many times I have agreed with alot of your posts but I'll have to part with you on this one. Just because the lottery helps to fund new schools etc.. Doesn't make it a right practice. Your using situational ethics to justify the lotto in your state which is not proper. Furthermore, there has been documentation from other states to prove that revenue taken from lotteries has often times not reached its proper destination. Which isnt' a shocker considering state or federal officals have their hands in it.
Also, I believe it is a sin to gamble. It is being a poor steward of the money God provided you with. Your using God's provision to play a game of chance. As christians we should be examples to those "outside" who dont know any better. I've stood in line countless times at convienent stores and watchted what we would call the less fortunate, the poor etc... spend way to much money on lotto tickets. I watched a 21 year old girl in a bad part of town buy several tickets one day. I was curious as to why she bought so many tickets. You know the 5 dollar kind? Well she bought about 20 dollars worth of those and she scratched them off and she hit on two or three. It was enough to win herself about 60 bucks. This girl looked rough enough to have maybe have been a prostitute. She told me she didnt have a job but she did have a drinking problem. She bought a case of budweiser with her winnings along with some rolling papers and cigerettes. The clerk said she was a regular player.
So it is so wonderful to see that we are building new schools and funding education with the money of the desperate and the poor. That my friends is just disgusting. You see some people are so desperate so lost and looking for hope that they will do anything. Such as wasting half their paycheck on a lotto ticket that might make their world a brand new place. It is a false hope.
Lotteries exploit the poor and desperate of our society. Lotteries give compulsive gamblers another avenue to feed their addiction.
So if you want to play the lotto every once and a while and win ten bucks here or there go ahead. That ten dollars could have been some young mother's money that she spent on the lotto instead of baby food. Just remember the devil is crafty. Today its a lotto ticket next year it is blackjack tables in Las Vegas.
IMHO, the lotto is gambling. So in America we have legalized abortion, legalized gambling in more and more states, gay marriage is moving ahead,divorce is rampant. This country is becoming a sespool of sin and the lotto is just one more thing that has been added to the pool.
Gambling is "cool" man. ESPN has the World Series of Poker as a regular show. You can buy Texas Hold em poker tables etc.. about anywhere.
It is just amazing to me what is acceptable these days even from those of us who are christians. 50 years ago in this country debating whether or not the lotto is a good practice for christians would be a cut and dried deal with the answer being NO.
Each man or woman can do as they wish they have the "liberty" to do so. I know as for me I'am in no way going to contribute to a process that takes money from those who have not the capability to control themselves when playing the lotto. I'am only assisting in that person's demise even if it is in a indirect way. I don't think God would be pleased with that. IMHO.

 

[Alcott]

If playing the [state] lottery is a sin because it is a tax on the "foolish" or those "poor at mathematics," then is there no sin involved in canceling the lottery and taxing those same numerically foolish people anyway with a tax tht has zero chance, instead of a very small one, of bringing in a pile of money?

Also, since scripture does tell Christians to pay their taxes (Romans 13), and a state-run lottery is, in fact, a tax revenue to operate certain state functions, should be buy lottery tickets and, if we are convicted gambling is a sin, to throw them away without checking if they're winners?

 

[shannonL]

If the lotto is a form of tax revenue I just want to know if those who spend hundreds of dollars on lotto tickets are getting their fair share of representation? Which they are not btw.
If I have to contribute to the lotto so my kids or little Johnny down the street can get a better education well it is just not gonna happen. What kind of example are we leaving for the kids who will one day find out that their education was funded by legalized gambling? I know everyone will not agree but IMHO the ole cliche fits here:
"It is never right to do wrong to do right"

 

[Dr. Gerald Click]

RE:"Legal" gambling. Just because someone in the state government wishes to allow people to gamble, (which is what the lottery really is)Does not mean that we as Christians should partake of it. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Artimaeus]

Originally posted by Bro. James Reed:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> It is blockheaded, dense, doltish, dumb, hebetudinous, obtuse, stupid, thickheaded, thick-witted, dimwitted, and dopey.

Tell that to the folks who have won the jackpots.</font>[/QUOTE]Being the lucky winner does not raise the wisdom of the player.

My dad won several thousand dollars last year playing the lotto.

That just means that several thousand others lost

You can't win if you don't play.

You can't lose if you don't play. Now, who is right the vast, vast, vast, majority of the time?

My chance to win is as good as anyone, and better than yours.

My chance to not lose is quaranteed, which is way better than yours.

Whether I want to spend a few dollars on a lottery ticket or on a candy bar, isn't that my business?

Absolutely, if you and I were having a face to face conversation and you mentioned that you had bought a lottery ticket, I would just keep my mouth shut for that very reason. If we all kept our mouth shut about things that are none of our business, you could hear an echo on this bulletin board.

If I ever win, don't come asking me for money. I'd hate to taint you by giving you some of that ill-gotten wealth.

Oh, don't worry about me, I'm going to be rich by winning the Publisher's Clearing House.

I may already be a winner.