Lotto Tithe? A Spitiual Quandary???

[righteousdude2]

Fifteen years ago, a member of a local Baptist church won the California lotto and offered to give more than 8 million dollars to his home church.

The pastor turned it down, and the family decided to give it to another Baptist church, in the same city. Of course, they left the one Baptist church and started fellowshipping at the other. I don't know what has happened to the family, but I do know the church used the money for missions and building improvements.

The man (a friend of my mothers) said that he rarely bought lotto tickets, and it was merely a whim that led him to buy that one. He happened to have an extra dollar at the convenieince store and knew the lotto jackpot was over 100 million dollars. So he asked himself, "why not?"

The rest is history; and the question is this: Would you, if you are a pastor, accept such a gift? Or, if you are a member of a church that accepts such a donation or tithe, would you remain in that church (maybe you'd start wearing a trench coat - with the collar pulled up to hide the side of your face - and dark sunglasses on Sunday mornings)?

Scripture would be appreciated, but not necessary! :type:

 

[HAMel]

To buy..., or not to buy... That is the question.

I bought three lottery ticket's in Virginia several years ago and won five dollars. The clerk asked me if I want my five dollars or five more tickets. I took the five dollars.

To me, buying a lottery ticket is not gambling. Spending your paycheck on lottery tickets is gambling. To hold an attitude that attempts to limit how our Lord can choose to bless another is wrong.

As a Christian if I were to be the recipient of mega-millions through legal means I'd say, Thank you Lord; Praise God; Hallelujah; run, jump yell, tithe it; pay my electric bill; buy my son a new truck; our Preacher a new vehicle; and probably not come down from my spiritual high for many months to come.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I would accept it for the work of the Lord.

In Florida, the Bright Futures scholarship for college students is paid for from lottery monies. I had no problem with my daughters accepting that scholarship money. So I would be hypocritical to say that the church couldn't accept a tithe from a winner of the lottery.

 

[HankD]

If you win megabucks and your conscience bothers you, Put 1 John 1:9 into practice then share your "ill-begotten gains" (don't forget you church and the works they support). If you can't do that then send me the money and I will do the above and I will honestly be able to say "I did NOT win this in the lottery" someone gave it to me.

HankD

 

[HAMel]

A few years ago I lived in close proximity to a 7 come 11 store and one particular day after a rather gusty wind subsided I found two $20.00 bills in my yard.

...no, I didn't throw 'em away!!! I spent the money. I'm sure the first person I had asked if they had in fact lost $40.00 their answer would have been a resounding yes.

What's a soul to do?

 

[thegospelgeek]

I would not accept the money. I would not belong to a church that would accept the money.

It comes down to a principle that winning a lottery ticket is taking money from another person while providing nothing in return. It is gambling no matter how you redefine it. Most folks try to rationalize by comparing to stocks, inheritance, etc. however, it does not hold up in comparision.

I could not accept in good faith.

 

[mont974x4]

I would accept it.
If I won, I would give a portion of it.

 

[Mexdeaf]

I would not accept the money. I would not belong to a church that would accept the money.

It comes down to a principle that winning a lottery ticket is taking money from another person while providing nothing in return. It is gambling no matter how you redefine it. Most folks try to rationalize by comparing to stocks, inheritance, etc. however, it does not hold up in comparision.

I could not accept in good faith.

I hear about this supposed principle all the time but it ignores three facts-

#1. No one TAKES the money from the people who buy lottery tickets.
#2. If that principle is true ALL raffles, etc.are wrong.
#3. We could use that same reasoning to say that giving to the church is wrong (fallacious as that may be.)

 

[jbh28]

I would take the money.
I would give the money to the church without telling them that I got it from winning the lottery. I don't usually tell them how I get my money.

It comes down to a principle that winning a lottery ticket is taking money from another person while providing nothing in return.

So, giving money to a church with money from a gift would be wrong. Say my grandma gave me $1000 and I gave 200 to the church. Would this be wrong? Of course not! So this reasoning cannot be used.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I would not accept the money. I would not belong to a church that would accept the money.

It comes down to a principle that winning a lottery ticket is taking money from another person while providing nothing in return. It is gambling no matter how you redefine it. Most folks try to rationalize by comparing to stocks, inheritance, etc. however, it does not hold up in comparision.

I could not accept in good faith.

No problem.... I will take it, give it to me. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Bobby Hamilton]

I would not accept the money. I would not belong to a church that would accept the money.

It comes down to a principle that winning a lottery ticket is taking money from another person while providing nothing in return. It is gambling no matter how you redefine it. Most folks try to rationalize by comparing to stocks, inheritance, etc. however, it does not hold up in comparision.

I could not accept in good faith.

Please explain?

 

[Jim1999]

I know that the Salvation Army in Florida refused a donation out of lottery funds, and yet, the very founder of that Salvation Army in England collected monies in the local pubs. When criticized, he said, "The Devil has had it long enough." He continued to distribute their paper and collect monies.

I have mixed feelings about lotteries. Whilst I will not buy tickets, I am publicly quiet about those who do, but do offer private beliefs regarding it. I remember preaching about gambling one Sunday morning and stopping at a local store after services to buy ice cream for the family. There were quite a few red-faced church goers there buying lottery tickets.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[thegospelgeek]

Please explain?

Assuming your question is in regard to the bolded portion of the quote, all proceeds from lottery or any other form of gambling come at the loss of someone else. If you and I play a game and wager on the outcome, I win what you lose or visa versa. So, if I win the lottery, I win a portion of what someone else lost. The State gets the rest. It is exactly one of the "Games" that ganster ran back in the day and were arrested for.

Now when I win the lottery a large portion of the winning came from people who could afford to lose. True, but does that make it right when scripture clearly teaches that we should not profit at the expense of others? A smaller portion of the winnings comes directly from families that cannot afford to lose. Did they voluntarily chose to play? Someone did, but many children have no choice in the matter, neither do many wives (or husbands). The words of Christ can't help but ring in my head. "When did we do these things? When you did it to the least of these."

 

[Bobby Hamilton]

Assuming your question is in regard to the bolded portion of the quote, all proceeds from lottery or any other form of gambling come at the loss of someone else. If you and I play a game and wager on the outcome, I win what you lose or visa versa. So, if I win the lottery, I win a portion of what someone else lost. The State gets the rest. It is exactly one of the "Games" that ganster ran back in the day and were arrested for.

Now when I win the lottery a large portion of the winning came from people who could afford to lose. True, but does that make it right when scripture clearly teaches that we should not profit at the expense of others? A smaller portion of the winnings comes directly from families that cannot afford to lose. Did they voluntarily chose to play? Someone did, but many children have no choice in the matter, neither do many wives (or husbands). The words of Christ can't help but ring in my head. "When did we do these things? When you did it to the least of these."

Are these people forced to play?

 

[Bobby Hamilton]

And I'm not trying to diminish your point. I understand the consequences of those who can't stop someone from foolishly spending money.


But it seems to me that this applies to anything, and not just gambling.

 

[thegospelgeek]

And I'm not trying to diminish your point. I understand the consequences of those who can't stop someone from foolishly spending money.


But it seems to me that this applies to anything, and not just gambling.

It does apply to many things. Drugs, prostitution, etc. However, I do not think that many christains would support these practices. But realize the very nature of gambling insures losers. Are there any other legal practices that do so that has universal support from the Christian Community?

 

[Bobby Hamilton]

It does apply to many things. Drugs, prostitution, etc. However, I do not think that many christains would support these practices. But realize the very nature of gambling insures losers. Are there any other legal practices that do so that has universal support from the Christian Community?

That's too narrowminded. That guy who spent the buck he didn't have on the lotto ticket is no different from the guy who spent the buck he didn't have on a Dr. Pepper.

Drugs are against the law. Prostitution (at least mostly) is against the law. Not to mention direct references to these in the scriptures.

Gambling isn't the issue here. It's the issue we've made it.

 

[thegospelgeek]

That's too narrowminded. That guy who spent the buck he didn't have on the lotto ticket is no different from the guy who spent the buck he didn't have on a Dr. Pepper.

Drugs are against the law. Prostitution (at least mostly) is against the law. Not to mention direct references to these in the scriptures.

Gambling isn't the issue here. It's the issue we've made it.

Spending the buck on a Dr. pepper is quite different. The objective of the Dr. Pepper is to provide a product for a value. Win-Win

The objective of the Lottery is by definition Win-Lose

 

[Bobby Hamilton]

Spending the buck on a Dr. pepper is quite different. The objective of the Dr. Pepper is to provide a product for a value. Win-Win

The objective of the Lottery is by definition Win-Lose

I'm a lifelong Dr. Pepper drinker. I can't drink pop anymore. Why? Because over the years stuff in pop has basically torn up my insides. So I'd argue that Dr. Pepper does not provide a value (even though I still love it so much).


As far as the objective of the Lottery is "Win-Lose"...that's merely your opinion. The couple who for 30 years bought two tickets each friday got enjoyment and value out of those tickets win or lose. It was something they did together, for fun, and they enjoyed it. To the best of my knowledge they never harmed or wronged anyone doing it, nor did they take money from somewhere else that they needed it to enjoy their good time.

 

[Gina B]

I wouldn't have an issue with that at all. I'd see it as a blessing for the church.

While I think that gambling on a regular basis is very wrong, I can't see someone who spends maybe $10 a year or every few years as an addicted gambler. I've seen that and it's horrible. Those people are going to casinos, they're spending large amounts of their paychecks on scratch-offs or the one kind of lottery you're talking about, etc., or even if they're not spending much, they're spending a disproportionate amount when you compare it to what they can afford.

Seems like it would be a great blessing to the church to have a millionaire who had the gift of generosity, or even was just willing to tithe the 10% or whatever it is. It's not like many don't do raffles or the like anyhow, so what's the difference? Lotto sales help support schools and such, church raffles help support church programs.

BTW, ever read "The Lottery?" LOL That story creeped me out. (it wasn't a nice lottery)

Then again, the lottery in the Bible wasn't nice either, it got Jonah swallowed by a whale. So was that God working through men's sin or was that type of lottery seen as okay? Thinking about it, all the lottery type things in the Bible weren't very nice. I know there's more than two, but all I can think of right now would be Jonah and the other one would be the one for Jesus' robe at His crucifixion.