Should believers play the lottery?

A preacher I heard (I think it was Jonathan Fletcher, now of Wimbledon) called John 19:24 an emotional argument against gambling. Most evangelical preachers have been against gambling and lotteries. Hywel Harris was an exception, but there was at least one other personal deficiency at one period in his life that hardly any other evangelical leader ever had. I do have Premium Bonds, but the reason I have them is the fact that the principal (as opposed to the interest, from which the "prizes" come) is as safe as the UK Constitution itself. Some investments and activities involve a mixture of skill and chance (e.g., investing in the stock market, starting a business). They are a different issue. But whatever we do needs to be to the glory of God, and "Keep thee far from a false matter".

I guess since mathematics is God's doing, so is probability. I think trouble occurs when one cannot stick to the wise verse "moderation in all things"! So if one gets addicted and gambles away the house from beneath their children's feet, that would be sinful/imperfect/not good. So if one cannot be moderate, than they should run far from it!

"casting lots" was the equivalent of flipping a coin or drawing straws-- quite common in the Old testament, not so much in the New. As I interpret it--the lots belong to G-d--this practice of drawing straws or tossing the proverbial dice was placing the given decision in G-d's hands-- it was used by Joshua, at G-d's direction, to divide up land in one instance I remember (though I can't quote the chapter and verse offhand). Casting lots, then would be leaving a decision up to G-d, and taking the result as the "answer", in a way. That being said--if G-d is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, then He already knows 1.who's buying the tickets 2.who's going to win. Of course it would be free will to buy a ticket. On the other hand, if He knows all that is going to happen, then some would argue that there IS no "free will" because the outcome is already known..and a case could be made on either side of that little conundrum. As I see it, foreknowledge of an outcome doesn't mean the outcome wasn't reached through free choices-- just that it is known. I don't think that G-d stacks the deck, so to speak--he just knows the winning hands. He leaves stacking the deck to us "The love of money is the root of all evil". NOTE-- the actual scripture says the LOVE of money (greed) not money itself. (1 Timothy 6:10). You can make a case that people play the lottery, or gamble, due to greed, or because they covet the lifestyle others enjoy-- therefore, such games would be sinful. I would assume that the vast majority of people who play lotteries, go to casinos, bet on the ponies, aren't motivated by the idea of using the money to help others. Christians seem to be going with gambling is a sin based on the greed aspect, as well as the fact casting lots was an Old Testament way of solving things, so with the coming of the Messiah, it isn't needed anymore--though the apostles cast lots to see who would replace Judas (probably drew straws, I would think). Any way you slice this particular pie, playing games of chance is usually connected to greed, or being covetous--so I would say it's probably a no-no. That being said--I didn't win the Powerball . OK, I bought 1 ticket. I'll go drag out the sack cloth and ashes now...and the hair shirt...and the scourge...

We, too, were promised that the money raised by the lottery would go for education of the state's children. That is the reason my husband said he voted for it. It has not happened in Texas, or any other state that I know of.

The scripture you referenced was made during the time of miracles. I consider the lottery gambling and have nothing to do with it.

Surely lottery cannot be connected with Gods work.As it is similar to getting money without doing any work.Thus it can not be expected that God will help in getting such benefits.Also people wont stop and is usually associated with greediness

No, that is not what it means - I think on occasion it has been used to work out God's purpose in specific circumstances, but in a game of chance, I am pretty sure there is no divine intervention. In the UK, a national lottery was introduced, and the funds diverted to various 'good' causes, however, I believe that this is largely a tax on the poor - it is the poor who contribute disproportionally to the 'pot', and the proceeds are used to fund things that arguably, the Government should be funding (if they are indeed good). I don't want to sound mean, but a game of chance that raises far more money that it will ever pay out, is not the type of 'investment' an intelligent person makes. On spiritual, moral and political grounds, I strongly object to the fact that we have a national lottery in the UK and that gambling laws generally have been loosened so that gambling can appeal to a wider audience.

I don't see it as gambling or entertainment but a hope for the desperate to see a beautiful tomorrow. I don't know what the scriptures speak about lottery but personally I feel that lottery is good unless it becomes addiction. So play it safely without greed.

I do not think that gambling is condemned in the scriptures. I can't think of a scripture that prohibits it in the believer's life. I would say that it might not be the wisest use of our money (unless we win of course!) But they used "casting lots" which is a form of gambling to me --