Acts20.com

With all of this power ball talk I wonder if the belief that buying lottery tickets is wrong has changed. I know of a pastor who preached long and hard for may years that it was wrong. Once he retired he started buying lottery tickets. I was shocked.

COGlayman

With great respect, my brother, why would you conclude that it is wrong to buy a lottery ticket?I certainly grew up with that understanding. Then, during the Christmas season a number of years ago, my boss gave everyone in his department a lottery ticket. I have to tell you that it was a DELIGHT! Now, I don't think I expected to win, but it sure gave me a few days of enjoyment while thinking about just what I might do with the winnings if I did win. I think we all agree that unwisely spending our money--whether on lottery tickets or those high heels that OTCP claims are for his wife (SMILE)--is poor stewardship. But how many of us go out to eat at restaurants that are just a little above our pay grade (so to speak) to buy a meal that satisfies us no more than a more modest one? Is that poor stewardship, or is such celebration allowed. (I finally figured out that Ruth's Chris was not markedly better than Outback or other good steakhouses, yet you pay 2 or 3 times more for the food--why would I do that?).And if a person can spend a dollar--that would otherwise be lost and forgotten on minor little things--to buy a day of fun and hope and dreams, why not? Basically, that person is paying a small amount for a day or two of delight. If he/she loses, it's not really a big deal. But if he/she wins, it's HUGE!Oh, we could spend that dollar on missions instead? We sure could. And no doubt we should. But I wonder how many Church of God members have decided to drink no more Coca-Cola--or other unnecessary purchases--so they could contribute all the proceeds to missions, the church, etc.? That's right, none. So I just don't get the least bit upset if someone buys a lottery ticket. If they don't pay tithes, it's not because they want to buy lottery tickets. If they do pay tithes, well, then the rest is theirs to do with as they wish, I reckon. If my spending was perfect, I might have something to say. But enough poor Snickers candy bars have been sent to heaven by my hand to make me think that if I'd spent all of that on lottery tickets, I might be quite wealthy by now (SMILE).

Should Christ followers trust in vanity?After I am through eating a meal, I have nourishment of some sort (perhaps too much ). If I play the lottery what do I have? Hope, but it is a vain (empty) hope.Some would argue, but what if I win, then there would be no vain hope!I would say even if you win, you put your hope in something vain and you received a reward which in eternity will prove vain as well.

Quiet Wyatt...oh, c'mon!

Buying a Coke doesn't impact the community positively either. Obesity. Trash. Ants. Support of this or that by Coke. Neither does a LOT of things we buy. Things that aren't necessary, but you want them anyway. Let's see if buying a lottery ticket is as you indicate....1) Proceeds go to support Florida education.2) Knew someone that was employed by the Florida Lottery to work on the various machines. So there's jobs to be had.3) The paper, machines, printing, etc.--someone has a job.Now, if it were illegal or wrong or immoral, that's one thing. But it's not. Nothing any more wrong with this than going to see a movie, sitting around watching television, etc.

If someone spends the rent money on lottery tickets, yeah, that's an issue. But if someone simply repurposes money that would have otherwise been spent on healthy candy bars and dentist-friendly Coca-Colas, NOT A THING WRONG WITH IT.

Aaron,

Really? You think that I THINK that so long as it brings you hope and happiness, it's OK to go to a prostitute, etc.? You think that buying lottery tickets is right up there with adultery and fornication?

Re: OTCP...anything taken to the extreme can be an issue.