Comments on: Is it Okay to Play the Lottery? http://christianity101online.com/blog/2008/03/28/is-it-okay-to-play-the-lottery/ Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:50:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Dixie Mello http://christianity101online.com/blog/2008/03/28/is-it-okay-to-play-the-lottery/#comment-45748 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:37:05 +0000 http://christianity101online.com/blog/2008/03/28/is-it-okay-to-play-the-lottery/#comment-45748 I am thanking Rev. Henning for his excellent answer. That has always been a hard question to answer so completely, as he has, when new Christians ask about the lottery and gambling casinos. I have never had an interest in partaking of either, but the "old life" before becoming a Christian, for many, was filled with these types of entertainments. And lifestyle changes are sometimes hard to break. I believe new Christians, as well as seasoned ones, want to live a life pleasing to God and hear so many different answers to this question, that they really aren't sure what is right. I commend you Rev. Henning for your comment...and know many will draw back on your answer! God bless you! I am thanking Rev. Henning for his excellent answer. That has always been a hard question to answer so completely, as he has, when new Christians ask about the lottery and gambling casinos. I have never had an interest in partaking of either, but the “old life” before becoming a Christian, for many, was filled with these types of entertainments. And lifestyle changes are sometimes hard to break. I believe new Christians, as well as seasoned ones, want to live a life pleasing to God and hear so many different answers to this question, that they really aren’t sure what is right.

I commend you Rev. Henning for your comment…and know many will draw back on your answer! God bless you!

]]> by: Stan Jantz http://christianity101online.com/blog/2008/03/28/is-it-okay-to-play-the-lottery/#comment-30142 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:32:58 +0000 http://christianity101online.com/blog/2008/03/28/is-it-okay-to-play-the-lottery/#comment-30142 Well said! We didn't say that playing the lottery is a good use of your money. You could actually the biblical principles you give to almost any kind of enterprise--the lottery, professional sports, the stock market, buying a car (how much should I spend). The issue that our use of our money reflects our heart. Well said! We didn’t say that playing the lottery is a good use of your money. You could actually the biblical principles you give to almost any kind of enterprise–the lottery, professional sports, the stock market, buying a car (how much should I spend). The issue that our use of our money reflects our heart.

]]> by: Rev. Jeff S. Henning http://christianity101online.com/blog/2008/03/28/is-it-okay-to-play-the-lottery/#comment-24487 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:28:03 +0000 http://christianity101online.com/blog/2008/03/28/is-it-okay-to-play-the-lottery/#comment-24487 They casted lots for the clothes of Jesus. Does that sound right to you? We are given things, such as money, to be good stewards of such things. Is it being a good steward to waste money on the lottery? Are you under the illusion that "If I win, look at all the good things I can do with the money for the church." Will you actually tithe 10% to the church? Why not just tithe (sow the seed), and let God do the growing? If you spend the money to buy the tickets and then lose (which you most probably will), can you pray that night with a clear conscious? If you spend a lot or little for the lottery, that money would be better spent for the church...let God decide as to how the money will be used. Riches are, in Jesus' perspective, an obstacle both to salvation and to descipleship (Mt 19:24; 13:22). They give a false sense of security (Lk 12:15ff), they deceive (Mt 13:22) and they demand the total loyalty of one's heart (Mt 6:21). The rich often live as if they have no need of God. By searching for riches, their spiritual lives are chocked (Lk 8:14), and they are led into temptation and harmful desires (1 Ti 6:9), resulting in the abandonment of saving faith (1 Ti 6:10). All too often those who are rich take advantage of the poor (Jas 2:5-6). Therefore, no Christian ought to desire to get rich (1 Ti 6:9-11). True riches for a Christian consist in faith and love that expresses themselves in self-denial and following Jesus (1 Co 13:4-7; Php 2:3-5). The truely rich are those who have gained freedom from the things of the world through confidence that God is their Father and that He will not forsake them (2Co 9:8; Php 4:19; Heb 13:5-6). God blesses those who follow Him. They casted lots for the clothes of Jesus. Does that sound right to you? We are given things, such as money, to be good stewards of such things. Is it being a good steward to waste money on the lottery? Are you under the illusion that “If I win, look at all the good things I can do with the money for the church.” Will you actually tithe 10% to the church? Why not just tithe (sow the seed), and let God do the growing? If you spend the money to buy the tickets and then lose (which you most probably will), can you pray that night with a clear conscious? If you spend a lot or little for the lottery, that money would be better spent for the church…let God decide as to how the money will be used.
Riches are, in Jesus’ perspective, an obstacle both to salvation and to descipleship (Mt 19:24; 13:22). They give a false sense of security (Lk 12:15ff), they deceive (Mt 13:22) and they demand the total loyalty of one’s heart (Mt 6:21). The rich often live as if they have no need of God. By searching for riches, their spiritual lives are chocked (Lk 8:14), and they are led into temptation and harmful desires (1 Ti 6:9), resulting in the abandonment of saving faith (1 Ti 6:10). All too often those who are rich take advantage of the poor (Jas 2:5-6). Therefore, no Christian ought to desire to get rich (1 Ti 6:9-11).
True riches for a Christian consist in faith and love that expresses themselves in self-denial and following Jesus (1 Co 13:4-7; Php 2:3-5). The truely rich are those who have gained freedom from the things of the world through confidence that God is their Father and that He will not forsake them (2Co 9:8; Php 4:19; Heb 13:5-6).
God blesses those who follow Him.

]]>