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Lottery Tickets


tigger398

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Guest shiloh357

 

 

What about raffle tickets?

 

This is an excellent question. But we'd need more information I think. First where does the proceeds of the money go towards? Second what is the prize?

 

 

I bought a raffle ticket for a quilt. Lovely quilt too. There is nothing at all that says where the money is going. For all I know, its going to the woman who made the quilt. It seems to me to be about the same as buying a lottery ticket. Im spending 1 dollar like I would with lottery ticket in the hopes of getting something worth much more than 1 dollar. Which with raffle tickets or a single lottery ticket now and then, I dont see as a sin.

 

Raffles are fund raisers.  You should go back and ask what the raffle is for.

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I still dont see the difference. Im spending the same amount, hoping to get something that is worth far more than what I spent. 

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Guest shiloh357

I still dont see the difference. Im spending the same amount, hoping to get something that is worth far more than what I spent. 

But gambling isn't fundraising.  Gambling is all about getting rich.  In a raffle you are giving to a cause in the hopes of winning a prize.  Gambling is addictive and it hooks you in and pulls you under. 

 

The differences between raffles and gambling are immense. 

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But from a Biblical standpoint the question should be is gambling wrong according to Scripture?

God bless,

GE

I've never read a verse that says " thou shall not gamble ". I really believe what someone else said that it comes down to the motivation of the person buying it, and Who am I to judge the motive and heart of another?

I am curious though, do you think these verses apply to gambling?

Matthew 25:14-30

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Guest shiloh357
I've never read a verse that says " thou shall not gamble ". I really believe what someone else said that it comes down to the motivation of the person buying it, and Who am I to judge the motive and heart of another?

 

There a lot of things the Bible doesn't say you shouldn't do.  There is no commandment against abusing your wife, or molesting a child.  But we have enough light from Scripture that we can accurately judge the sinfulness of those behaviors.  We don't need a "thou shalt not"  in order to know right from wrong.

 

Gambling is a sin because of what it does people or can potentially do to them. It is self-destructive in almost every area of a person's life.   And just because some people beat the odds doesn't mean that it is acceptable.

 

As for motives...  What motives are there in gambling besides getting rich.  It is founded on the love of money and that is root of all evil.  Gambling is bad news and it has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

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I still dont see the difference. Im spending the same amount, hoping to get something that is worth far more than what I spent. 

But gambling isn't fundraising.  Gambling is all about getting rich.  In a raffle you are giving to a cause in the hopes of winning a prize.  Gambling is addictive and it hooks you in and pulls you under. 

 

The differences between raffles and gambling are immense. 

 

 

I dont know what "cause" Im giving to. It might not even have any cause. Ive participated in raffles that do not have causes attached to them. Money from lottery tickets in my state go to different state fund accounts in things I support such as a wildlife heritage fund. I really do not see any difference between the two. Unless I was shelling out huge amounts to the detriment of my family. Either way it is taking a risk (I may not win lottery or raffle) with an element of greed (hoping to get something expensive for almost nothing). I dont do either one while thinking "oh Im supporting this cause". 

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Guest shiloh357

 

 

I still dont see the difference. Im spending the same amount, hoping to get something that is worth far more than what I spent. 

But gambling isn't fundraising.  Gambling is all about getting rich.  In a raffle you are giving to a cause in the hopes of winning a prize.  Gambling is addictive and it hooks you in and pulls you under. 

 

The differences between raffles and gambling are immense. 

 

 

I dont know what "cause" Im giving to. It might not even have any cause. Ive participated in raffles that do not have causes attached to them. Money from lottery tickets in my state go to different state fund accounts in things I support such as a wildlife heritage fund. I really do not see any difference between the two. Unless I was shelling out huge amounts to the detriment of my family. Either way it is taking a risk (I may not win lottery or raffle) with an element of greed (hoping to get something expensive for almost nothing). I dont do either one while thinking "oh Im supporting this cause". 

 

I  have found in the past that lottery money rarely goes to the causes they use to justify lotteries in certain states.   Lotteries are a racket and there is a guy or a few guys at the top getting filthy rich.   That is a far cry from a raffle.    I think are looking only that the things that may appear similar on the surface and ignoring the host of ways in which raffles are not at all like gambling.

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Guest LadyC

just to toss a wrench into the mix, gambling raises money too. whether it's the texas lottery or the vegas casinos, a large part of the revenue from gambling goes to fund school programs, feed the hungry, and many other worthwhile causes. of course, it ALSO lines the pockets of those who own the casinos. it's a business. in the same way, if the raffle for the quilt raises money forr the woman who made it (or man), she's earning a profit. or maybe the proceeds go to funding the next family reunion. or whatever. it doesn't matter! what MATTERS is the motivation of the person buying the raffle or lottery ticket.

 

and again, there's no biblical mandate against gambling. God talks a lot about good stewardship, but He doesn't list specifics of what is or is not considered good stewardship. if a person wants to go out and spend $30 on a movie ticket and bucket of popcorn (if you can even get a ticket and bucket for that price), or if you choose to spend $30 on poker night with the boys, it's all entertainment. no difference in motivation, and neither is sinful. 

 

or if one wants to spend a buck in hopes of winning a million, vs. spending a buck to get a handmade quilt that is priceless in terms of sentiment/craftsmanship/etc, the motivation is the same. the person is still hoping to get more than the value of the dollar they spent. and in and of itself, there's nothing sinful in that.

 

now here is an example of what IS wrong... a person gets a $2000 paycheck, and knowing full well that he or she has to go home and pay rent and the babysitter, stops and blows it on (insert activity here). it doesn't matter if that activity is gambling, nor does it matte if the money they spent goes directly to a christian charity. if the person with the paycheck doesn't take care of their responsibilities and commitments first and foremost, then they have been very, VERY poor stewards with what God gave them. i imagine that would grieve God terribly. (not to mention the landlord and the babysitter!)

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Guest LadyC

and for what it's worth... anything can be addictive. gambling isn't evil any more than guns are. you know, guns don't kill... people do. lottery tickets don't destroy lives, people do. not everyone who gambles becomes addicted.

 

those who do, then they will be held accountable by God. (and family, and creditors, etc.)

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Ok this customer came in and bought a lottery ticket and said something like if he wins God will get 10% of it. Can you do lottery tickets as tithe. Will God accept it. It God's money after all.

 

Oh dear, mother believes that gambling is sinful....

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