Are Lottery Winnings Dirty Money?

When the casinos came to Mississippi---land that sold around Tunica(the poorest county in the state) was sellin' for around $700/acre--chicken feed for the rich but unafforadable for poor folks who really desire a chunk of God's earth---but when the casinos hooked up and started drawin' the Memphis elites and snooty high browed rich folks in---land went from $700/acre to $8000/acre---poor folks in the county could not even afford to pay property taxes on land that suddenly ballooned in value--the land ballooned but the poor peoples pocketbooks didn't----foreclosures, etc.---get the picture---

millions of folks throw billions of dollars into the lotto and casinos---only one wins---sounds like a rip off to me--but foolish folks take a while to learn their lessons---one study in Mississippi showed that it will take gamblers about 35 years to figure out that they have been blowin' money on foolishness and then they will slowly decide one by one to stop---then there will be a lot of empty hotels and business places going belly-up collecting spider webs and rat holes---35 years to wake up--that's a long time to be ripped off---I mean, if I were being robbed I would want the robber to get my money as fast as he could so that I can run like everything--I don't want to be held at gunpoint for 35 years which is what gamblers are doing--the states are holding them at gunpoint---robbin' them blind---and the gun ain't even loaded!

Your friend,
Blackbird

 

I am in the middle of collecting money for our Christian baseball league, which was STOLEN by a fellow Christian.
He has a gambling problem.

Gambling may look innocent at first but most people get hooked and its hard to quit.

Best to avoid all appearance of evil!

Jim

 

Money is money? I don't think so. If Scripture says gambling is wrong, then the church should not accept the money. Sure it could be used for good, but is that honoring God. It sends mixed messages to the flock. That is like a DEA agent knowing someone is a drug dealer and then renting him a room in their house anyways. How much is your witness worth, how much money are you willing to sell your integrity for?

 

My company is printing the book of Mormon in Russian. Should I reject my paycheck this week? Better yet, should my church reject my tithes and offerings?

I don't participate in the lottery. Like others said, it is poor stewardship and possibly even presumes upon God by throwing money to luck or chance. However, what exactly makes money dirty? What has to happen to it to make it clean again? Should a contractor or vendor refuse business with 7-11 since they might be taking money from lottery sales proceeds?

This can get pretty ridiculous so where do you draw the line?

[ January 02, 2003, 04:21 PM: Message edited by: Scott J ]

 

Hi Ken:
The addicted gambler or the drunken man in the gutter probably said the same thing when they bought their first lottery ticket or took their first drink. If you don't do it at all...you don't have to worry about becoming addicted. Satan works to get us addicted one step (or ticket or drink) at a time. We are instructed by God to "avoid all appearance of evil" and not to be a stumbling block to baby Christians. You may be strong enough to stop with one ticket...but there is always someone watching you who may not be that strong.

 

blessed 16, not to mention any damage to our witness by participating in a activity that our Scripture says is a sin. It makes us look like hypocrits. I knnow I heard a sindicated radio show discussing a couple days ago whether or not the churches the winner was giving money to should accept it. Yet one more black eye to the church and Christ's followers. We do not need any more media pointing to believers putting a high value on money over belief/Scripture.

To all, please consider if your actions will please God, or if you are in rebellion from Him and His commands to us.

 

Is one's witness internal and before the Lord, or is it the eyes of the world? Should we not be a witness because we love the Lord, or simply because we want to impress the world with our witness?

What of our witness when we break the laws by driving above the speed limit? What of our witness when we call in ill when we would attend any number of desireable functions despite the headache?

Personally, I think we can get carried away with some ideas, but one thing is certain; the Lord sees all, and in my mind, our aim is to please Him in all things, and not concern ourselves with what the world thinks.......The world most likely is shaking its head about the religious organization refusing to accept this money rather than equating it with moral values.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Bravo Jim! You should copy and paste your post in many other forums - it would be fitting. ..."our aim is to please Him in all things" would answer a lot of the "what if's" posted.

A friend - Another Jim

 

Jim1999, I'm not sure which side you're taking... you said:

"our aim is to please Him in all things, and not concern ourselves with what the world thinks.......The world most likely is shaking its head about the religious organization refusing to accept this money rather than equating it with moral values."

Are you saying that it doesn't matter that the world is 'shaking its head' at a church not accepting the money or that it does matter?

Maybe I'm confused, but it seems like both.

It seems to me that if I didn't care what the world thought, I would not accept the money.

In addition, the churches that accepted the money were against gambling. One of the pastors was quoted as saying that he 'failed' the lottery winner by not teaching him to not gamble. But, of course, he'll take the money.

 

Jim,
maybe you are right, we should not be concerned with how the world sees us. It certainly would be fun throwing all the commandments out the window and doing whatever we like. How does that sound to you?

I hope it doesn't sound good. God gave us commands TO BE OBEYED. Yes God is the one we want to please. He instructed us to witness to all the nations, per the great commission. I do not know about you, but I have worked in many jobs that I was the ONLY Christian. I try to live out my belief, and witness to those people I know. Those in the world look for any flaw in ones armor and go after it. There are many ways to destroy your witness, and that is what they look for. They try to aggrivate you, get you mad, try to tempt you, they put you under a microscope. Why? Because if they find it possible to label you a hipocrit, they no longer will accept a thing you have to say. The church and every believer in it has to be held responcible. We will reap what we sow. If we are sowing the desire of money more than the desire to be obediant to Scripture then we are not going to please God like you said is our goal.