Would Jesus Play the Lottery?

All church going people know, or should know, the answer to that. No! Jesus would NOT play the lottery. Did you ever stop to question why?

I knew that He wouldn't play the lottery and my answer as to why used to be because "it's gambling". Gambling is not a Godly thing. But there's more and I learned a whole bunch from Chuck, one of my pastors, at Northbrook Church today. Can you believe that my heart was pricked during a teaching on the Lottery today?

Tennessee right now is set to vote Nov. 5 whether or not to have a State Lottery. Churches here are rallying against it, and today I learned why it is a bad thing.

Jesus would NOT play the lottery because:

I. IT IS MOTIVATED BY GREED - Greed and God can not exist in the same heart. (Luke 12:13-21)

People who support the lottery claim it is used for education. While a small portion of it may be used that way, is that really the reason people play it? Does Joe buy a ticket thinking "I'm going to contribute to the education of Tennessee's youth"? I doubt it, I think Joe wants to win the jackpot.

II. EXPLOITS THE POOR - Jesus loves the poor. The lottery hurts them. (Luke 18:18-23)

I learned today that in statistical studies on the lottery, it shows that those people with incomes below $10,000 a year participate in the lottery more than any other group. Middle income families a little less and high income brackets rarely at all.

Studies also show that at the end/beginning of the month, once welfare checks are recieved, that there is a spike in lottery sales in poor neighborhoods. The lottery is looked upon by the government as a way to get back the money from the welfare system.

There are more lottery outlets in poor neighborhoods than in affluent ones, because that is where the players are.

III. IT IS POOR STEWARDSHIP OF GOD'S RESOURCES - Everything on earth belongs to God. (Matthew 25:14-30)

The lottery is like playing the midway games at the fair. You know you will lose, therefore, why spend money on playing? Statistically there is a greater chance of being struck by lightning TWICE, than winning the "big one".

Chuck also had a guest with us today who wrote an article in the local paper about statistics on the lottery. Who plays, what income brackets, chances of winning and the consequences of winning (if it ever happened: divorces,bankruptcies)

He also shared that Jesus had more to say about money in the Sermon on the Mount than He did about faith. You can't serve two masters: God and money.
When the teaching began he read to us excerpts from a recent letter to the editor of the local paper. The reader stated "if I want to drink a beer and scratch a lottery ticket it's my right!. He also condemned pastors because the only reason they are against the lottery is because they are afraid people will spend money buying tickets and not on the "precious tithe". I feel bad for the writer of that letter. He/she is lost and just does not get it.

Chuck said that it is his right, but basically that it was not God's will. The church is against the lottery because it is against the character of God. As a church we should oppose it and it is our responsibility to keep secularism from creeping in and desensitizing us to evil. Chuck said it a lot better than I have...I think I will get the CD! Want one? E-mail me!

At the end of the teaching Chuck encouraged all Christians to think critically and "Christianly" about gambling and the state lottery. It is a good challenge.

How a person lives his life shows his walk with the Lord.