11 Responses to “WJesusULM?”

1. on 14 Aug 2008 at 12:05 pm1HiScrivener

   OK, we could ’round and ’round theologically about the wiles of gambling and how they abstain man from using his faith in times of financial stress. That said, if some saint won the lottery and decided to tithe to his or her local church, God couldn’t use that money to build a life center, send kids to a mission field or pay a light bill?

   I would say with gritted teeth, the answer is yes.

2. on 14 Aug 2008 at 12:40 pm2shaun

   yes.

3. on 14 Aug 2008 at 1:39 pm3evan

   I think the issue is less about gambling per se and more about the lottery in particular and the way it disproportionately exploits lower income individuals. If I recall, Jesus didn’t think it was a good idea for someone to promise all of their money to God if it meant not caring for their own family, even though I’m sure the temple could have done some great things with the money.

   If we recognize the unethical nature of lotteries, yet still use the money, then we should be ready to say where we should draw the line. After all, God could use the proceeds from blood diamonds to do great things, right? Would Jesus use blood diamond money? Both disproportionately affect the poor.

4. on 14 Aug 2008 at 5:59 pm4davidbmc

   of course he would.

5. on 15 Aug 2008 at 7:15 pm5Lotto with the Lord Jesus « The Writing on the Wall

   [...] was a question that ironically I read from time-to-time at a cyberdome called, “Jesus the Radical Pastor”, a couple of days ago. My comment was: OK, we could go ’round and ’round theologically about [...]

6. on 16 Aug 2008 at 1:08 am6Mark R

   Would not be fair - he could use His “Omni’s” and know the numbers in advance. Would this then be unfair to the rest of us?

7. on 18 Aug 2008 at 6:20 pm7After the Blackbird Sings

   Why not? It’s just money.

8. on 19 Aug 2008 at 2:27 pm8Ken

   Okay. Let’s extrapolate an incident that really took place in Jesus’ life. The woman who annointed Jesus’ feet with an alabaster jar of perfume (Luke 7:38). According to John (12:5), this very well could have represented a year’s wages (equal to what … $30-40,000 today?). I think we could agree that it is probable that a woman of her reputation did some unsavory things to earn enough to posess such a valuable commmodity. Yet Jesus never flinches. Judgement isn’t made on the origin of the gift, it’s made on the intent of the heart.

9. on 19 Aug 2008 at 2:32 pm9Ken

   By the way … I believe that if Pastor Tarkington turned down the tithe as a true convicion of faith, God will probably honor it.

10. on 03 Sep 2008 at 9:10 am10Carl Holmes

    What is the difference in lottery money, and money grown in investment accounts that invest in less than moral things. The person who profits from it takes the money and tithes it as well.

    If I spend a few dollars on power ball once in awhile to satisfy my dreams of being financially taken care of and one time win it, God is in control of that. He is the omniscient God and if he thinks that I can use that money responsibly, and for His kingdom He will let me win.

    Gambling can be like porn, alcohol or a whole host of other potentially abused things. It is when it is used to much that it becomes an idol, and therefore a sin. We must watch for those types of behaviors in our church members and intervene with love.

11. on 06 Sep 2008 at 5:31 pm11Dan

    Spending “a few dollars” anywhere it is not needed could be seen as wasted money, especially if that money (however small an amount) could have been used to bring a blessing to someone else. Isn’t us spending money on ourselves the same as being self-centered?

    I have the belief that any money gotten through gambling, or otherwise as in the case of Mary spoken of above, is acceptable to God, but only if the heart of the giver is in the right place.

    It seems that the movitve of the giver changes everything.

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