Jerry ... When I referred to in principle & theory, I meant your idea that all suppport should come from Christian givers & not from State intervention
I was not talking at all about your actions, and I am sure from all that you have written on all sorts of subjects (even those where I disagree with you!) that you put your money where your mouth is, and give generously, as I try to do as well.
Most sincere Christians do, but they are not necessarily all or only those who trumpet their Christianity, but may include those whom the some of the trumpeters denounce as lukewarm, because they don't make much noise.
I've not said it is surprising! I said appalling, not surprising.
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---alan8566_of_uk on 10/29/09 |
The state lotteries that I'm familiar with ALWAYS promise that their gains will be used for schools (who could say "no" to that?) or parks, or conservation...always something most people think worthy. That's when they are campaigning to legalize gambling.
Ah, but when gambling is legalized, the state spends the money any way it pleases. I'll bet only a small fraction, or none at all, goes to schools, or whatever the promoters claimed it would. They are accountable to no one.
The backers of legalized gambling will "promise" anything, to get votes. |
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---Donna66 on 10/29/09 |
Alan:
"Jerry ... You are right, but I suspect in principle & theory only."
Are you implying that I don't practice Christian Charity?
"the hypocrisy of the "Christian" businessmen was appalling"
Why is this surprising to you?
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there bethat find it.
"My worry about State welfare programmes is not that they exist, for they should ensure that no-one suffers unnecessarily, but that they are so inefficient."
Inefficiency, although characteristic of government, is not the worst problem. Fraud, corruption and the lust for power that money brings are. |
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---jerry6593 on 10/29/09 |
Many well know evangelist's have accumulated substantial fortunes. Others have very high salaries. Many of them have perks such as a church provided home and car. Is it so wrong for a Christian to spend a dollar or two in hopes of obtaining a little financial security? I'm sure many of them would give more money to charities than those 10 percent who control 90% of the world's money (so I've heard). If I hit the lottery God knows some of my plans concerning His work. I live in a senior housing project and 13 of us play the lottery. Most of them are Christian's and their only hope of making dreams come true is the lottery. |
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---Bob on 10/28/09 |
Jerry ... You are right, but I suspect in principle & theory only.
The plight of the poorest in our Industial revolution was dire, the hypocrisy of the "Christian" businessmen was appalling. The few magnificent exceptions were able to help only a tiny proportion of those so cruelly exploited.
My worry about State welfare programmes is not that they exist, for they should ensure that no-one suffers unnecessarily, but that they are so inefficient. |
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---alan8566_of_uk on 10/28/09 |
God has trained me not to partake in lotteries of any kind. Lotteries are to raise funds for the organisers not to help the partaker. For Christian lotteries, you can partake with a mind to contribute not to win. Therefore you can play Christian lottery with just an amount you can contribute to the cause of the event, not more, even if you win, you can donate it back if you so wish. |
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---Adetunji on 10/27/09 |
Alan: I absolutely agree that Christian charity is a mandate. I merely point out that it never involved the state as an enforcing agent in the work. It was to be completely voluntary - from the heart, and the giver received spiritual blessings from it. We still do. |
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---jerry6593 on 10/27/09 |
Jerry ... The lottery takes a huge amount of money ... mainly from the poor. They live in this state-spoonsored dream/expectation that they are about to win a fortune.
It is theft in a way.
I was not attempting to compare it with taxatio, although you appeared to be doing so, by saying the lottery was way og getting the poor to pay taxes.
But the main point of issue is that the poor(est) are not able to pay taxes. In some cases it is because they are too lazy to work, but in most cases it is because of enforced circumstanes ... loss of a job, sickness of self or a relative.
I describe myself as a conservative, but think it is right to support the unfortunate ... it's what Jesus talked about |
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---alan8566_of_uk on 10/26/09 |
Alan: Wrong! The lottery is all voulntary here, unlike taxes which are not. Ignorance (of the lottery aficionados - not you) has its downside. Such is life. |
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---jerry6593 on 10/26/09 |
Jerry ... Yes a State Lottery is a great way for the state to steal money from those who are too poor to be liable to pay tax. |
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---alan8566_of_uk on 10/25/09 |
Mabe you should get saved get close to God and stay there. God will quickly take all these mabes and through them in the trash.
---catherine on 11/9/07
What is it with you and your harsh jugemental tone on this blog once again.
I am not going to let you get away with implying that someone who buys just $1 in lotto tickets a week is not a Christian or is not saved. What is the sin?
I set my AC on 78 and not 75 and save $16 a month. I spend about $4 a month on lotto which gives money to schools. If they did not have lotto we would just give up more in property taxes.
And, many Christians have won the lottos in the past and given millions to mission works. |
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---obewan on 10/24/09 |
The lottery in the US is great because it is the only way to get poor people to pay taxes. |
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---jerry6593 on 10/24/09 |
i hop to win som cash |
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---jennifer on 10/23/09 |
I have a idea for a christian lottery that helps do gods work and donate $250,000.00 to a children oriented charity and have a christian win a million dollars. The charity would be accredited and suggestion would come from christians. |
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---Gary on 12/5/07 |
In most states, the proceeds from lotteries go to schools. We can say that spending money on a lottery ticket is not using the money God gave us properly, but we'll spend our money at Mcdonalds promoting Gluttony, or go buy a big screen TV because of Envy, or Covetousness, or we buy fancy clothes for Pride. If it's an addiction, or money you need to pay your tithes or bills, or God's calling you to give elsewhere, then it all would be a sin, but if it's your entertainment money, I dont believe it's a sin |
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---Robert on 11/29/07 |
Greetings to all of you,
I too believe buying lottery tickets is wasting the money that God has blessed you with. That is simply my opinion.
A close friend of mine, who is a Christian man, likes to go to Vegas for a few days once a year. He told me that he doesn't see anything wrong with it. He earned the money, and he has set it aside to lose in Vegas. To him it's relaxation.
That's not really what I want to do with my money, but that's his prerogative.
Bless you all, |
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---trey on 11/27/07 |
mike murdock's teaching is to give $1,000 seed money & you will become a millionaire. but he did not mention buying a lottery ticket |
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---william on 11/27/07 |
Blessings Bro. trey, the money that we are blessed with by God is to be used wisely. Lottery tickets, gambling, and keep in mind that this is just my opinion, should have no place in a Christian's life. We are to be wise stewards of everything that God has blessed us with. It all belongs to God and I agree with Robyn give that money to someone that is less fortunate. God is watching us 24/7 and if you give that money to a needy person that really could use it, you will be Blessed. God Bless Bro. trey! |
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---Cynthia on 11/11/07 |
Rebecca, that is a good point. I love to learn new ways of looking at things and you're right on this one. Would you say it's like a child, we have to teach them what's right and what's wrong and until they learn to tell the truth, they're really not doing anything wrong. Great point and Thank you again. |
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---Donna on 11/9/07 |
Donna: If a person doesn't know it is wrong, then it isn't wrong. But until they come to that knowledge from God that what their doing is wrong, (if it is wrong) then it becomes a sin to them if they continue. |
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---Rebecca_D on 11/9/07 |
Mabe you should get saved get close to God and stay there. God will quickly take all these mabes and through them in the trash. |
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---catherine on 11/9/07 |
Should I start feeling guilty about the dollar I
spent for a candy from the vending machine today?
Perhaps should stop using salt and sugar altogether!
Maybe should stop playing the lottery too. Maybe
should stop working 2 full time jobs, quit and start
"trusting in the Lord for" my finances. Maybe should
just eat grass like a horse and put myself out to
pasture. Maybe not, never mind... Next time
a dollar comes my way, will keep it from some
of ya. |
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---Nana on 11/9/07 |
No. Use the money to help someone less fortunate. You will get a better return on it.Also a great feeling. Knowing you have helped someone in need. This is more pleasing to God. |
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---Robyn on 11/8/07 |
***If the Christian doesn't see anything wrong with it, then no it isn't a sin to them.****
I disagree with Rebecca. Christians are living in fornication and don't see anything wrong with it, yet the bible tells us, "Adulterers and fornicators will be judged." (Hebrews).
Buying Lottery Tickets is not trusting in the Lord for your finances. Give and it shall be given unto you. God promises a hundred fold return if we give of our money. Lottery tickets were invented by man, not by God. |
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---Donna on 11/8/07 |
I do not believe you should. We are suppose to live a very tight life. I am not talking legalism. But being saved is not a license to do as one pleases. |
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---catherine on 11/8/07 |
I don't think Christian or any one else should support gambling. It is a vice that ruins lives and families. |
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---notlaw99 on 11/8/07 |
That all depends. If a Christian feels it is wrong, then yes it would be wrong to even buy a scratch off ticket. If the Christian doesn't see anything wrong with it, then no it isn't a sin to them. This is between them and the Lord and nobody else. If we all listened to someone else and how they feel or how they believed all the time, our mind would blow up because of confusion. |
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---Rebecca_D on 11/7/07 |
Do you know that the money that you use to buy that one single ticket, could possibly feed ten starving little children in Africa, or buying them a well so they can have clean water. They will fell like THEY WON the lottery if you send the little you have to them, then YOU WILL BE WINNING THE ETERNAL LOTTERY IN HEAVEN! |
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---Whisper on 11/7/07 |
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