Dear Aebi "Is it wrong for a Christian to
buy lottery tickets? Isn't this just another way to pay taxes?" Dear Aebi "Is it wrong for a Christian to
buy lottery tickets? Isn't this just another way to pay taxes?"
Playing the lottery is gambling, and gambling
for the Christian is wrong in any form. Of course, it is wrong
for the non-Christian as well. It is covetousness, which Paul
says is idolatry. In Colossians 3:5-6, Paul says, "Put to
death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is
idolatry; for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon
the sons of disobedience" ASV. Covetousness is called "greed"
in some modern speech versions. "Uncleanness" is called
"impurity." What he means by "put to death"
is explained in Romans 6:1-11, where he says the person who is
baptized repents by crucifying the "old man" or the
former way of life. "Your members which are upon the earth"
in Colossians 3:5 is explained in the words that follow; it means
the sins that people do. So, as Christians, we are to have no
living connection with sexual immorality, lust, wanting what is
evil, or coveting (being greedy).
How is gambling being greedy, or covetousness?
Gambling is wanting something for nothing, or for much, much less
than it is worth; it is wanting money (or whatever else is at
stake) without honest labor for it. There is a little of the welfare
syndrome found in people who want things but do not want to put
forth real effort to get them. It is akin to stealing. Someone
said it is not gambling if you bet on a sure thing (which is what
gamblers often think they are doing). No, if you bet on a sure
thing, it is not gambling; it is stealing! Covetousness is at
the root of both stealing and gambling. There is no way to justify
it in the eyes of God, according to what He says in the Scriptures.
One man argued that gambling is found in Scripture.
Yes, the soldiers who crucified Jesus gambled to see who would
get his seamless coat or robe. Who thinks this makes the case
that God approves of gambling?
Some people think it is justified because it would
be for a good cause, but Paul condemned the idea of doing evil
that good may come in Romans 3:8. But would it be for a good cause?
Much of the money spent on the lottery comes from the pockets
of people who can ill afford it, and a lot of the money thus spent
ends up in the pockets of the gambling interests that run the
lottery for the state. "But the state realizes a percentage
of it," say those who support the lottery idea, "and
they use it to support education." State income from the
lottery is not enough to justify the evils connected with it,
just as state income from casino gambling usually is not enough
to offset the additional cost of increased crime, prostitution,
drug-running, alcoholism, and other evils attendant to big-time
gambling. There are better ways to support schools.
Isn't this just another way of paying taxes? No!
It is not a form of taxation, and even if it were, it wouldn't
be justified. Taxes are levied on citizens; the lottery attracts
money from out of state as well. Taxes are based on one's ability
to pay (income or property), while the lottery takes the most
money from the poorest segment of the population. Taxes do not
encourage one to become addicted to gambling; the lottery does.
Taxes are not gambling; the lottery is. Have nothing to do with
lotteries. -2660 Layman Rd., Vincent OH 45784 cjandi@juno.com