Casting Lots

Should we use it? Why or why not? When or when not? How or how not?

Discuss!

It seems sort of strange. It's rather like using a magic eight ball toy, in my opinion (if you know what those are…which you might not…). I think that in matters as important as choosing the apostle to replace Judas Iscariot, they can be used. In matters such as who ought to do the laundry or who gets to decide what board game to play, it should not be used. See, the temptation is to cast lots and say that whatever the result was was what God specifically mandated to happen (not the God doesn't orchestrate events, but I think you know what I mean :) ). For instance, think of an instance in which both individuals in an argument are in the wrong. Both could cast lots and say that the winner of the toss was right in the argument because God obviously chose them to win the toss. In reality, though, both are in the wrong. In that sense, it can be interpreted as a way of manipulating God. Because of its immense tendency to be misused, I would say that we should not cast lots in today's society. Still, I believe that it was a respectable practice during Biblical times in the hands of those whose hearts were pure, who used it rarely, and had no temptation to trivialize it.

I occasionally "cast lots"… but Jimmy, I believe there is a difference between this and a simple flipping of a coin to decide what board game to play, or whatever. (If there is no difference, then the use of dice, spinners, even shuffled playing cards could be called "casting lots"). I don't believe that lots should ever be used in the example you gave (the argument).

At heart, though, the whole thing revolves around leaving a choice to chance. One might respond that chance does not exist and that God orchestrates events (I would completely agree there!), but there is just as much chance/providence in a dice role as in casting lots. I think that ultimately lots should only be used for exceptional instances in which there is no possibility of misuse and in which neither prayer nor consultation nor reading of the Scripture can interpret what God's will is for a given situation (a situation that I personally believe is virtually impossible). I just think the use of lots gives people too much opportunity to misuse it. If I "cast lots," and the lots tell me to make a decision that has horrible consequences, I could blame God for my result, not taking responsibility for an act I might, through prayer, have avoided. Does that make sense?

Here's my opinion on the subject, though I have not thought this through enough to say that this is exactly where I stand; lots can/should be used when, after considerable deliberation and prayer, two or more choices seem equally pleasing to God and there is no one choice that is obviously better than the other. For instance, if I was going to buy a piece of property, and there were two places that I was looking at, than if I absolutely could not find a good reason to choose one over the other, I may cast lots for it. If a replacement for Judas was needed, and after narrowing it down as best they could humanly, and still having two people left, equally talented and godly, though in different ways, that may be a good time to bring it before God and ask him to direct you through casting lots. I can't see how it would necessarily be different with a small issue, but if we were deciding between two board games I wouldn't spend a week praying about which one is best to play in this situation. :)

Thank you all for your thoughts! What do you think of this verse:

"The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." -Proverbs 16:33