Finding God's Will about particular situations by casting lots

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Lucian_Hodoboc

Junior Member
Dec 28, 2017
18
6
3
The Bible mentions the practice of casting lots, which apparently was allowed by God under both the Old and the New Covenants. According to this article, we don't have a lot of information about what casting lots meant, but it would probably have been similar to the modern day practice of flipping a coin or rolling a dice. Do you think that trying to find God's will by flipping a coin after praying to God is a sin if we do it nowadays? I have done it, and I have also tried to find out God's Will about certain situations by opening the Bible at a random page in hope of finding a revelatory passage that would offer me guidance, but I only got more confused after doing so. Have I sinned by doing these things and should I repent about it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: KnowMe
Its superstition and not Christian. Faith and letting God lead you is the way and not following superstition
 
The last time it's mentioned in the bible is in Acts. Matthias was one of the two chosen, but you never read anything about him after that.
 
Is that your personal opinion or can you quote any Bible verse to support the claim?

Perhaps the fact that it was only mentioned once in Acts? If it was God's will for us, I would think Paul would've given one of the churches, at least, instruction to do this.
A few examples in the old testament, and only one in the new seems to indicate no further use for it. Whatever happened to Matthias, anyway? No further mention of him.
 
technically it's mentioned twice in the NT

Matthew 27:35
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots.

... which was a fulfilling of Psalm 22:18
i wonder who wound up with His garment? the soldiers believed who He is, after they saw how He died ((Matt 27:54))
 
  • Like
Reactions: p_rehbein
I have also tried to find out God's Will about certain situations by opening the Bible at a random page in hope of finding a revelatory passage that would offer me guidance, but I only got more confused after doing so. H

it would far more useful to pray and to use a search tool to find portions of scripture relevant to what you're trying to sort out, then read & meditate on them... ;)
 
I pray and flip a coin quite regularly....and it works out very well the majority of the time and usually the only time it doesn't is when I second guess it or don't go with the toss.....
 
Where’s the line though. Can we call a deck of tarot cards, Holy Spirit cards and deal em out? I say do a test. Ask God to answer you through a coin. Then ask Him questions you already know answers to. Should I divorce my wife and run away with my secretary? Should I kill that guy who cut me off at that intersection. Can I remortgage the house and invest in heroine to sell to the neighbours? See just how many times you get what you think the answer should be. If he tells you to divorce your wife, randomly kill and be a drug dealer, maybe your answers should not be decided by the fate of a coin.
 
The Bible mentions the practice of casting lots, which apparently was allowed by God under both the Old and the New Covenants. According to this article, we don't have a lot of information about what casting lots meant, but it would probably have been similar to the modern day practice of flipping a coin or rolling a dice. Do you think that trying to find God's will by flipping a coin after praying to God is a sin if we do it nowadays? I have done it, and I have also tried to find out God's Will about certain situations by opening the Bible at a random page in hope of finding a revelatory passage that would offer me guidance, but I only got more confused after doing so. Have I sinned by doing these things and should I repent about it?

if not mistaking I think it was similar to casting names in a hat but it was a box with a hole that a stone passed through.
 
The Bible mentions the practice of casting lots, which apparently was allowed by God under both the Old and the New Covenants. According to this article, we don't have a lot of information about what casting lots meant, but it would probably have been similar to the modern day practice of flipping a coin or rolling a dice. Do you think that trying to find God's will by flipping a coin after praying to God is a sin if we do it nowadays? I have done it, and I have also tried to find out God's Will about certain situations by opening the Bible at a random page in hope of finding a revelatory passage that would offer me guidance, but I only got more confused after doing so. Have I sinned by doing these things and should I repent about it?

It's not a sin to randomly open your Bible to see what Scriptures you find, but it also isn't a very good way to determine what Gods will is for you either. Sincere prayer, and being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is the very best way to learn what God has for you to do........

God doesn't work in "random" ways. He, from the beginning, has had a Master Plan.
 
technically it's mentioned twice in the NT

Matthew 27:35
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots.

... which was a fulfilling of Psalm 22:18
i wonder who wound up with His garment? the soldiers believed who He is, after they saw how He died ((Matt 27:54))

You are correct, sir. I was only thinking of believers, which is why I didn't remember that example.
You at e