I am presently wrapping up a residency week of studying the Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary. I’ve got to admit that the class is messing with a lot of my theological categories. We just finished having a discussion on the casting of lots that is a very prominent method used throughout the Old Testament and was even used for the selection of an apostle in the days of the early church (Acts 1:26). My conclusion is that, as long as it is used with caution, there may be circumstances in which is it appropriate to cast lots for making a decision.
Below is a video of John Piper discussing the issue of casting lots. Appropriately, he emphasizes the need for using caution.
2 comments:
I'm not sure I understand why this should even be a question but anyway . . .
Was wondering how you drew your conclusion that you did? I seem to hear Piper saying a LOT more than just emphasizing using caution. While he sites a situation where they have, I seem to hear him pretty strongly saying NOT A GOOD IDEA at all.
Anyway . . . just curious.
John. Good question. Here's the deal. The idea of casting lots in any circumstance at all was completely off my radar. It honestly just seemed like a ludicrous thing to do.
The fact that my prof and Piper both said there may be an appropriate occasion to cast lots for a decision is a whole new way of thinking to me.
The main issue being that when there are two or more good options and you've done all you can to wrestle with scripture, logic, etc... in those cases, it may be appropriate to simply roll the dice. The idea not being that it leaves it to chance, but that it gives God the opportunity to guide the decision by completely removing you from the final decision process. This kind of thinking was common to Jewish culture both in the OT and NT and seems appropriate for us as well. Something to think about anyway...
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