Is it wrong to have raffles in the church?

Response

A raffle is a method of raising funds by selling tickets, or “chances,” for a chance to win a significant prize. Typically, the tickets are numbered, and the winner is selected randomly, so the more tickets a person purchases, the higher their chances of winning. Raffles are commonly utilized by school organizations, community clubs, and charitable organizations to raise funds. Some churches and youth groups use raffles to gather funds for activities like summer camps, mission trips, or necessary equipment. However, for various reasons, some Christians oppose the use of raffles within the church.

One of the primary objections to any form of raffle, whether within a church or elsewhere, is that the concept of “chance” attracts individuals who should be more prudent with their finances. Research indicates that those most likely to purchase lottery tickets and raffle entries are often those least able to afford them. Money that could be allocated elsewhere is instead spent on purchasing multiple tickets in the slim hope of winning a prize or jackpot. Some churches opt not to conduct raffles to avoid promoting a “gambling mentality.”

Another objection to church raffles is that the Bible does not endorse gambling or relying on “chance” as a legitimate means of funding church activities. Critics argue that the work of God should be supported by the contributions of believers through tithes and offerings (e.g., Numbers 18:24; 2 Chronicles 29:31; Malachi 3:10), rather than through the lure of winning something. Second Corinthians 9:7 states, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Buying raffle tickets does not constitute giving to the Lord but rather gambling on chance. Tickets are purchased with the expectation of receiving a tangible reward, making them different from voluntary offerings. The argument is that the church should not depend on raffle proceeds to fulfill its financial obligations.Needs but should rely on the Lord to work through the hearts of His people (Deuteronomy 16:17; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Most raffles involve selling tickets to the community at large, as well as to the people of the church, which is also a cause of concern for some churches that believe God’s work should be supported by His people without depending on the unsaved.

Supporters of raffles in the church argue that participants are well aware that their money is going to a good cause and would willingly give it anyway. The raffle simply adds an element of fun, and the chance of a reward encourages greater generosity. Some winners even donate the prize back to the cause to further support the goal. Additionally, some highlight that drawing straws or casting lots was a common practice in biblical times to discern God’s direction (Leviticus 16:8; Proverbs 16:33). Since the Bible does not speak negatively against raffles or lotteries, churches should feel free to use them if they wish.

The most notable example of using “chance” to advance God’s work is found in Acts 1:26 when the apostles needed to choose another man to replace Judas. They selected two individuals who met the qualifications of an apostle, prayed for guidance, and cast lots. The lot fell to Matthias. Scholars have debated whether the apostles went beyond God’s plan by selecting their own apostle instead of waiting for His choice, which was evidently Paul (Acts 9:1-15). Nevertheless, there is no biblical basis for believing that the apostles were disobedient when they used this method to discern God’s will. They were clearly seeking God’s plan and were obedient to Jesus’ final words to wait for the Holy Spirit.Commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.” (Acts 1:4). Although the apostles’ casting of lots was nothing like a raffle in that no one was seeking a “prize,” raffle supporters still consider that the apostles were depending upon chance to fulfill God’s purposes. The practice of casting lots to determine God’s will is nowhere condemned in Scripture.

As with any decision a church makes, prayer and seeking God should dominate the decision-making process. Since Christ is the head of any true church (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:15), He must be the Lord of every action. We can often discern His will by asking, “If Jesus were sitting in this meeting with us, what would He tell us to do?”

In addition, there are a few more questions worth considering:

• Does Jesus want to fund His programs through raffles instead of freewill offerings?
• Could such fundraising avenues present Christ’s church as people who are greedy and desperate for money?
• Could someone’s reluctance to freely give, coupled with a willingness to spend the same amount on a slim chance of winning a prize, indicate misplaced priorities?
• Does holding a raffle eliminate the opportunity to wait on the Lord and trust Him for financing?

When we have answered these questions, we are in a better position to determine whether or not our church should hold a raffle. Since Christ is the Head of the church, it should be His decision. The rest of the body should always seek His methods for furthering His work.