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Painting/photo of Jerusalem Temple-Casual English Bible

How about flipping a coin for church decisions?

Stephen M. Miller
flipping a coin in front of a church
HEADS. What if we flipped coins to make church decisions? Jews in ancient times and first-generation Christians threw lots, which was apparently a bit like flipping a coin. The ancients trusted God to determine the outcome. Photo art by Stephen M. Miller. Photos: church, Michael Marera, Wikimedia, CC 4; thumb, Vaikunda Raja, Wikimedia, CC 2; coin, Wikimedia.

Spring break edition. I’m taking a break for a few days. During that time, I’ll be giving you a sampling of the Q&A that you’ll find in leader’s guides for the Casual English Bible. In the guides, I provide discussion questions along with info Bible study leaders can use to help the group talk about the question. Here’s one question from the leader’s guide for Luke.

QUESTION. LIFE APPLICATION. Priests threw lots, a bit like throwing dice, to select which priest would go into the Temple sanctuary that day to burn incense. That’s how Zechariah ended up in there talking with the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:11, 19). Jews made a lot of important decisions by tossing lots. They figured that since God controlled everything, he controlled the lots. What do you think about churches using that technique today? Should we trust God with the flip of a coin to give us the right pastor, or contractor, or color of carpet for the sanctuary?

ANSWER. An idea like that certainly would save us from a lot of arguing, wouldn’t it? On the other hand, God gave us brains for a reason. Perhaps he wants us to use them to make solid, informed decisions. We have access to information gathering resources today that the ancients did not have. We have internet search engines, while they had chitchat by the village well or by the city gate. Then there’s the matter of humans who love to be in control. Some folks would find it hard to release all of their control to the flip of a quarter. Even when the flip of a quarter would make a better decision than they would.

$1 Leader’s Guide & Atlas for Luke
Casual English Bible
Bible Gateway

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About Stephen M. Miller

STEPHEN M. MILLER is an award winning bestselling Christian author of easy-reading books about the Bible and Christianity and author of the Casual English Bible® paraphrase. His books have sold over two million copies and include The Complete Guide to the Bible and Who’s and Where’s Where in the Bible.

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