Our church recently had to make a major decision. One man mentioned that we should consider Scriptural examples of how the disciples made major decisions, and the most similar example he could think of was when the apostles cast lots in Acts 1 to choose who would replace Judas. Some people dismissed this instantly, saying that we don’t have the Holy Spirit the way the apostles did. Another person said we shouldn’t have to resort to casting lots; we could work this out logically. Is casting lots an appropriate way for churches to make decisions today, and if so, what does casting lots look like?
Sincerely,
Luck Of The Draw
Dear Luck Of The Draw,
Casting lots was an ancient way of randomly deciding on something. It is akin to flipping a coin or drawing the short straw in today’s culture. Historically, what little we know of casting lots involved using dark and light colored stones and blindly choosing them, with each colored stone representing some aspect of the decision that needed to be made. In Acts 1:26Acts 1:26
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
26 And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
WP-Bible plugin, they cast lots to decide who would replace Judas the traitor and be numbered as one of the twelve apostles. There are several key ideas that need to be understood before we make this a common practice in the church.
- All logic had already been applied to the situation. The apostles had already consulted Scriptures (Acts 1:15-16Acts 1:15-16
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
15 And in these days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said , 16 Brethren, it was needful that the Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus.
WP-Bible plugin, Acts 1:20Acts 1:20
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be made desolate, And let no man dwell therein: and, His office let another take.
WP-Bible plugin). They had also used wisdom in setting up the minimum criteria for becoming an apostle (Acts 1:21-22Acts 1:21-22
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21 Of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.
WP-Bible plugin). This decision was not made randomly and without prior thought. They came to the conclusion of two potential candidates using Scriptural guidance and wisdom (Acts 1:23Acts 1:23
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23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
WP-Bible plugin). - This was a decision between two perfectly Biblical and healthy choices. Both Joseph and Matthias were godly, faithful, competent, and qualified men. Either one would have been a good decision. Once again, all logic had been applied already. The only reason they had to choose between these two men was because there was only one slot to fill in the apostleship. Casting lots left the decision to random chance because there was no downside.
- The power was in the prayer, not the casting of lots. Before they cast lots, they prayed (Acts 1:24-25Acts 1:24-25
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen, 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.
WP-Bible plugin). There is only one time in the entire New Testament that we see casting lots used in a decision-making process… but we see prayer involved in hundreds of decisions. The common denominator throughout the New Testament is prayer. They prayed for wisdom and then “flipped a coin” because they honestly couldn’t choose between these two godly men, and God blessed their decision because they prayed and asked for the blessing.
In short (as if this was a short answer!), casting lots is as applicable as drawing straws – you can do it, but it really isn’t going to do you any good in and of itself. Prayer (Jas 1:5Jas 1:5
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5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
WP-Bible plugin), searching the Scriptures (Acts 17:11Acts 17:11
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
11 Now these were more noble than those in Thesslonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
WP-Bible plugin), and a multitude of wise counselors (Pr 11:14Pr 11:14
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
WP-Bible plugin) are the real keys to good decision-making.