DECISION . Duly constituted and recognized authorities have the power of decision granted to them in all questions of right in the Bible. Moses ( Exodus 18:13 ), the judges ( 1 Samuel 7:16 ), and the kings ( 1 Kings 3:16 ff.) exercise this power upon occasion. Questions of right between Christian brethren are to be decided by Church courts and not by civil authorities ( Matthew 18:17 , 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 ). The only method of decision sanctioned in the NT is the exercise of godly judgment on the part of the individual to whom authority has been granted. The casting of lots by heathen soldiers ( Mark 15:24 ) and the sortilege of Acts 1:21-26 cannot be cited as examples for the Christian Church. No instance of the casting of lots can be found after Pentecost. The Spirit of a sound mind now decides what is right and what is true.
D. A. Hayes.