I’m not trying to argue either, just thinking this through. :-)
We’re not told of the Lord’s instructions to the eleven concerning this matter. But I don’t think either of us want to charge them with acting without instructions.
So if they were following His instructions in all other aspects here - the first three listed above - seems to me they were following His instructions in the fourth as well.
The Holy Spirit had not been sent to them yet. That would occur a few days later, and the Lord’s instructions to the church thereafter would come through the mouths of the apostles, through those who received gifts of the Spirit through the apostles’ hands, through visions and angelic direction, etc.
In short, if the Lord instructed it, that was the right way to do it. Going beyond that is treading on dangerous ground.
Whaddya think?
The giving of the Holy Spirit would make such questions a lot easier to decide, obviating the need to use lots. The drawing of the lots may have represented a low place in their faith, a low place which would not last. (This is one reason why the story of “Mary’s lots” sounds so phony. If she ever had any, she quickly learned that she could throw them away because God illuminated her in a far better way.)
If a Christian is attempting to participate in a secular context (e.g. as a business manager) and is asked for a fair way to decide a question, if investigations of obvious merit do not solve the issue the Christian would not be wrong to suggest a random drawing.
Re: “We’re not told of the Lord’s instructions to the eleven concerning this matter. But I don’t think either of us want to charge them with acting without instructions.”
Allow me to clarify that I am in no way dissing the Apostles or Christianity - I am a Christian and have been for 36 years and a long time student of the Bible.
I just always wondered why the Apostles cast lots when it would seem that the first three things they did would be enough to figure out the proper replacement.
Both men were equally qualified, as far as the qualifications given by Peter, and, both men must have been highly regarded by the apostles for them to even be considered.
However, I think you are assuming a lot when you imply that they did have instructions from The Lord. If Jesus did give them instructions, why didn’t He just tell them who to appoint?
The Apostles were not infallible - remember Paul had to rebuke Peter once for going along with Jewish believers who wouldn’t fellowship with Gentile believers until they were circumcised.
This is not a big issue with me - just a curiosity. I think they just had a decision to make, both men were qualified, Godly men - they prayed about it, then just cast lots, drew straws (whatever) to choose one of them. Casting lots to make a spiritual decision just seems odd to me. I don’t see it ever mentioned again in the New Testament.