Would Your Church Accept $600,000 From a Lottery Winner?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, August 18, 2008
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- (70) comments so far
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After Robert Powell hit the Florida Lottery jackpot last month and took home more than $6 million, he thought of his church. And he offered to drop his tithe, around $600,000, in the collection plate of First Baptist Orange Park. But the church and Pastor David Tarkington politely declined and told Powell they will not accept the lottery winnings. Pastor David Tarkington would not say exactly why the church refused the money, saying only he 'didn't want to talk about members' gifts'.
So... here's the question of the day... if someone in YOUR church won the lottery and wanted to tithe the money. Would you accept or deny the money. If you accept the money, why? And if you would deny the money, do you also check to see where your other tithes and offerings are coming from... you know... just to be safe? Please take a moment to leave your comment...
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Lamont Downs on Mon, August 18, 2008
Yes, I would take it and Proverbs 13:22b says “and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just”. And further more he didn’t play the lottery and how many children in the church today go to college on lottery scholarships that come from lottery money. But if God told him not to take it than don’t take it, but that is the only way I can see him not to receive it. If the truth be told how much tainted money is taken in at every services that an offering is received. We should not throw away the wealth of wicked when it is given.
Brian L. on Mon, August 18, 2008
Lamont,
Your quote from Proverbs was one I was looking for earlier - thanks for bringing that up!
I’m not sure I understand you. You say he didn’t play the lottery - so how did he win?
Also, the education argument (that lottery money provides for scholarships and such) is weak. The industry, and therefore the “benefits” it provides to the state, come from the participation of those who should not be playing - the poor. The state is profiting from those who can least afford it. This is a very dubious way, IMO, to fund education and other programs.
Funny how the education that comes from those funds doesn’t touch on the odds of winning and the cost of playing…
Randy Heddings on Mon, August 18, 2008
I would allow a person to tithe to the church from lottery money or gambling gains. It is not the avenue money travels getting into the hands of godly people, it is how godly people handle, as long as the money is not from illegal gains where it could draw the church into some legal issues. Although I do not persoanlly gamble or play the lottery, I cannot condem people who do as a pasttime but as will all things, these things sholdn’t be engaged in with excess. Perhaps that fellow would consider tithing to a ministry that has a heart and passion for God’s work but doesn’t have the backing! What othermessage do we send when we refuse tithe money from a person? In a stretch could it be derived that tithing is not appreciated nor expected by God. Can we tell people to violate God’s Word in tithing?
Stephen Wulf on Mon, August 18, 2008
absolutely yes…where do we get off on calling money tainted…I don’t think it’s the lottery or even gambling that is evil but an out of balanced lifestyle or addiction to that sort of thing.
Jim on Mon, August 18, 2008
For those that would say no, help me understand! Is it the church’s job to regulate where offerings come from?
How about the person that won the money? Think about it from his perspective. We don’t know where he is in his walk with God, think of what a “no” would mean for him!
He is trying to respond in obediance to what God instructs his followers to do, but is turned away by those who “represent” God. What is he to do?
Or, what if someone made substantial money in a way that was legal but may be viewed by the church as questionable or unethical and then 10 years later comes to Christ and wants to donate a substantial sum, would they then turn it away?
If the real reason is because the church is afraid of what the media will do or what their people will think I would call that weak and poor leadership.
Pastor Larry on Mon, August 18, 2008
Our ministry is in a town that has 12 casinos. Lots of gambling. Lots of other stuff. Many of our members work in the casinos. They tithe on their earnings, Some give a whole lot more.
From what I have been reading, this one church member in Florida was tithing on what he won. People who work in the gaming industry tithe on the income that comes from folks who come there to gamble. Is the money earned by income from those who gamble not tainted but the money won in gambling is tainted?
I am not trying to split hairs, but we have to determine where or if we will draw the line. If we do not accept the gift of the one and do accept the tithe of the other are we not being two-faced?
If the church has a policy against using gifts from certain sources, go ahead and accept the gift and pass it one in total to missions or some Christian social agency. Or put the money in a trust fund and only use the interest to support ministries that help gamblers and others that are trapped in the gaming industry.
We are trying to get some industry or businesses to move in to the area and help folks break this cycle.
Funds like this would be a start in areas like ours.
Gary Sweeten on Mon, August 18, 2008
I do not like gambling at all and I despise government sponsored gambling. I am a therapist who has treated many people who are have compulsive habits, including gambling. However, those are not the issues here. The issue is using funds from less than holy places to evangelize, heal, equip the saints and build God’s people up.
All money has been handled by someone in sin. Business people sin and make money that is then given to Christian enterprises. I cannot imagine that it would be better to see money go to places that do not glorify God rather than a ministry.
Claude on Mon, August 18, 2008
I would definitely take the money the Bible is filled with examples of God using the worlds money to finance his work. I don’t think the Egyptians were a real godly bunch but they financed the exodus. Take it manage it as a good steward of the Lord.
Daphne on Tue, August 19, 2008
Oh please, lift up your holy robes and turn it down!! How about all those sinful taxcollectors who are giving money—turn them away. Let them find hope and love in Jesus who had dinner with one.
Will Clegg on Tue, August 19, 2008
I would not accept the money. Money won in gambling always comes at the loss of others, many of whom are addicted to gambling. It is, in my opinion a sinful activity which only appeals to our lower nature - a desire to get more.
Peter Hamm on Tue, August 19, 2008
Will writes [Money won in gambling always comes at the loss of others, many of whom are addicted to gambling.] Good point. However… Economics 101, ALL money earned by anybody who is even a little well off comes at the expense of somebody else…
Do we no longer take money from rich successful business owners… whose gain often comes at the expense of low-paid workers, many of whom make poor life choices as a result of their circumstances?
It is indeed a quandry. (And no, I’m not some kind of communist or something…)
Vogie on Tue, August 19, 2008
There should be no question. Of course the church should take the money. However, I believe that such a large gift shouldn’t be given to just one congregation (unless there is a deficit that needs to be addressed).
Why is this money ‘tainted’? Because it was won in a game of chance? Would that make the twelfth apostle, Matthias, tainted as well? God uses the illusion of chance and the seemingly randomnity of chaos to show us that he is indeed sovereign in addition to our free will.
CS on Tue, August 19, 2008
Jim:
“For those that would say no, help me understand! Is it the church’s job to regulate where offerings come from?”
I would say, “Yes.” If money were obtained through extortion or drug deals, for instance, would that be welcomed? If by a repentant sinner who has walked away from a sinful lifestyle, I think it could be received. But from someone who is continuing to abide in a lifestyle of sin? I think most people, like me, would pass. Scrutinizing the source of tithes is perfectly acceptable, to prevent sinful activities within the church.
I was also thinking long and hard about this question before I chimed in, initially considering it to be an adiaphoron. But then, on the previous page, when someone cited the, “meat given to idols,” verses, that made me change my vote to more of a, “No, that money should be refused.”
Anyone have any thoughts about the 1 Corinthians 8 implications of accepting this money?
—
CS
Noel Heikkinen on Tue, August 19, 2008
I would ask him to reverse tithe like Rick Warren does. Live on 600,000 and give 5.4 million to the church.
http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Randy Ehle on Tue, August 19, 2008
CS seems to draw a distinction between receiving offerings from one “who has walked away from a sinful lifestyle” versus “from someone who is continuing to abide in a lifestyle of sin?” As so many others have commented, how are we to know the lifestyle of the givers? For the most part, we don’t. About the only reason we know this is because it is an unusually large amount.
I expect that every church has people living in a lifestyle of sin who are nonetheless significant givers. I don’t know of anywhere in Scripture that says the synagogue/church should not accept funds from sinners. I know of several places where the blessing and fruit that might otherwise derive from “offering your gift” is withheld because the giver is in sin, but that is between the giver and God.
None of this, of course, absolves the church leaders from knowing their congregation, preaching against sin, teaching wise and godly stewardship, etc. I think my best response to the lottery winner would be a conversation about stewardship of the resources God gave before he won, not focusing on the winnings themselves. (I.e., is playing the lottery wise stewardship? I don’t believe so.)
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