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...
Comments
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Dave Kinney on Wed, August 20, 2008
There seems to be a principle within Deut 23:18 that everyone is ignoring. The very fact that professing Christians are playing the lottery should be a red flag to the spiritual condition within our Lord’s Kingdom. The Church is definetly in trouble.
Shouldn’t the one who plays the lottery be subject to church discipline?
So many are waiting for the Anti-Christ to open his tattoo parlor and start marking heads and hands…well if we already accept the spirit of the Anti-Christ in our thinking, and if we already serve the spirit of the Anti-Christ with our hard earned money, aren’t we already serving his cause of evil and destruction?
Brian L. on Wed, August 20, 2008
Lois,
I don’t think it was the intention of anyone to criticize, although I can only speak for myself.
If any of my posts have come across that way, I sincerely repent. I would have not done as your pastor did, but I in no way want to communicate that your pastor was not doing what he felt God was having him do in his situation.
The gist of the comments as I discern them is that some would take it, some would not.
Brian L.
Randy Ehle on Wed, August 20, 2008
Lois, the question that Todd asked was not “was the pastor wrong?” but “would you/your church take the money?” I’ve read and/or skimmed most of the comments and I don’t really see anyone criticizing your pastor. There are comments - directed more broadly at those who would make the same decision as your pastor - that present a different perspective; for the most part, those strike me as fairly gracious and certainly biblical.
Personally, I would hope that your pastor uses the opportunity afforded by this situation as a learning opportunity for himself, the church, and the would-be donor. There is much to be learned!
Randy Ehle on Wed, August 20, 2008
Dave, Deut 23:18 is an interesting verse in an interesting context. What is the “vow” that requires payment? It doesn’t seem to be the “tithe”, but perhaps something else. The NIV also has a footnote that suggests that what is translated as “male prostitute” is actually “dog”. What might that imply?
What about verses 19-20, which prohibit charging interest to a brother Israelite? Shall we live by that, too? Does that apply to Christians, and if so, should a Christian banker not charge interest on loans made to Christians?
And what of verse 24, which says that “you may eat all the grapes you want” in “your neighbors vineyard”, but you may not put them in your basket. It’s berry-picking season here in Oregon; am I free to go eat as many as I want, as long as I don’t take a basket?
I certainly don’t want to overlook a verse in Scripture, but neither do I want to misapply it out of context. I’m not a fan of the lottery; I don’t believe it’s particularly wise stewardship. But I think one could say the same about a host of other things that few of us think twice about: how much do Christians spend attending baseball and football games? (At least with the lottery there is the potential - slight as it may be - of recouping some of your money.) What about playing video games? Lots of facets to consider….
Vogei on Wed, August 20, 2008
@ Randy - Yes. Brilliant.
If you loan a brother in Christ money, you shouldn’t charge him interest. You shouldn’t even pressure him to give it back. If it isn’t returned in 7 years, the debt should be gone. Both biblically, and the fact that you both had forgotten about it by then.
God was gracious enough to lay out, in Deuteronomy, the basics of society. From manslaughter to welfare, credit to civil court, He’s thought of just about everything. Almost like he knew society would have that.
Look at verse 24. Then look elsewhere in the Bible to discover who your neighbor is. If you are a neighbor to him and he truly is your neighbor, chomp away, because he won’t care. AJ Jacobs just wrote a book on how he lived a year solely on biblical principles and commands. And, with some bizarre quirks aside, he really liked it (his wife wasn’t thrilled for all of it, however).
I’m not going to lambaste you and call you a sinner ‘cause you like catfish. I love pork, but thankfully the food commands were revised by the voice of God, with a giant floating blanket for reference. I, too, am not a fan of the lottery. I cannot, however, have a distaste for it, because it is what is paying for my college tuition (the Bright Futures program for Florida residents).
@ Dave: Deut 23:18 doesn’t apply here at all… unless I misread something, there weren’t any prostitues involved. At all. In my limited inner city ministry experience, prostitutes very rarely played the lottery.
@ Lois : We aren’t criticizing OR ridiculing. We’re theorizing on the doctrinal methodology of the matter. You mentioned us not knowing the specifics? Please do tell!!! I wish the tables were indeed turned… I feel the sorrow of my home church that has a 2 Million dollar deficit from our new building, constructed before I joined the church. That’s pretty much the opposite of scriptural spending, but the building it replaced was literally falling apart. Should the debt have come because of the necessity of the building? I can’t answer that, ‘cause I wasn’t there. However, Six hundred grand would knock a huge chunk of that out.
Lois Crissinger on Wed, August 20, 2008
This was the first place of many that I had read over the internet discussing Pastor David’s decision where I was ready to respond. It’s amazing to me what an incredible amount of strong reactions it has brought forth. Please forgive me for responding to this subject with all of the other posts that I have read resounding in my head and heart. I will post a link to David’s blog where you can see his heart more clearly than I can tell. http://www.davidtarkington.com. If you are interested, listen to the beginning of his message entitled, Running the Race: Why we do what we do. Before his message he explains to the church body his decision regarding the money. While you’re at it, go ahead and listen to the whole thing. It was great! http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Mickael Farris on Sun, August 24, 2008
A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
(Proverbs 13:22)
Nathan Tatman on Mon, August 25, 2008
I have not read all of the comments, so someone else may have mentioned this. By not accepting the money are they not allowing this guy to give of his tithe and offering to God? Should the church be able to deny someone the opportunity to give back to Hime?
Randy on Tue, August 26, 2008
My former pastor in TX used to joke, “If you win the lottery, TITHE. I’m not proud” He would also say he is against the lottery, but all money is still God’s money.
kevind on Wed, August 27, 2008
a solution to all of this might have been for the donor to give his gift anonymously… i’m sure someone with $6 million in resources could find a way to give a mere $600k to a church without anyone knowing where it came from…
plus—> then, by the secret giving, he would have laid up future treasures for himself in heaven (((provided a gambler can actually enter the pearly gates)))
http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Adam on Wed, August 27, 2008
kevind - you had me completely with you right up until the end “ (((provided a gambler can actually enter the pearly gates))) “… provided he can actually enter??? What’s up with that? I know that you’re probably saying it just in gest but some might not think so.
Jesus died for ALL sins, not just ones that don’t refer to gambling.
All of this being said, I still would have accepted it…and for others who may take offense to what I say, I’m not meaning to offend and I’m not meaning to judge a certain pastor…I’m speaking on what “I” would have done.
Gary Sweeten on Wed, August 27, 2008
Over the last several years our church received millions of dollars from people who left us their stocks and bonds as well as real estate. I am sorry to hear that they may all be in hell because of their gambling. Do you think we ought to return their tithes and offerings and sell the buildings they bought and close the missionary hospitals they built? I am in deep remorse for taking gambling money.
kevind on Wed, August 27, 2008
adam…
in the first part i was actually being totally serious… what i said at the end was, however, my attempt at humor… (that’s why i put the little smiley face http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif in there…
anyway… thanks for bringing it up… i truly would not want to mislead anyone…
Adam on Wed, August 27, 2008
kevind- I know, that’s why I said I was with you on that part. I know that I probably have a completely different view theologically on gambling than most but I don’t have a problem if your money is disbursed in THIS order:
1. Tithe
2. There’s food on your table and clothes on your children’s back.
3. Your bills are paid.
4. You have a savings account.
5. You have a little left over to do with what you want (including taking a gamble).
That’s just my feelings on it.
Peter Hamm on Wed, August 27, 2008
Gary, you nailed it!
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