Tithing the Lotto Winning to Your Church???

[righteousdude2]

A few years back, an ABC denomination took a stand and turned down the tithe and generous gift from a deacon who won over a hundred million in the state lottery. To top it off, the relieved the gentleman of his office as deacon.

What would, or should, your church do if facing a similar situation?!

The reasoning behind the pastor and his deacon board was that the money was of the devil, and that the deacon committed a sin by gambling.

To make it even more interesting, the man and his family went to an AOG fellowship down the street, gave the tithe and gift to this small congregation, and the money went on to help church missionaries, start a preschool, build a new sanctuary, and that church has not stopped growing since.

 

[Tom Bryant]

We'd take the money and use it.

I admire a church that would preach against the lottery and then when someone in the church wins it, refuses a gift from it. But, although I don't buy lotto tix, I don't see anything particularly wrong with it.

There could be some drawbacks to accepting it. But there are drawbacks from most everything.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

A few years back, an ABC denomination took a stand and turned down the tithe and generous gift from a deacon who won over a hundred million in the state lottery. To top it off, the relieved the gentleman of his office as deacon.

What would, or should, your church do if facing a similar situation?!

The reasoning behind the pastor and his deacon board was that the money was of the devil, and that the deacon committed a sin by gambling.

To make it even more interesting, the man and his family went to an AOG fellowship down the street, gave the tithe and gift to this small congregation, and the money went on to help church missionaries, start a preschool, build a new sanctuary, and that church has not stopped growing since.

There's an apocryphal story about D.L. Moody, in which a local saloon keeper, inspired by Moody's charitable work, contributed a very large sum of money for Moody to build a mission.

A woman in Moody's church was approached him, indignant, and said, "Mr. Moody! How dare you take the Devil's money for a work of God!"

Moody is said to have replied, "Madam, if this is the Devil's money, then it appears God has decided he's had it long enough."

Although there may be sins associated with playing the lottery, I don't believe playing the lottery or gambling, in and of themselves, is a sin. So I don't believe there's anything wrong with accepting the money on that account.

But, on the other hand, there's also the issue of the appearance of evil and of the possibility of causing a weaker brother to stumble. So, for that reason, I probably wouldn't take the money.

It's a good question, though.

 

[Jerome]

The first Baptist church in America (Providence, Rhode Island) built its meeting house from the proceeds of a lottery (1774)!

Here's another Baptist church's lottery ticket:

http://www.fosterpreservationsociety.org/images/Lottery Ticket.jpg

 

[Br. Dan]

Scripturally, I think the ABC was right; practically, I'm surprised they had the integrity to make the stand. I would lump that in with passages dealing with filthy lucre, contentment, worldliness, mammon, etc.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Here's a variation on the question. In Florida, the lottery underwrites a college grant entitled "Bright Futures Scholarship"

If your children qualified for it, would you accept that money that comes from the lottery?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The first Baptist church in America (Providence, Rhode Island) built its meeting house from the proceeds of a lottery (1774)!

Here's another Baptist church's lottery ticket:

http://www.fosterpreservationsociety.org/images/Lottery Ticket.jpg

1796....check the pic

 

[Zaac]

Here's a variation on the question. In Florida, the lottery underwrites a college grant entitled "Bright Futures Scholarship"

If your children qualified for it, would you accept that money that comes from the lottery?

Interesting because about 6 BILLION dollars in Georgia have come from the lottery to fund the Hope Scholarship, paying for over 1.5 million Georgia students to get degrees.

I wonder how many Georgia parents would give that money back?

 

[Salty]

Scripturally, I think the ABC was right; ...

First-was that a decision of the ABC, or the local ABC church? (autonomy of the local church)

Second - if a person makes money "under the table" would you accept that offering (note: I don't use "tithe"- but that's another discussion)

Third - I would put the lottery and alcohol in the same boat. The sin is not doing it - it is the abuse of the action.
If I have an extra dollar - do I play the lottery (the devils game) or buy a soda pop (bad for my teeth and health).

Tom Bryant - good point about the scholarship.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Interesting because about 6 BILLION dollars in Georgia have come from the lottery to fund the Hope Scholarship, paying for over 1.5 million Georgia students to get degrees.

I wonder how many Georgia parents would give that money back?

I doubt many.:tongue3:

 

[sag38]

"Interesting because about 6 BILLION dollars in Georgia have come from the lottery to fund the Hope Scholarship, paying for over 1.5 million Georgia students to get degrees. I wonder how many Georgia parents would give that money back?" Quoted from Zaac


If I am correct in my math that is a 4 million dollar investment in each child's college education. That's not a very good return on the money.

 

[preachinjesus]

Not long ago we had a member who won a partial stake in the lottery (local) and asked if he could tithe his winnings.

We said, "Of course"

Why deny someone who's first concern with their blessing is to honor God's command?

 

[InTheLight]

"Interesting because about 6 BILLION dollars in Georgia have come from the lottery to fund the Hope Scholarship, paying for over 1.5 million Georgia students to get degrees. I wonder how many Georgia parents would give that money back?" Quoted from Zaac


If I am correct in my math that is a 4 million dollar investment in each child's college education. That's not a very good return on the money.

Your math is off. The correct amount is $4,000.

 

[Zaac]

Your math is off. The correct amount is $4,000.

Thank you. It has been a tremendous thing in Georgia. A lot of the best and brightest started staying in state because they could get full scholarships to to whatever state school they wanted to go.

It also pays for the pre-K program.

There are a lot of church folks with kids who have used that money.

 

[wpe3bql]

Here's a variation on the question. In Florida, the lottery underwrites a college grant entitled "Bright Futures Scholarship"

If your children qualified for it, would you accept that money that comes from the lottery?

Tennessee has a similar set up in its lottery-funded Hope Scholarships. Since I have no children, having to deal with it has never come up.

Personally, I don't see a problem per se with accepting a scholarship from its funds. After all, we drive on roads that are funded from the gas taxes that are collected from businesses that sell alcoholic beverages and tobacco products (and lottery tickets!). We can eat at restaurants that have bars in them if we so choose.

And on and on it goes. It'd be nice to live in a society where we wouldn't have to be confronted with all these evil things, but we don't. Our society is one that exists in this sin-cursed world. It's not going to get any better until Jesus comes.

 

[HankD]

Here's a question that comes up, given enough time, in these kind of debates:

Is a Lottery any different than buying stocks and bonds hoping to make a profit?

There are some stocks which will make you rich in a short time and others in which you will lose all. It's a gamble.

HankD

 

[righteousdude2]

First-was that a decision of the ABC, or the local ABC church? (autonomy of the local church)

Sorry .... it wasn't the Conference, but the local church! My bad! :BangHead:

 

[Salty]

Sorry .... it wasn't the Conference, but the local church! My bad! :BangHead:

that's what I thought, but I just wanted to confirm.

 

[Jerome]

1796....check the pic

Huh?

How about you reread the post...

 

[SaggyWoman]

Heck yeah, I would tithe, and I think the church should accept. Let God use it for good....or give it to orphans and widows.