What Happens If a Church Member Hits the Jackpot?

I was faced with that very issue at another church, several years ago. A fellow told me about his sister going to Mississippi, to one of the casinos, and that she had "hit the jackpot." She was going to give the Lord "His part" however. 10% was going into the offering plate--a sizable sum for that country church. I'll return to the story in just a minute.

But first, let me share with you what triggered this line of thought. I read an article from the Executive Director of the Christian Action League in North Carolina. It brought back some memories. Here's what he said:

The Right Frame of Mind: Should the Church Accept Lottery Winnings?
By Rev. Mark H. Creech February 12, 2003
(Agape Press) - There was a time when gambling was considered a vice and a crime in this country. Things have changed. Today, 39 states have state-sponsored lotteries and the church no longer takes a strong stand against gambling.
Approximately six weeks ago, Andrew "Jack" Whitaker of West Virginia announced his plans to donate $17 million -- 10% of his $170 million gross winnings of a Powerball jackpot -- to three Church of God pastors. One of the pastors said, "That's a blessing to have that kind of backing."
Shortly thereafter, David Rush (a Florida man) sent $100,000 from his $14 million Florida Lotto jackpot winnings to the Salvation Army in Naples, Florida. But Salvation Army Maj. Cleo Damon told Rush that he couldn't take his money and returned the check.
A spokesperson for Damon said Damon believed that taking a stand against gambling and then taking winnings from the lottery would have been hypocritical. Yet, Lt. Colonel David E. Grindle (Salvation Army Chicago Divisional Commander) was quick to point out that Damon's decision was purely his own and didn't reflect Salvation Army policy regarding such gifts.
The fact that churches and Christian organizations would even consider accepting gifts from lottery winnings clearly demonstrates how the church has weakened in its opposition to gambling. Have we forgotten that lotteries are a form of gambling, and that gambling is a sin that destroys thousands of lives?
Someone may be quick to say, "That's a sanctimonious overstatement. You can't show one place in the entire Bible where it says: ?Thou shalt not play the lottery.' You can't show anywhere in Scripture where it says: ?Thou shalt not gamble.'" And that is correct, I can't. Still the subject of gambling is not that easily dismissed.
I can't show any place in the Bible where it says: "Thou shalt not watch a pornographic movie." Yet, the Scriptures do talk about the sin of lust and advocate principles that would deny any individual to do anything that would entertain or generate or provide the means for and expression of the sin of lust.
Interestingly, the same Bible that talks about the sin of lust also talks about the sin of covetousness. Those who cannot see the connection between lust and pornography are not likely to see the connection between covetousness and gambling. Nevertheless, gambling is simply a form of covetousness -- a violation of the Tenth Commandment of God.
Covetousness is an inordinate desire for money, property, or something that belongs to someone else. Rex Rogers in his book, Seducing America, rightly says there are only three ways to legitimately acquire property: (1) as a gift, (2) as a payment for labor, and (3) in fair exchange. Anything else is but a form of covetousness -- and gambling certainly doesn't fit any of these criteria.
Simply put, gambling is all about avarice. It is the old desire of something-for-nothing -- the "get-rich-quick" scam.
Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, has written: "The Bible is clear on this issue. The entire enterprise of gambling is opposed to the moral worldview revealed in God's Word. The basic impulse behind gambling is greed -- a basic sin that is the father of many other evils. Scripture repeatedly addresses greed, covetousness, and avarice as a sin against God, and often with graphic warning of the destruction that is greed's result. The burning desire for earthly riches leads to frustration and spiritual death."
"OK", someone says. "I understand that gambling is sinful. But what's wrong with accepting gambling winnings for the church?"
Again, this is a matter where there is no definite command in Scripture, but the Bible does talk about the principle of Christian separation. With fatherly concern, the apostle Paul admonished the Church: "Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing" (2 Cor. 6:17).
Of course, this doesn't mean we should retreat into our monasteries to get away from worldly values. Nevertheless, it does mean that we shouldn't knowingly enter into any bond with evil. It's a standard that centers on our ability to have and maintain a credible witness for Christ.
Pastor Scott Thomas understands this principle well. According to Family News In Focus, he faced a very difficult situation several years ago when a deacon in his church offered a portion of lottery winnings for a building fund. Thomas refused the gift and stood on the principle of Christian separation. "I've just always believed that God doesn't need to use chance to build his Church," said Thomas. Furthermore, he added that impoverished people largely play lotteries and the church shouldn't profit on the backs of the poor.
Despite Thomas' opposition, however, the church wanted the money and fired him. They accepted the gift and built the building. As a result, attendance has dropped from 165 to fewer than 50 people a week. Thomas says: "Several of the members have called me and said, “The albatross around our necks is that we are now known as the lottery church.'"
Recently, Pastor John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, wrote an editorial entitled: "Don't Play the Lottery for Me!" Piper's editorial sums up, what I think, ought to be the position of every church on whether to accept gifts from gambling winnings.
. Piper wrote: "We are followers of Jesus. He had no place to lay His head and did not accept the demonic temptation to jump off the temple for the jackpot of instance recognition. The Calvary road is not paved with Powerball tickets, but with blood. The Church was bought once by One who refused the short cut of instant triumph. It will never be bought by those who dream of riches.
"Don't play the lottery for Bethlehem Baptist Church. We will not, I pray, salve your conscience by taking one dime of your plunder, or supporting even the thought of your spiritual suicide. Let the widow give her penny and the laborer his wage. And keep your life free from the love of money."
Indeed, Pastor! We need to be separate as Christians. We mustn't be conformed to this world that we may prove what is "that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2).
Rev. Mark H. Creech (calact@aol.com) is the executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.

Now, back to my former dilemma--what did I do? I went to this sweet lady (she really was) and told her that while I appreciated her devotion to the church and desire to be helpful that it would not be appropriate for me--knowing where the money came from--to accept this gift. It also gave me an opportunity to warn her of the peril she was placing herself in. She took it rather well and gave me assurance that she--a businesswoman--knew better than to plunge deeply into gambling.

But she was hooked. Back to gambling she went--it was an addiction and she poured all her money into this habit--until she lost her family, her business, her home, and so far as I know walked away from the church and has not returned.

Groucho Marx used to emcee a TV show called, "You Bet Your Life." That's the danger you face when you begin to play the lottery, visit the casino, bet on the horses--whatever. You'll not come out ahead. How do you think casinos stay in business? Apparently they are making money and not giving it away! Like that dear woman I mentioned above--if you win, you might become the biggest loser of all. Don't bet your life!