BWA6067@TAMAGEN (01/12/90)
Mike writes:
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Say that in your neighborhood a poor boy becomes incredibly rich
through drug dealing. He offers to donate $100,000 to your church
for the purpose of evangelism, helping the homeless, or some other
worthy cause.
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Thus, the $100,000 is legally tainted.
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You know that his money has been earned through
the destruction of many young lives, that is, it is essentially
"blood money". Do you accept this money?
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Assuming, of course, that it's not entirely up to me (since I don't know of
any Biblical authority for a single executive in a congregation)...but I
digress. How do I vote in a business meeting? The money is illegal, so
accepting it is basically a money-laundering venture, which would make the
congregation an accessory to a felony...I vote NO in light of Romans 13.
Further, "do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil
(Romans 14:16)." The last one is probably out of context, so take that one
with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, it is clear in the N.T. that the church
needs to have a good reputation within the community (not at the expense of
truth, of course, but this is hardly such a matter).
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Would it make any difference if he repented first?
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I have no authority to make that judgement, nor is there legal justification
for entering into an illegal relationship based upon such a judgement that is
so difficult to define adequately. What is the sum and substance of his
"repentance?" And by what parameters is it defined? Is that even relevant?
I don't think it is relevant. Look at Matthew 27:3-10. This is not ILLEGAL
blood money, but just blood money, in this story of Judas. There is no
evidence that for the chief priests and elders to accept it was illegal nor
that it would bring public reproach upon God's people. Your situation is much
different.
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gave up drug-dealing and joined
your church (the Zaccheus parallel; but it's still blood money)?
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"Joining a church" is a terribly nebulous and dubious concept. I think,
however, that this is irrelevant. The bottom line, to me, has two facets:
1. To accept the money would be illegal.
2. To accept the money would be tantamount to sanctioning the Machiavellian
idea of "the ends justify the means," and would set a very dangerous
precedent. How far can we go before we say "this money is *too* tainted?" We
risk terrible public outrage which does nothing to enhance our abilities to
reach the public with the gospel.
queue ballCOSMO@TRIUMFER (01/12/90)
>Say that in your neighborhood a poor boy becomes incredibly rich >through drug dealing. He offers to donate $100,000 to your church >for the purpose of evangelism, helping the homeless, or some other >worthy cause. You know that his money has been earned through >the destruction of many young lives, that is, it is essentially >"blood money". Do you accept this money? Would it make any >difference if he repented first, gave up drug-dealing and joined >your church (the Zaccheus parallel; but it's still blood money)? Of course not. If your church needs money, God will see to it that you get it. If he's intent on giving up his money, tell him to take it to the families of the lives he's wrecked and give it to them face to face. Peace David