[bit.listserv.christia] Drug money and Christian ethics - MJM

MJMCCULL@OWUCOMCN (Mike McCully) (01/11/90)

As long as we are discussing hypothetical situations about being
a lawyer and so on, here's another one:

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)?

Mike

JIM@AUVM (Jim McIntosh) (01/12/90)

In article <CHRISTIA%90011117393290@FINHUTC>, Mike McCully <MJMCCULL@OWUCOMCN>
says:
>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)?

A couple of thoughts:

 1.  I worked  for many years  selling computer equipment to  the defense
     industry...  something I  now consider  sinful and  very unchristian
     (FOR ME!! No flames please). How was  I to get rid of my money which
     had been earned  by exploiting the capability of  the destruction of
     many, many lives?  The best way I  could think of was to  give it to
     churches who  would help  "Clothe the naked"  and "Feed  the hungry"
     with it.

2.   The money itself is neutral. It can't  sin, and it *can* be used for
     good. If the donation was made through a third person or anonymously
     we would  have no qualms about  taking it. A concern  would be about
     publically being  identified with  the donor, or  having him  or her
     being able to influence the ministry.

 3.  I don't think any of us is 100%  good or 100% bad. There is good and
     bad in each of us. We all sin... we are all imperfect. Accepting the
     money from the person who has a lot of bad might encourage that part
     of him or her which is good, and enable that part to get stronger.

I'd take the  money... use it to  help build the kingdom...  and hope the
donor got something out of it in the bargain too.
-------
Jim McIntosh (JIM@AUVM)
The American University
Washington DC 20016 USA