Church Rejects Donation from Lottery Winner ~ WWTCOJCOLDS Do

[_TAK]

ORANGE PARK, Florida -- 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.


http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/tops ... ider=email

Would the church have the integrity to reject the donation?

[_beastie]

The church accepts tithing from Marriott, and at least a portion of that money was obtained by selling alcohol and porn.

I guess a distinction can be made between selling the evil, and buying the evil, but it seems a pretty weak distinction to me.

[_Scottie]

I have heard that the church does not accept tithing from lottery or gambling winnings.

Although it seems strange. Why would they deny a person the blessings associated with paying tithing no matter where the money came from?

Is gambling or playing the lottery actually against the commandments, or is it just advised against?

[_The Nehor]

I have heard that the church does not accept tithing from lottery or gambling winnings.

Although it seems strange. Why would they deny a person the blessings associated with paying tithing no matter where the money came from?

Is gambling or playing the lottery actually against the commandments, or is it just advised against?

It's against the commandments. President Hinckley defined it as sin.

This is why I can never tell the story in Sacrament Meeting about how I was broke and was called to work in the Temple. I had no way to buy needed Temple clothing. I went to the Lord and prayed that he would provide a way. I put the clothes on my credit card and waited for the miracle. The next morning I went to work and my boss handed out little gift cups to all his employees. They had some candy and a lotto scratch-off card. I'd never used one before but scratched the thing and won $200. I paid off my Temple Clothes. I paid no tithing on it.

This story is a little odd in that I did not actually play the lottery as I took no risk and spent no money.

Edit: In regards to the title, I much prefer the term WWCD. What would Cthulu do? The answer, consume all human life. It solves most problems.

[_LifeOnaPlate]

From what I understand the Church doesn't accept tithes or offerings from the proceeds of gambling.

[_The Dude]

My mother likes to say "Coincidences happen when God wants to remain annonymous."

Any Christian Church that won't accept gambling or lottery winnings is hypocritical. All the time they say seemingly coincidentals blessings appear because of God's tinkering. They might even try a clumsy calculation of the odds as part of their argument that God must have done it. So I ask you, what are the odds that Brother Jim won the lottery? The odds are so stacked against him that "obviously" God was involved in rendering this blessing, and more than likely Brother Jim only bought the ticked as an act of pure faith, so why won't the Church accept part of that cash blessing as a charitable donation?

I'm sure Pastor Joel Osteen wouldn't be as inconsistent as the Mormons and Baptists. He's always telling people God will open the windows of heaven if you just have faith.

[_The Nehor]

My mother likes to say "Coincidences happen when God wants to remain annonymous."

Any Christian Church that won't accept gambling or lottery winnings is hypocritical. All the time they say seemingly coincidentals blessings appear because of God's tinkering. They might even try a clumsy calculation of the odds as part of their argument that God must have done it. So I ask you, what are the odds that Brother Jim won the lottery? The odds are so stacked against him that "obviously" God was involved in rendering this blessing, and more than likely Brother Jim only bought the ticked as an act of pure faith, so why won't the Church accept part of that cash blessing as a charitable donation?

I'm sure Pastor Joel Osteen wouldn't be as inconsistent as the Mormons and Baptists. He's always telling people God will open the windows of heaven if you just have faith.

How is God obviously involved? This is like saying because lightning strikes people rarely he must have chosen each person it strikes or that he willed every car accident. Why does God have to force every improbably event into being? Your mother might have said that but it's about as scriptural as the clichéd, "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it." rubbish.

[_TAK]

I have heard that the church does not accept tithing from lottery or gambling winnings.

Although it seems strange. Why would they deny a person the blessings associated with paying tithing no matter where the money came from?

Is gambling or playing the lottery actually against the commandments, or is it just advised against?

I was thinking can you work in the gaming industry and be a Mormon and pay tithing .. Found this:

Harry Reid.. A descendant of Mormon pioneers sent to settle southwestern Utah and southern Nevada, the Brigham Young University graduate was a bishop in his Las Vegas ward while working in management of The Dunes, Aladdin and Circus Circus casinos before heading the state's most influential gaming lobby, the Nevada Resort Association.

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_Reid.html

[_silentkid]

How is God obviously involved? This is like saying because lightning strikes people rarely he must have chosen each person it strikes or that he willed every car accident. Why does God have to force every improbably event into being?

Because he does. He is God. Don't you watch sports? How many athletes credit God with their phenomenal achievements? God is responsible for everything, especially the improbable. Good God.

[_The Nehor]

How is God obviously involved? This is like saying because lightning strikes people rarely he must have chosen each person it strikes or that he willed every car accident. Why does God have to force every improbably event into being?

Because he does. He is God. Don't you watch sports? How many athletes credit God with their phenomenal achievements? God is responsible for everything, especially the improbable. Good God.

God never claimed the athletes were right. In fact, in this press conference God says he doesn't help athletes....well, except one: http://crackle.com/c/Mr._Deity#id=18057 ... 06%26fx%3D