Should the church accept money if it is obtained in an ungodly manner?

Response

The simple answer is no, a church should not accept money if it was acquired in an ungodly manner. However, it is crucial to clarify what ungodly means in this context.

For instance, a church should never receive money obtained through theft. Doing so would endorse or approve of an act that is both unethical and illegal. By knowingly accepting funds acquired illegally, a church or ministry risks its integrity and exposes itself to legal liabilities.

An instance of a “ministry” rejecting funds is recounted in Matthew 27. When Judas Iscariot tried to give back the 30 pieces of silver he had been paid to betray Jesus, the chief priests stated, “It is against the law to deposit this blood money in the temple treasury” «And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. », (Matthew 27:6). They were aware that accepting money knowingly used for illegal purposes was unlawful. Ironically, the chief priests themselves had paid Judas initially (Matthew 26:14-16). Their scruples were selective.

Some scenarios present a degree of uncertainty. For example, we might define ungodly as “sinful” or “contrary to God.” However, many individuals work in industries or in ways that could sometimes be deemed sinful. If churches were to scrutinize every donation to ascertain if it was earned in a “godly” manner, it would unfairly burden the church and lead to numerous complex situations regarding what qualifies as godly or ungodly.

In the New Testament, churches encouraged believers to labor diligently to earn their income in ethical ways and then to contribute generously to support their local church.and other missionary activities. Paul wrote in Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” In 1 Corinthians 4:12, he added, “We work hard with our own hands” «For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. », (see also 1 Thessalonians 2:9).

It is likely many of the early believers worked in trades that were secular and involved in activities that could have at times been considered ungodly. However, the emphasis was on honoring God with one’s work (Colossians 3:16-17) and generosity.

Each local church has the opportunity to create its own policies and to distinguish acceptable gifts from unacceptable gifts. A church might draft a policy forbidding financial gifts that are overtly political or directly tied to the sale of alcohol, for example.

In summary, there are certain gifts a church should decline. Some of these are clearly identifiable, while others are less clear. Each congregation should define what gifts would be unacceptable and then help promote a godly work ethic and generosity within the church.