A recent article in Christianity Today1 described the dilemma of Christian churches in Indonesia receiving donations from questionable sources. Last year, a Cabinet Minister donated thousands of dollars to Catholic churches, the money coming from a multi-million-dollar telecom bribery scheme. The official was given a 15-year prison sentence. Catholic leaders vowed to return the money, on the basis of Christian ethics.
In 2017, a sea transport director was found guilty of accepting bribes. He claimed he used the money for orphan care and repair of a damaged church.
Such instances of dirty money being used for religious purposes led to asking Christian leaders whether organizations should ever accept donations from unethical sources. Their responses were perhaps not all that different from how American Christians might have replied to the same question. You decide.
The director of a Christian organization said the Bible condemns money obtained through sinful means. A seminary professor admitted churches have limited capabilities to trace the origins, or motivations, for offerings. He favored educating congregations, citing the ethical implications of 2 Corinthians 8:5 and Romans 12:1, as well as the command not to accept the earnings of a prostitute (Deuteronomy 23:18). However, a pastor with a church in a red-light district has prostitutes that come to worship and give money, which he justified by citing the sinful woman who poured expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:37-38).
Other pastors were a bit more two-sided. One discovered an honorarium that came from a questionable source. He cashed the check and gave the money to another minister, who was told the source but accepted the cash because he needed to pay for his child’s school tuition. Another pastor warned that when budget needs are high, so is the greater temptation to accept dirty money. He advises donors to give the money directly to recipients so he doesn’t have to worry about the origin of the funds.
The issue of dirty money and religion illustrates the odd pictures you get when blending scripture, pragmatism, and moral values. Imagine a remake of the Godfather movie where a priest tells the Godfather the church cannot accept money from a crime boss. Or a new series of the Father Brown PBS show where the elderly ladies of the village have hit the jackpot at Bingo, and the church needs to repair the steeple.
The definition of dirty money includes a very large gray area. For example, was the 30 pieces of silver given to Judas to betray Jesus dirty money, or was it part of God’s plan? In our world, if gambling is a sin, then any winnings must be suspect, as well as the wages of someone who works in a casino or lottery booth. Do any profits and wages from alcohol, tobacco, oil, or politics qualify as dirty money? Is it dirty money if an unrepentant sinner buys something at a church fundraiser?
Are there situations where you would accept dirty money? A loved one needs surgery. Your church was destroyed by fire.
The tactic of “don’t ask, don’t tell” will not satisfy the Lord. God judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, and nothing can be hidden from Him to whom we must give an account (Hebrews 4:12-13). You are fortunate if, like me, you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as an alarm.
Nomads2 