ECSP plays the State Lottery

So a few weeks ago I uncovered a strange item out of the EC offering basket. It was a Winning State Lottery Ticket. I actually had a conversation with the donor before it showed up. Those of you who come to Evergreen know that we've had a significant and steady stream of visitors lately. We've been doing door hangers, special events like "Muslims are from Mars, Christians are from Venus" baby dedications and lots of other buzz and craziness. So when we had more visitors than I could connect with a few weeks ago, it was not surprising. One family was instantly recognizable as soon as they walked in. This family was known to us from their careers and from their kids who had been attending the church for months before the rest of the family made it. I smiled and lit up as soon as they walked in. I talked to them for a few minutes and ushered them to our food, info and child check in areas. Said good bye to them, and headed into the sanctuary to start the service. After service ended this person accosted me and told me how she loved the service, loved the church and wanted to contribute something fiscal but had no cash on her. Before I could even assure her that that wasn't necessary she smiled and said she had a winning scratch-off lottery ticket and wanted to put it in the offering.

Looking at the smile on her face there was no way I could tell her no. I had no idea what the legality of the matter was, but I simply told her yes. I believe her heart was right and her motives were true, so I accepted it. Much of the time I think that's what things come down to, the motive behind the action. It might not always be clear or pure, and the legalists of the world may condemn me for accepting a lottery ticket to our church. They may condemn the evils of gambling, and insist (as I myself do) the the state lottery is a tax for those that are bad at math :) But like I often see Jesus doing, I wanted to value the person, and downplay the letter of the law. In this isntance like so many others, SHE was what mattered and her hope to contribute to what God was doing at ECSP. This is one of my first and greatest litmas tests for people who claim to be Christians, DO THEY VALUE PEOPLE. That is so often what I think Christ-liknes looks like. Don't you think?