Status: Strange News
Earlier this month the Secret Service raided the offices of the
Great News Network (a Texas ministry) and seized 8300 inspirational tracts. The problem with the tracts?
They were printed on million-dollar bills. I would say fake million-dollar bills, but since there's no such thing as real million-dollar bills, there can't exactly be fake ones either. However, the Secret Service felt they looked a little bit too much like real currency for comfort. Reportedly someone had tried to deposit one at a bank. Meanwhile, the Great News Network isn't happy and is threatening to sue the government. But they should realize the government has an extremely low tolerance for any kind of fake currency. Witness the case of
J.S.G. Boggs (whom I write about in
Hippo Eats Dwarf). He's an artist who creates counterfeit currency as art, though his bills are single-sided, so they're not likely to be mistaken for actual money. Nevertheless, the Secret Service raided his studio back in 1992 and seized thousands of his works, and haven't returned them to this day.
Incidentally, here's the tract that was written on the million-dollar bills. (You can try to purchase the bills
here):
The million dollar question: Will you go to Heaven? Here's a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, or used God's name in vain? Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you looked with lust? Will you be guilty on Judgment Day? If you have done those things God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. The Bible warns that if you are guilty you will end up in Hell. That's not God's will. He sent His Son to suffer and die on the cross for you. Jesus took your punishment upon Himself -"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Then He rose from the dead and defeated death. Please, repent (turn from sin) today and trust in Jesus, and God will grant you everlasting life. Then read your Bible daily and obey it.
(Thanks to Joe for the link)
Comments
I remember back in '68, Dick Gregory ran a grassroots campaign using simulated dollar bills, labeled as "1 vote for Dick Gregory" with his face instead of Washington.
The Secret Service got upset when some students discovered that the vending machines of the day treated them as real dollars!
The Living Waters web site now says, "Since the Secret Service seized our our Million Dollar Bill tracts in Texas, we have had a huge run on our supply in California."
... and "Our Million Dollar Bill tracts have been selling like hot cakes on a real cold day in Alaska. There is such a demand that we are not even able to take regular back-orders. Our printers are at present working around the clock, and should have a supply to us by Monday 19th June. However, for quantities of 10,000 or more, call [I'm deleting the number; let them do their own advertising]. We can have them sent to you directly from the printer (saving you about a week in delivery)."
So it would seem that being raided by the Treasury Department is very good for business.
By the way, the price is $5.00 for a pack of 100. Not a great price for simple-minded religious tracts, but pretty good for million-dollar bills.
Living Waters has another one, that might appeal more to MoH readers, called "The Wages of Sin." The front side says, "You Have Earned Your Wages." It's about time I got some acknowledgement. :cheese:
I can't read the name (if that's what it is) at the bottom.
It looks a lot like Grover Cleveland. But why him?
I realize there's nothing in the Bible that specifically says "Thou shalt not make phony million-dollar bills," but shouldn't passing conterfeit money still be considered a sin?
I mean, lying and cheating and deception in general have traditionally been frowned upon.
Or do these folks subscribe to an end-justifies-the-means philosophy?
There I was, several years ago.. I was utterly broke, homeless and hungry. Things were pretty bleak.
Then, one afternoon, I see a neatly-folded $20 in the bushes outside a small restraunt. I could not beleive my luck! This meant enough food that I could stave off starvation for another week, and possibly treat myself to a bit of Real Food for a change..
Then my heart fell a bit.. Surely someone would miss having dropped a twenty. Even as desperate as I was, it wouldn't be right. I looked around a little, trying to see if anyone was nearby who might have dropped it.. but nobody else was near, so my heart lifted again.. I walked towards the local grocery store with a spring in my step, visions of a decent dinner floating in my head..
Halfway there, I noticed the bill was a bit odd.. too stiff and slick.. I unfolded it, and my heart fell.. The tract was designed so that, when folded into quarters, it exactly resembled a $20, but when unfolded, chided the bearer for their greed and promised a 'treasure greater than money' at the local church.
I collapsed on a bench and nearly cried that someone would come up with something so *cruel*.. that in my hour of greatest need, I'd had that which I needed most dangled before me, then cruelly yanked away..
Maybe someone belives that just picking one of these up is enough to start an unbeliever on the road to salvation, and that's why they think a dirty trick is ok -- means to an end. But I doubt this means to an end is effective.
As for the counterfeiting charge, I think a simple "stop doing this" from the government should be sufficient, since there's no actual bill being copied.
On the other hand, the government's fanatical insistence that nobody print anything remotely resembling US currency is quite disturbing. The reason, of course, is that our money is really just play money, backed with nothing and shamelessly manipulated by a federal reserve to serve the political needs of the moment. Naturally, they don't want the distinction between "real" money and "fake" money to be eroded, or else people might realize how worthless US currency really is.
"He may have starved to death, but at least I helped save his soul."
It makes me sick.
How about this. You're obviously a religious person who feels that you're going to Heaven when you die. Now, let's say you're destitute and starving to death, as is your family (who we'll also presume to have been 'saved'). You're out begging for money to feed your starving family before they die. Somebody hands you a religious tract instead of food or money.
How exactly is this beneficial to you? You're already saved. Aren't they preaching to the choir, so to speak? Are you going to feel better about your situation because somebody thinks re-teaching you the word of God is more important than helping you with your physical needs?
In other words, it's rather presumptious on their part to assume that you even need spiritual saving. Who are they to judge your soul? And they are doing it, don't even try to argue against that. They assume that you need spiritual guidance far more than you need physical help. They never talked to you, they never asked you any questions, they just assumed "Oh, there's a begger, he must be going to Hell. I'll save his soul for him."
Isn't it wrong to think this way?
I know, I know, you don't think that's what they're thinking at all. But, of course it is. Otherwise they'd ask you first. If they were a decent person who truly cared about your soul they'd get to know you and determine your need for salvation. But that's too personal. It's far easier to throw tracts out at people and hope some of them take. They, and by 'they' I mean you, can feel better about yourselves without having to actually do any work at all. After all, who wants to befriend a beggar? I'm too busy doing God's work.
Psalms 37:25-26, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed."
God takes care of His own. This is what the message of salvation is all about.
2 Corinthians 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
The starving mans position has everything to do with God's salvation plan. But first he must come into relationship with the Lord.
These tracts that are handed out has the message OF SALVATION so that the starving man can be filled.
John 6:33-36, "For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not."
It basically comes down a difference of opinion.
You feel it's more important to save a person's soul.
I feel it's more important to save a person's life.
Don't forget that the person that who has a mouth to beg also has a mouth to tell the person with the tracts that he is also a Christian. Apparently the person in your example just takes the tract without saying another word. Most Christians will try to get the fellow Christian to go visit a church or mission to get some food. If the person begging is a Christian, why isn't he going to ask his church for help? Probably because he doesn't go to church anywhere. I used to attend a church that had about fifteen people that showed up every Sunday morning for church every week. Even with fifteen people in the church, they still helped people in the area as much as they could. They even contacted other churches in the area to help the people out. The rest of this responce will be on the next comment.
You said that it is presumptuous on their part to assume that I need spiritual saving. We need to assume that people are not going to Heaven unless they tell us differently. As I mentioned earlier, this is what they need to use their mouth for. After all, the body may last 100 years but the soul will be around for the rest of eternity. Yes, the soul is much more important than the body, however James 2:15-17 tells us not to neglect the persons physical needs when they come to you because you need to put your faith to work. You can say you care but you need to show it. I have bought people food and put gas in their cars but I wont give them money because I have seen them go into the store and buy beer and cigarettes with the money that I have given to them. One man came to me in a parking lot and told me that he needed money for a part to his car. I wouldn't give him money but offered to buy it for him at the parts store. When he saw I wouldn't give him any money he said never mind and approached another couple in the parking lot. Another man approached me because he needed laundry detergent. I told him I would buy him some if he would stay there because he wouldn't ride to the store with us. I was back from the store in about three minutes and he was no where to be found. I have many examples like that I could tell you about. I have been bad off in my time also so I can speak from experience, not from a "lets make up an example" like you seem to be doing. At one time in my life I had to sleep in a cardboard box in the winter time to keep warm. Where were the Christians at that time? I didn't tell them how bad off I was. I am sure they would have helped me if I asked them to. They helped me out with meals because that's what I told them I needed.
Finally on your last point, sometimes I can talk to someone, and sometimes I can't. I can always give them a tract to read when they get a chance. There are many people out there who will give them money to ease their own conscious because they are not living the way they should but there is a shortage of people who care enough to try to help them go to Heaven. We need to take care of the physical and the spiritual. This something that I try to do. You may only try to take care of them physically. You haven't ever said if you actually give these people money or if you just hate people that pass out tracts. Even if you do throw a dollar or two their way, it is only putting a band-aid on a major open wound that needs surgery. I can say that people who pass out tracts are doing Gods work. You however are to busy to even try to do Gods work. In the end, only what we do for God will make any difference. Try giving God a chance in your life. If you truly give God a chance, you will never regret it. If you don't want God in your life, you will regret it sooner or later.
The argument isn't whether saving a person's soul is better than saving their body. It's about lying to people. It's about taking advantage of the needy.
If you read all of the comments so far, you know why I don't put a tract in real money. When I have given money to people I have seen them go into a store and buy beer or cigarettes with it. They can buy that stuff with their own money that they have worked for just like you and me. When they ask for money for food and then buy beer or cigarettes with it, they are lying and have no bussiness doing it. As I stated earlier I will buy them food or put gas in their tanks but I will not give them money. Most people will just tell the guy to get lost. At least Christians will take the time to try to see that they have a better future. How often do you buy food or gas or help them out with their rent? I do all of that plus give out tracts. I also give them directions to the local mission that gives away three free meals a day. I buy food and give it to the mission to help feed the people. How about you guys? I think the money tracts are a cool idea and just ordered some from make it clear. I can't wait to try them out and see what kind of response people will have to them. I plan to hang around to see if people like them or not.
It's really a little sickening that you think that just because someone is poor they're lazy and won't get a job. Have you ever thought that someone CAN'T get a job? That's the situation with my aunt right now...she barely has any money, and she can't find a job because she's almost at the retirement age. She's tried almost everything, including unemployement agencies, McDonalds, the ads in the newspapers, but no one's willing to hire her. I myself don't have a lot of money either, and I have a job! I only make $6 an hour, though.
I would be pretty pissed if someone handed me fake money with a tract on it or if I found it in the road. I know I would probably rip it apart in frustration...and I'm a Christian! I go to church every week and pray, and all that good stuff. Tracts are stupid and ineffective, at least that's my opinion. Don't try to bait and switch someone into going to church, because chances are it's not going to work.
It is good that you help some people and buy food for them, though. I think you should concentrate on that. I bet you could convert more people that way than handing out silly fake money.
You state that you are a Christian, but your language seems to state otherwise. We should bear fruit. If a person has the Spirit of Christ, I do not believe they would rip up a Gospel tract with the Word Of God on it. You may be religious, but please look in the mirror of your own soul to see if you are right in God's eyes.
Earl is stating that people take advantage of giving them out cash. For example.
a couple of years ago a couple came to our church asking for help. They stated they need money to by food and groceries. Well the Pastor thought it be wise instead of giving them money to buy them the food and groceries instead.
The woman got very upset and demanded she wanted the money instead. Tha pastor told them that we did not have to give them anything at all, but if they wanted the groceries, that the good people of the Church would give out of their own pockets to buy them groceries. The lady fianally agreed.
The couple told us that they were camping in a park for us to drop off the groceries there that afternoon. We purchased about $150.00 of groceries for this couple. When we got to the camp site, the couple was not around, but their viehicle and their tent were there with many beer cans around, and when we went into their tent to place the groceries, there was a bag of illigal drugs (pot) in a bag sitting right there for everyone to see.
It seems if this couple was so hard up for food and groceries, that they would not be spending it on beer and pot. But the hard working people of the Church gave out of their own to give to this ungateful people.
You keep bringing up the fact of giving money to the poor. Why do you think that God or the followers of Christ owe the world to give to them. AGAIN, can you honestly say you give to the poor? For some reason I do not believe you give at all. I can honestly tell you that I give thousands of dollars a year. I have given 2 automobiles to the needed already, I have given housing to the homeless to some in the past. And have done many good deeds, ONLY BECAUSE I FOLLOW CHRIST. IT is better to give than receive.
If you were a TRUE Christian, and had the Spirit of Christ, you would know that these tracts were more important than anything else upon the face of this earth. But you are blind to the ways of God and you do not see the truth.
Please humble yourself and admit to God that you are far from Him and need His forgiveness. You may say that we are not to judge one another. I am not judging you. I am warning you of the judgemant to come. Rev. 20:11-15. Please read this.
This may be hard for you, and say that I must have hatred. If I hated you, I would not say anyhting at all. I tell you this because I love you and want to warn you of the Judgement to come. This is what those tracts are about. PLEASE TURN FROM YOUR SINS AND CALL UPON JESUS FOR FORGIVENENSS AND AS YOUR LORD.
Also I do understand what it means to be in great nned. I have been homeless before living in an old 1974 beat up pick up truck at one time during the middle of summer in Louisiana.
The true Christians gave me home and food. But I know it came from God Himself and would have never turned down a money tract if given one. I would have know that this was God's way of calling me to have a closer relationship with Him.
Also, Guy and Earl, and whoever else is arguing...it's pretty obvious that you're all the same person. I thought lying was a sin, so how about you stop lying about your identity? Though maybe you're just a troll who's trying to stir up trouble. I kind of hope so, because if you're a real person it's a little sad that you think that fake pieces of money are the most important thing on earth. Either way, whether you're a troll or just a sad little man, I'm not wasting any more time on this silly argument.
These tracts have the WORD OF GOD ON THEM.
I never said anything about someone that is poor, must be lazy. You came up with that one all on your own. The Bible tells us that we are responsible to take care of our own families. Otherwise we have denied the faith, and are worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8). I only bring this up because you brought it up to start with and claim to be a Christian. You and your family members should be helping out your Aunt. If you all pitch in a little, your Aunt will have some money to get by. You just do what you can and pray about what you can't do. Leave the rest up to God. You can always use part of your tithe to help your Aunt. This way you can feel good about helping out your Aunt and it will not cost you any more than you are giving to God. If you give an offering, give it to your Aunt. Only a person who doesn't give to God will not understand how God will bless you for it. I hope that you are a person that gives to God because He has given you everything that you have and if you show Him that you are faithful with what He has given to you, He will give you more. It may not be more money that He gives you. He can bless you in other ways like better health, your car not breaking down, or finding sales at the store when you must buy something. As a Christian you should be worried about the big picture. Take care of their physical needs but don't stop there. Make sure they are set for eternity. How will you answer a friend or family member in the after life when he says to you, you fed me but you didn't share with me how to go to Heaven. When he tells you that he will spend eternity in Hell and you knew how to keep him out of there. Tell them about Jesus and how to go to Heaven. Then let them make up their own mind - what they want to do with the knowledge that you have shared with them.
A good person would help them get back on their feet first, instead of taking advantage of them to proselytize.
Your analogy also falls short. I think this would be a more apt analogy. Let's say you're walking by, and you see a building burning with someone trapped inside. They're screaming for help, but instead of calling for help or actually trying to save them yourselves, you just scream "I hope you're right with God! Pray to Jesus so at least you'll go to Heaven!" and walking away.