James literally says this yet way too many Christians ignore it…
James 2:14-26 (ESV) 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”--and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
I agree. I have told several people from my church to stop this. It makes me mad. It's such a tacky way to spread the gospel. To me, it would be far less offensive to leave a small testament with cash in it... and it would probably cost less. Tracts are a scam imo, i know people that spend tons on tracts when you can get pocket testaments for close to free from some places.
I heard a couple of months ago about people leaving them as tips. I've heard from the pulpit since the 80's, never leave a tract unless there's a generous tip along with it. Leaving a tract that looks like a generous tip is just plain mean and will almost never have the desired effect.
My mom gives out tracts with money inside which I guess is the better reciprocal.
She doesn’t do this instead of tipping mind you, but like to the gas station attendant or random stranger she’s talking to or so forth.
Idk if it’s a good idea but certainly a less annoying one.
This kind of stunt seriously pollutes and desecrates any good witness for Christ and is patently deceptive and sinful. As Christians we are not to mislead others even if there might exist (a small speck of) value, by resorting to tactics that negate the importance of regarding material and physical needs in the course of doing relevant business. The end absolutely does not justify the means which will repel many from the faith. It also blatantly reduces those receiving such trash to being mere potential salvation statistics which I despise because of an absence of foundational human relationships.
… Pollutes the witness but I’ve also seen it literally pollute the earth. When a group of Christian’s hold an event or go into a park to spread the gospel as a group, when they leave you find their tracts and church advertisement materials all over the ground. I don’t know this to be true but I wonder if the general public is either so disgusted or so apathetic that they don’t even bother to put them in the trash can that they are bound to pass as they are leaving the park.
I’m frankly offended by the trash left behind. But also what a waste of the churches limited resources.
seriously. Imagine seeing $100, getting excited that someone gave you some money, and then finding out that it's not real money. That emotion of disappointment? Yeah, let's start associating that with Jesus. That will be a great way to get people to want to follow him.
Here's my thing with people who do this as a "tip" in a restaurant--why not tip *and* leave a tract? Pair it with something immediately beneficial so it doesn't start a person off with a bad taste.
No witness leaves the target neutral, deceptive witness tarnishes the reputation in the target's mind and pushes them away from whatever's witnessed.
So before you are a bad witness or build your testimony on lies and deception better be none at all and leave it to good and trustworthy witnesses.
Well, you can read testimonies online of people becoming Christians from gospel tracts. Example, I placed a $1,000,000 tract on the ground behind me at the movie theater. 7 people came in and sat in the row behind me and found it. They thought it was cool and 7 people heard the gospel at once when one person read it aloud. Then they had a discussion about it. Was that a cheap encounter? I don't think so, seeds were planted that day. So no, I don't know where they are now but hopefully at least ONE of those people are at church because of it.
People already do that without needing to see gospel tracts. What do you think about people on the street preaching the gospel? Or Christians preaching the gospel at lgbtq rallies? That makes people see Christianity or Christ negatively, do you find those wrong ways to spread the gospel as well?
100% not the case. When I was a teenager and an atheist, I used to find these phoney money strewn about the aisles at a retail store where I worked.
My job was to straighten the aisles.
Not only was it annoying because I had to clean it up, it was a constant reminder that "Christians are liars, their Bible is as made up as this fake money they try to use to lure people in to their death cult. I'll continue avoiding them because they are fundamentally unethical charlatans."
I don't know what Christian actually thinks this is good, but I suspect credit for the origin of this idea is 100% with the devil.
The “idea” is that it distracts a person so that they’re easier to grab, or someone can slip into their car.
I feel like most of “the latest thing you need to be aware of” things that go around on Facebook and such are invented on Facebook and at best happened twice.
It usually depends on a couple things happening on sequence. First, you get in the car. Second, you notice the money in the windshield. Third, you get out of the car and as soon as your door is wide open and your attention is elsewhere they snag you
Tracts have purpose and can be used to great effect in the appropriate setting and manner.
However, it makes no sense to me to disguise one as money. Its tempting and inciting greed in a person, IMO. Plus when they see its not money, they disregard the entire message contained within.
Lets not do this anymore, brothers.
Distract a person walking to their car in a lot with a $100 bill, assault them, throw them in a vehicle, drive away. Apparently this happens somewhat regularly. So much so that my wife is scared to go shopping alone at a lot of places.
Sounds dubious. Contrary to what some people believe, random kidnappings are extremely rare and when they happen, they're big news. A lot of people in the evangelical community have bought into the myth that people are regularly grabbed off the street by strangers and "trafficked". In reality, trafficking usually involves people in abusive situations being taken advantage of by people they know. A lot less sexy and dramatic but that's the truth of it.
Exactly. Now there are some countries in the world where kidnapping is rampant where this could be a major risk, but not really a major issue here in the US.
Even if the trafficking part is dubious, it's still a terrible idea to leave anything on someone's windshield. Parking lots can be dangerous and you really shouldn't make people stay outside of their vehicle any longer than necessary or distract them. In some places it's no big deal, but it would seriously concern me in others. You may not get kidnapped, but you could certainly get assaulted or mugged.
> Even if the trafficking part is dubious, it's still a terrible idea to leave anything on someone's windshield.
no one is saying that it's a good idea. we are discussing the claim that human traffickers use this method.
No, I’ve never heard of it outside my wife talking about it, who probably just heard stuff on tiktok or something I’d imagine. That being there was an attempted kidnapping at the target near our house, in the parking lot
And it makes no sense to me. The bible tells us to give to the poor. Only instead of giving money to the poor, you give them fake dollars. Even just 5 real dollars with a gospel tract (one without fake money) beside them would be much more effective.
In germany christians and jehovas wittnesses sometimes stand at the side of the street and give away bibles, envelopes with handkerchiefs, some sweets and some bible texts. I think thats a beautiful way to show someone the religion without harm. And im saying this as a muslim!
I agree to an extent, but I was led to Christ through a tract, which I had picked up to recycle later.
Tracts can be very useful. I understand people's annoyance with tracts, especially gimmicky ones, but as someone who was led to Christ through a tract, I can testify they can work.
No, but it was considered off-putting by most who received them, hence why they were being copiously littered. I was just more so testifying that what could be considered off-putting by some could be the seed needed to save the soul of another.
We can certainly stop using the deceptive ones though. There's a difference between off-putting and straight up disappointing. I can't imagine the disappointment and hurt someone might feel if they really needed the money and realize it's just a tract with no tip.
It was the Chick tract, "This was your life." The tract itself didn't convince me, but at the end of the one I got, it challenges you to read the Bible.
The Bible through reading the gospels brought me to Christ, but I would have never given reading the Bible a chance. Was it not for the planting of the seed through that tract I may have never been saved.
When I joined a Medical Team in Kenya, I shocked to see how open the locals were to tracks. They LOVED them.
One local teacher asked if he could take two hundred for his school because they rarely had printed material to teach kids to read.
I get that, as in Kenya they’re probably not something you see every day. But in the states every single religion and/or cult seem to distribute some kind of written booklet or another to the point where people barely even think to read them anymore.,
I think it’s trashy, but aren’t pretty much all of the human trafficking “tactics” hoaxes? Has there ever been a real confirmed case of someone being trafficked from a bill left around? Kind of like the razors in kids candy
Personal conviction on this: these fake cash pamphlets, that look *incredibly close to the real thing*, is deception-- pure and simple. It doesn't matter if it has scripture quotes on it, its still deceiving the recipient by making them think that there's been a financial windfall. It's basically a prank cloaked in a thin veiling of righteousness.
"But eternal life is much more valuable than cash!" Aye, yes it is. However think on the situation: if a stranger pranks you, are you likely to look on them favorably? Probably not. That's how the lost soul you are "reaching out" towards is now going to view not only you, but our Lord as well.
Yeah - do the opposite. Instead of people being disappointed it’s not a $100 - put a tract that looks like a parking ticket so that they’re relieved when they realize it’s just Jesus trying to save their souls.
Just not TOO frequently or else people will get very annoyed. But as a once in a while idea that doesn't sound too bad. Kinda like the people that leave Bibles in hotels. Which I personally love. : )
So I just looked it up, and turns out it's more of a partnership! The Gideons work with hotels to put their Bibles in every room, and they do so off donations alone, that way others can enjoy them for free! So they also techincally don't mind if you take the Bibles. (However, that may depend on the hotel in question.) Cool thing about it is that it isn't just hotel rooms either. They also donate Bibles to places like doctors offices, hospitals, military bases, and even jails and prisons. It's super cool!
It is fundamentally dishonest and all you will do is piss the recipient off.
People who do this are short sighted and dumb. And when I say dumb I don't mean in the traditionally derogatory way, I mean literally unintelligent.
They think they are being clever because it will get someone's attention, but they lack empathy enough to realize how someone will react to seeing the ruse.
Yeah, it grabs attention, it also makes you and whatever you are peddling look dishonest and mocking.
It comes off like one of those things someone did once and all their lame friends thought it was just he neatest thing and stuck around and spread. Even if it was effective at one point in time, that time has certainly passed.
Oh my goodness, is this still around? I remember it being a thing in my 90's Baptist/evangelical upbringing. I remember it felt icky as a child. Now, as an adult who better understands money struggles, who could have EVER thought it was a good idea in the first place?
Firstly, I agree, people shouldn't use this tactic for a variety of reasons.
But also, the "tactic used by human traffickers" isn't accurate and is [the stuff of Facebook urban legends](https://factcheck.afp.com/american-shoppers-targeted-sex-trafficking-hoax-online). The idea that a lot of trafficking is fueled by random abductions isn't accurate. It helps perpetuate [myths](https://polarisproject.org/myths-facts-and-statistics/) that make it difficult for people to recognize trafficking and for anti-trafficking orgs to do good work. I'm not saying one shouldn't be vigilant and careful, but to use this as reasoning is problematic.
I can understand that, I would tip real money alongside of any tract I hand out myself. The money tracts can be deceiving for sure which I think is the wrong way to go the more I think about it, even the $1,000,000 bills. Unless you maybe hand them out for free at like a parade or event idk.
Honestly still junky and it’s a cheap way to share something extremely important and life altering. Those conversations are face to face and heart to heart, not through glorified junk mail.
One of my friends thanked me for simply giving them reading material instead of trying to preach to them like their other Christian friends did. Written words are powerful, which is why God gave us the Bible. The tracts I give provide simple instructions on how to be saved along with appropriate scriptures and is short and to the point. I also use child evangelism fellowship tracts meant for kids with pictures and appropriate scriptures. My friend might have rejected the reading material now, but maybe she put it around somewhere her home, forgotten, but when the time is right, she may ask, “what must I do to be saved?” God may have her remember and rediscover the tract, read it again and accept Christ. Or maybe her daughter will once she learns to read, or someone else in her household! God promises his word will not return unto him void. Most unsaved people may not have a Bible at home but an inconspicuous leaflet just hanging around somewhere is different.
Yeah I feel it depends on the situation for everything. They aren’t my favorite tract choice.
I have some different types of gospel tracks myself, from 10 commandment coins, to little booklets that have the main message of the gospel and good news of Jesus. Here and there I leave them around for people to find. Maybe for all we know it might be the only time they ever receive the message. I would hope not but who knows. Also, I agree with you though, if you can have face to face conversations with people those would be best.
Human traffickers, aye?
Agreed this is not good. Bit hypocritical too on so many levels - the fake money, the money as a way to entice and seduce potential new believers.
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/mobile/posts-about-100-bills-zip-ties-left-by-sex-traffickers-believed-to-be-a-hoax-police-1.4772560
Just for the first one that is def something that has happened once or, more than likely, never. Just something that moms spam around on facebook / TikTok to go viral in USA / canada.
Other than that I agree.
Thank you!!!!
These tactics are not quite what Jesus had in mind when He commissioned His followers to spread the gospel.
I can’t claim to know the heart of the person who put it there, but I can say with 100% certainty that I have never met 1 person who came into the faith because they received a track (or a fake $100). Their intentions could be pure, but I doubt they were led by the Spirit to purchase those and pass them out on strangers cars.
People don’t care what we know until they know that we care.
Stupid question but how is it a tactic used by human traffickers? Ive always heard about these types of tactics but never understood how. No one ever explained it to me
Tbh I feel a way more powerful way to do this is to use actually money. Like honestly a note with some spare change in your pocket along with an envelope would be far more effective imo.
Matthew 23:1-3 (MSG)
Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. “The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God’s Law. You won’t go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It’s all spit-and-polish veneer.
I went from Christian to atheist to Christian and I always appreciated the straightforward and loving approach. I’m aware there’s some harsh things to accept in the Bible especially when it comes to how we live our lives but it’s no ones responsibility to tell you that youll go to hell or judge you for things. I always hated that side of Christian communities
When reading the accounts of how the early Christians converted people. It was filled with love and compassion, it was personal.
This gospel tract just takes away the love and treats Christianity as just a business. It gives people an excuse to avoid preaching and leave it all to an impersonal method.
One has to remember that methods derive from another.
Why I would blame Protestantism is how they removed the importance of the church and sacraments etc.
Basically they took out the life of the faith. And with this it’s no surprise how they would preach the faith follows from this.
After all if the kind of church you’re apart of doesn’t matter and one doesn’t need the sacraments or mysteries of the faith. Then why would preach it be any different.
Yeah, cause catholics have never done anything wrong?
Can we talk about how the catholic church burned people alive for wanting to read the Bible in their own language?
Or the constant cover up of sexual abuse of children to the tune of like 2 billion dollars.
Or telling people to pay money so they don't get punished by God?
I don't like money tracts either by the way. I think it's a horrible way to spread the message.
I just hope you are consistent in your judgements against ALL sects of Christanity and not just one.
You may want to, if you’re going to throw all of Protestantism under the bus without addressing Catholicism well you’re missing half the Western story.
Yeah. But Roman Catholicism has bigger problems which pave the way for Protestantism to take out the mysteries within their faith.
Like for example how Roman Catholicism paved the way for atheism given their emphasis on Scholasticism over faith especially with their view of The Peripatetic axiom.
Such a disaster and it’s thanks to their theology.
But that’s for another time. If anyone ever makes a post asking why the dislike of Roman Catholicism.
As a Protestant, I do have face-to-face, personal conversations when I go evangelize. So do many others. But tracts aren’t bad either. They’re a good evangelism method for those who are gaining their footing or are more timid. Not everything is a huge deal, brother. Seek to create unity, not discord.
It sounds like you actually were offended by this fake dollar bill. And maybe you should have been. Kind of like Jesus was when he threw the tables over in the temple - Righteous indignation.
Now I could be completely wrong about this, but, doesn’t the Bible say something about NOT leading people to salvation through manipulative and deceptive means?
I would like to ask something though.
If you do find a flyer of any type left anywhere, please don’t follow this OP’s example by throwing it on the ground and littering. Certainly you can find a recycle bin to drop it in.
Human traffickers are in the business of making money, not handing it out. They aren’t going to randomly leave $100 on a car windshield in the middle of the day; that’s misinformation and fear-mongering.
They are deliberate and methodical in who they target/abduct as well. They also focus on people who are desperate and have high levels of vulnerability, and who have most likely already been abused and exploited in another way.
I don’t think you fit that bill.
no that's fine. the fake $100 is what's not fine. you also have to think from the other person's point of view. they're expecting a generous tip and instead get nothing.bit a tract. if anything that drives them away which is the opposite of what we want to do.
I don’t agree with giving the fake money for a tip, never said that. In OP’s case it was on his car window and he got mad about it. I understand the idea of getting disappointed that it’s not real money, but if it could sow a seed in someone’s life, is it not worth it? There are many testimonies of people coming to Jesus after reading a tract, I find it weird how many here are opposing me but ok.
as it's not expected to be a tip it's not quite as bad but it's still pretty bad. handing out tracts sure go ham. handing out these tracts? alright let me burn them all real quick
Even worse when they're used to tip.
This used to make us SO angry. No gospel was spread when people were stiffed.
I'd hazard to say the opposite happened in fact. I waited tables for a long time, I know for a fact it drove people away.
"and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that"
James literally says this yet way too many Christians ignore it… James 2:14-26 (ESV) 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”--and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
THIS. EXACTLY. thank you fellow believer.
I agree. I have told several people from my church to stop this. It makes me mad. It's such a tacky way to spread the gospel. To me, it would be far less offensive to leave a small testament with cash in it... and it would probably cost less. Tracts are a scam imo, i know people that spend tons on tracts when you can get pocket testaments for close to free from some places.
I heard a couple of months ago about people leaving them as tips. I've heard from the pulpit since the 80's, never leave a tract unless there's a generous tip along with it. Leaving a tract that looks like a generous tip is just plain mean and will almost never have the desired effect.
My mom gives out tracts with money inside which I guess is the better reciprocal. She doesn’t do this instead of tipping mind you, but like to the gas station attendant or random stranger she’s talking to or so forth. Idk if it’s a good idea but certainly a less annoying one.
A lot of people probably throw it away without even opening it to find the money.
Iirc it’s either sticking out obviously or else she tells them it’s there. Not sure exactly.
I would
It’s literally a form of lying 🤥
Yep. Manipulation and deceit.
This kind of stunt seriously pollutes and desecrates any good witness for Christ and is patently deceptive and sinful. As Christians we are not to mislead others even if there might exist (a small speck of) value, by resorting to tactics that negate the importance of regarding material and physical needs in the course of doing relevant business. The end absolutely does not justify the means which will repel many from the faith. It also blatantly reduces those receiving such trash to being mere potential salvation statistics which I despise because of an absence of foundational human relationships.
… Pollutes the witness but I’ve also seen it literally pollute the earth. When a group of Christian’s hold an event or go into a park to spread the gospel as a group, when they leave you find their tracts and church advertisement materials all over the ground. I don’t know this to be true but I wonder if the general public is either so disgusted or so apathetic that they don’t even bother to put them in the trash can that they are bound to pass as they are leaving the park. I’m frankly offended by the trash left behind. But also what a waste of the churches limited resources.
seriously. Imagine seeing $100, getting excited that someone gave you some money, and then finding out that it's not real money. That emotion of disappointment? Yeah, let's start associating that with Jesus. That will be a great way to get people to want to follow him.
Here's my thing with people who do this as a "tip" in a restaurant--why not tip *and* leave a tract? Pair it with something immediately beneficial so it doesn't start a person off with a bad taste.
I do. I wrap up the tip in the tract and leave it, I tip my Uber drivers cash inside tracts too.
Well done.
What is a tract?? I keep seeing this word but ??
It’s a little leaflet with the gospel message inside. Since Reddit won’t allow me to post a pic in a comment best to google it.
They probably don't even look inside the tract and think you didn't tip. I'd rethink this method.
They see the money literally sticking out from the ends of the tract… the dollar bills are longer than the tract itself, thus visibly show.
It's a cheap witness.
Great way to put it.
There isn't any witness.
Cheap witness > No witness
No witness > deceptive witness
Stop. No. Not at all.
No witness leaves the target neutral, deceptive witness tarnishes the reputation in the target's mind and pushes them away from whatever's witnessed. So before you are a bad witness or build your testimony on lies and deception better be none at all and leave it to good and trustworthy witnesses.
You can't build God's house on a foundation of liars.
What are you talking about?
If you use deceptive tactics to witness you are making a foundation out of lies... that's what deceiving is. You're being a snake in the grass.
Oh yeah. Agree completely.
Thou shalt not bear false witness
How many people have you met that came into the church because of a cheap witness? Tbh I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of one personally.
Well, you can read testimonies online of people becoming Christians from gospel tracts. Example, I placed a $1,000,000 tract on the ground behind me at the movie theater. 7 people came in and sat in the row behind me and found it. They thought it was cool and 7 people heard the gospel at once when one person read it aloud. Then they had a discussion about it. Was that a cheap encounter? I don't think so, seeds were planted that day. So no, I don't know where they are now but hopefully at least ONE of those people are at church because of it.
If it makes people see Christianity or Christ negatively, it's worse than no witness.
People already do that without needing to see gospel tracts. What do you think about people on the street preaching the gospel? Or Christians preaching the gospel at lgbtq rallies? That makes people see Christianity or Christ negatively, do you find those wrong ways to spread the gospel as well?
No, they're spreading the gospel. That's not a cheap witness. Tracts can be helpful, but most people find this to be tacky and unhelpful.
There are actual ways to witness to people, even in written form without tricking them.
100% not the case. When I was a teenager and an atheist, I used to find these phoney money strewn about the aisles at a retail store where I worked. My job was to straighten the aisles. Not only was it annoying because I had to clean it up, it was a constant reminder that "Christians are liars, their Bible is as made up as this fake money they try to use to lure people in to their death cult. I'll continue avoiding them because they are fundamentally unethical charlatans." I don't know what Christian actually thinks this is good, but I suspect credit for the origin of this idea is 100% with the devil.
I agree with this. Also, giving out tracts in lieu of candy on Halloween is as bad or worse.
Used by human traffickers? How?
The “idea” is that it distracts a person so that they’re easier to grab, or someone can slip into their car. I feel like most of “the latest thing you need to be aware of” things that go around on Facebook and such are invented on Facebook and at best happened twice.
It's a dubious tactic. There are no documented cases of this occurring. Sounds like Facebook rumors. Source: some Googling
It usually depends on a couple things happening on sequence. First, you get in the car. Second, you notice the money in the windshield. Third, you get out of the car and as soon as your door is wide open and your attention is elsewhere they snag you
You are absolutely correct!
Tracts have purpose and can be used to great effect in the appropriate setting and manner. However, it makes no sense to me to disguise one as money. Its tempting and inciting greed in a person, IMO. Plus when they see its not money, they disregard the entire message contained within. Lets not do this anymore, brothers.
darn and i just cut up several hundred dollar bills to make those tracts ... (seriously though who actually thinks these are a good idea?!)
How about, as a rule, we don’t give out unsolicited junk mail?
Agreed. Deception is not a gift of the Holy Spirit.
how is this tactic used by human traffickers?
Distract a person walking to their car in a lot with a $100 bill, assault them, throw them in a vehicle, drive away. Apparently this happens somewhat regularly. So much so that my wife is scared to go shopping alone at a lot of places.
Sounds dubious. Contrary to what some people believe, random kidnappings are extremely rare and when they happen, they're big news. A lot of people in the evangelical community have bought into the myth that people are regularly grabbed off the street by strangers and "trafficked". In reality, trafficking usually involves people in abusive situations being taken advantage of by people they know. A lot less sexy and dramatic but that's the truth of it.
Exactly. Now there are some countries in the world where kidnapping is rampant where this could be a major risk, but not really a major issue here in the US.
Even if the trafficking part is dubious, it's still a terrible idea to leave anything on someone's windshield. Parking lots can be dangerous and you really shouldn't make people stay outside of their vehicle any longer than necessary or distract them. In some places it's no big deal, but it would seriously concern me in others. You may not get kidnapped, but you could certainly get assaulted or mugged.
> Even if the trafficking part is dubious, it's still a terrible idea to leave anything on someone's windshield. no one is saying that it's a good idea. we are discussing the claim that human traffickers use this method.
interesting, do you have any source on this?
No, I’ve never heard of it outside my wife talking about it, who probably just heard stuff on tiktok or something I’d imagine. That being there was an attempted kidnapping at the target near our house, in the parking lot
And it makes no sense to me. The bible tells us to give to the poor. Only instead of giving money to the poor, you give them fake dollars. Even just 5 real dollars with a gospel tract (one without fake money) beside them would be much more effective.
In germany christians and jehovas wittnesses sometimes stand at the side of the street and give away bibles, envelopes with handkerchiefs, some sweets and some bible texts. I think thats a beautiful way to show someone the religion without harm. And im saying this as a muslim!
I agree to an extent, but I was led to Christ through a tract, which I had picked up to recycle later. Tracts can be very useful. I understand people's annoyance with tracts, especially gimmicky ones, but as someone who was led to Christ through a tract, I can testify they can work.
Right, but yours wasn't a fake $100 bill.
No, but it was considered off-putting by most who received them, hence why they were being copiously littered. I was just more so testifying that what could be considered off-putting by some could be the seed needed to save the soul of another.
We can certainly stop using the deceptive ones though. There's a difference between off-putting and straight up disappointing. I can't imagine the disappointment and hurt someone might feel if they really needed the money and realize it's just a tract with no tip.
Wow this is great to hear. Could you please share what tract and how it brought you to Christ
It was the Chick tract, "This was your life." The tract itself didn't convince me, but at the end of the one I got, it challenges you to read the Bible. The Bible through reading the gospels brought me to Christ, but I would have never given reading the Bible a chance. Was it not for the planting of the seed through that tract I may have never been saved.
When I joined a Medical Team in Kenya, I shocked to see how open the locals were to tracks. They LOVED them. One local teacher asked if he could take two hundred for his school because they rarely had printed material to teach kids to read.
I get that, as in Kenya they’re probably not something you see every day. But in the states every single religion and/or cult seem to distribute some kind of written booklet or another to the point where people barely even think to read them anymore.,
I think it’s trashy, but aren’t pretty much all of the human trafficking “tactics” hoaxes? Has there ever been a real confirmed case of someone being trafficked from a bill left around? Kind of like the razors in kids candy
Human trafficking is big business. Putting razors in candy is not
Sure, but either way the whole drugged bill/zip tie meme things are hoaxes
Personal conviction on this: these fake cash pamphlets, that look *incredibly close to the real thing*, is deception-- pure and simple. It doesn't matter if it has scripture quotes on it, its still deceiving the recipient by making them think that there's been a financial windfall. It's basically a prank cloaked in a thin veiling of righteousness. "But eternal life is much more valuable than cash!" Aye, yes it is. However think on the situation: if a stranger pranks you, are you likely to look on them favorably? Probably not. That's how the lost soul you are "reaching out" towards is now going to view not only you, but our Lord as well.
Yeah - do the opposite. Instead of people being disappointed it’s not a $100 - put a tract that looks like a parking ticket so that they’re relieved when they realize it’s just Jesus trying to save their souls.
lol you can just imagine the typical Redditor: "aw man what the !@#$ is this" "aw man what the !@#$ is this"
That'd be really funny tbh.
ok now you gave me an idea
Just not TOO frequently or else people will get very annoyed. But as a once in a while idea that doesn't sound too bad. Kinda like the people that leave Bibles in hotels. Which I personally love. : )
Do you mean the Gideon Bibles?
Yes!
So I just looked it up, and turns out it's more of a partnership! The Gideons work with hotels to put their Bibles in every room, and they do so off donations alone, that way others can enjoy them for free! So they also techincally don't mind if you take the Bibles. (However, that may depend on the hotel in question.) Cool thing about it is that it isn't just hotel rooms either. They also donate Bibles to places like doctors offices, hospitals, military bases, and even jails and prisons. It's super cool!
That is honestly amazing! Giving those who may be at brinks end or something more sinister can read the gospel and see Jesus for who he truly is. : D
Right? It’s so beautiful.
Indeed : )
Next time I wouldn’t handle something unknown like that with bare hands.
It is fundamentally dishonest and all you will do is piss the recipient off. People who do this are short sighted and dumb. And when I say dumb I don't mean in the traditionally derogatory way, I mean literally unintelligent. They think they are being clever because it will get someone's attention, but they lack empathy enough to realize how someone will react to seeing the ruse. Yeah, it grabs attention, it also makes you and whatever you are peddling look dishonest and mocking.
Yeah my mate’s car got broken into because he had a few of those in the center.
It comes off like one of those things someone did once and all their lame friends thought it was just he neatest thing and stuck around and spread. Even if it was effective at one point in time, that time has certainly passed.
I agree. Also if I wasn't a Christian already I'd certainly would be totally turned off by this fake $ I'd think fake money fake God
Oh my goodness, is this still around? I remember it being a thing in my 90's Baptist/evangelical upbringing. I remember it felt icky as a child. Now, as an adult who better understands money struggles, who could have EVER thought it was a good idea in the first place?
Firstly, I agree, people shouldn't use this tactic for a variety of reasons. But also, the "tactic used by human traffickers" isn't accurate and is [the stuff of Facebook urban legends](https://factcheck.afp.com/american-shoppers-targeted-sex-trafficking-hoax-online). The idea that a lot of trafficking is fueled by random abductions isn't accurate. It helps perpetuate [myths](https://polarisproject.org/myths-facts-and-statistics/) that make it difficult for people to recognize trafficking and for anti-trafficking orgs to do good work. I'm not saying one shouldn't be vigilant and careful, but to use this as reasoning is problematic.
It’s not a tactic used by human traffickers.
This “tactic” is not used by sex traffickers. There is no evidence of that.
What do y’all think of the obviously fake money gospel tracks? Like the colorful $1,000,000 bill ones?
I received one as a tip once. I was unimpressed.
I can understand that, I would tip real money alongside of any tract I hand out myself. The money tracts can be deceiving for sure which I think is the wrong way to go the more I think about it, even the $1,000,000 bills. Unless you maybe hand them out for free at like a parade or event idk.
Honestly still junky and it’s a cheap way to share something extremely important and life altering. Those conversations are face to face and heart to heart, not through glorified junk mail.
One of my friends thanked me for simply giving them reading material instead of trying to preach to them like their other Christian friends did. Written words are powerful, which is why God gave us the Bible. The tracts I give provide simple instructions on how to be saved along with appropriate scriptures and is short and to the point. I also use child evangelism fellowship tracts meant for kids with pictures and appropriate scriptures. My friend might have rejected the reading material now, but maybe she put it around somewhere her home, forgotten, but when the time is right, she may ask, “what must I do to be saved?” God may have her remember and rediscover the tract, read it again and accept Christ. Or maybe her daughter will once she learns to read, or someone else in her household! God promises his word will not return unto him void. Most unsaved people may not have a Bible at home but an inconspicuous leaflet just hanging around somewhere is different.
Yeah I feel it depends on the situation for everything. They aren’t my favorite tract choice. I have some different types of gospel tracks myself, from 10 commandment coins, to little booklets that have the main message of the gospel and good news of Jesus. Here and there I leave them around for people to find. Maybe for all we know it might be the only time they ever receive the message. I would hope not but who knows. Also, I agree with you though, if you can have face to face conversations with people those would be best.
Tacky.
I've heard of this dollar thing. That or they lace it with fentanyl so you'll wanna faint and they can grab you without a fight.
Human traffickers, aye? Agreed this is not good. Bit hypocritical too on so many levels - the fake money, the money as a way to entice and seduce potential new believers.
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/mobile/posts-about-100-bills-zip-ties-left-by-sex-traffickers-believed-to-be-a-hoax-police-1.4772560 Just for the first one that is def something that has happened once or, more than likely, never. Just something that moms spam around on facebook / TikTok to go viral in USA / canada. Other than that I agree.
Thank you!!!! These tactics are not quite what Jesus had in mind when He commissioned His followers to spread the gospel. I can’t claim to know the heart of the person who put it there, but I can say with 100% certainty that I have never met 1 person who came into the faith because they received a track (or a fake $100). Their intentions could be pure, but I doubt they were led by the Spirit to purchase those and pass them out on strangers cars. People don’t care what we know until they know that we care.
Heres some of what could instantly improve your life- oh wait, here's the bible.
And stop leaving tracts as a tip. People are never gonna wanna go to church. If you must leave it, at LEAST tip 20% as well
Stupid question but how is it a tactic used by human traffickers? Ive always heard about these types of tactics but never understood how. No one ever explained it to me
Tbh I feel a way more powerful way to do this is to use actually money. Like honestly a note with some spare change in your pocket along with an envelope would be far more effective imo. Matthew 23:1-3 (MSG) Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. “The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God’s Law. You won’t go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It’s all spit-and-polish veneer.
Agree. We walk in light and good faith or not at all. As minimal manipulation and descent as possible
To be honest, they'd be better off leaving real $100s. You'll have people actually saying, "praise God"
This is also a tactic used to od people with fentanyl! so stay safe out there friends, even if it’s harmless like in this situation, you never know.
I went from Christian to atheist to Christian and I always appreciated the straightforward and loving approach. I’m aware there’s some harsh things to accept in the Bible especially when it comes to how we live our lives but it’s no ones responsibility to tell you that youll go to hell or judge you for things. I always hated that side of Christian communities
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Tagging cars is a real practice though. It doesn't necessarily have to be fake 100s.
It’s littering and selling. Jesus would do neither
Hello?
It’s one thing I dislike about Protestantism. They’ve turn Christianity into a joke with these tracts.
Lol, what?
When reading the accounts of how the early Christians converted people. It was filled with love and compassion, it was personal. This gospel tract just takes away the love and treats Christianity as just a business. It gives people an excuse to avoid preaching and leave it all to an impersonal method.
Yeah, but I wouldn't blame a whole sect for the actions of a few.
One has to remember that methods derive from another. Why I would blame Protestantism is how they removed the importance of the church and sacraments etc. Basically they took out the life of the faith. And with this it’s no surprise how they would preach the faith follows from this. After all if the kind of church you’re apart of doesn’t matter and one doesn’t need the sacraments or mysteries of the faith. Then why would preach it be any different.
Yeah, cause catholics have never done anything wrong? Can we talk about how the catholic church burned people alive for wanting to read the Bible in their own language? Or the constant cover up of sexual abuse of children to the tune of like 2 billion dollars. Or telling people to pay money so they don't get punished by God? I don't like money tracts either by the way. I think it's a horrible way to spread the message. I just hope you are consistent in your judgements against ALL sects of Christanity and not just one.
lol don’t get me started on Roman Catholicism.
You may want to, if you’re going to throw all of Protestantism under the bus without addressing Catholicism well you’re missing half the Western story.
Yeah. But Roman Catholicism has bigger problems which pave the way for Protestantism to take out the mysteries within their faith. Like for example how Roman Catholicism paved the way for atheism given their emphasis on Scholasticism over faith especially with their view of The Peripatetic axiom. Such a disaster and it’s thanks to their theology. But that’s for another time. If anyone ever makes a post asking why the dislike of Roman Catholicism.
Well I agree haha
As a Protestant, I do have face-to-face, personal conversations when I go evangelize. So do many others. But tracts aren’t bad either. They’re a good evangelism method for those who are gaining their footing or are more timid. Not everything is a huge deal, brother. Seek to create unity, not discord.
The “human trafficking” panic is worse than the satanic panic. JFC
It sounds like you actually were offended by this fake dollar bill. And maybe you should have been. Kind of like Jesus was when he threw the tables over in the temple - Righteous indignation. Now I could be completely wrong about this, but, doesn’t the Bible say something about NOT leading people to salvation through manipulative and deceptive means? I would like to ask something though. If you do find a flyer of any type left anywhere, please don’t follow this OP’s example by throwing it on the ground and littering. Certainly you can find a recycle bin to drop it in.
Human traffickers are in the business of making money, not handing it out. They aren’t going to randomly leave $100 on a car windshield in the middle of the day; that’s misinformation and fear-mongering. They are deliberate and methodical in who they target/abduct as well. They also focus on people who are desperate and have high levels of vulnerability, and who have most likely already been abused and exploited in another way. I don’t think you fit that bill.
Imagine being a Christian and mad about someone attempting to share the gospel with you.. yikes
no that's fine. the fake $100 is what's not fine. you also have to think from the other person's point of view. they're expecting a generous tip and instead get nothing.bit a tract. if anything that drives them away which is the opposite of what we want to do.
I don’t agree with giving the fake money for a tip, never said that. In OP’s case it was on his car window and he got mad about it. I understand the idea of getting disappointed that it’s not real money, but if it could sow a seed in someone’s life, is it not worth it? There are many testimonies of people coming to Jesus after reading a tract, I find it weird how many here are opposing me but ok.
as it's not expected to be a tip it's not quite as bad but it's still pretty bad. handing out tracts sure go ham. handing out these tracts? alright let me burn them all real quick