Back to the OP. Folks get lied to all the time. Politicians lie to them, co-workers and customers lie to them, celebrities lie and newscasters lie to them. Why in the name of Sam Hill would a Christian evangelist jump on the deception bandwagon?
It is deceptive to pander to the baser human instinct. Why use greed as a stepping stone to delivering the Gospel? If greed is acceptable then why not use scantly clad women? Why not use free weed?
Excellent post.
I wonder if those million dollar bill tracts have hindered the spread of the Gospel more than they have helped because of that 'gotcha' element.
Then there are the slugs who will think that they are clever by leaving them
as tips at restaurants...
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the discussion continues on tactics used to spread the Gospel. Two notable preachers we've discussed before - Mr. Wesley and Mr. Whitefield just found an ear that would hear and began to preach. Certainly they used tracts but not full colored cartoons or fake money. They used words. Lots of words including big words.
The Good Book says the love of money is the root of evil. Why would you use something so closely attached to evil in the form of greed as a hook? The Word is powerful enough to stand on its own. It doesn't need to be propped up by games.
Both Mr Wesly and Whitefield would agree that the Holy Spirit is active in the convincing and convicting of sinners. That is a genuine draw not flashy and deceptive like fake money. An improved version of a flawed idea is just as flawed as the original.
As far as I know, the largest denomination paper currency issued was a $10,000 bill. Furthermore, Ben Franklin is on the $100 bill. So two deceptions right from the get-go.
Why not combine the concepts? Put the $1M tract inside a zip-loc bag with a small quantity of oregano in it and have scantily clad women hand them out when people exit nightclubs in seedy neighborhoods.
Oddly enough, I was just considering posting about almost the same thing; mine, however, was about designing a tract with a Playboy bunny shadow on the front. THAT would get people to open it up, wouldn't it?
(by the way: please, everyone, do NOT take this as an invitation to start posting Playboy bunny shadow pictures in response to Evan's "bunny" remarks....)