© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
Despite WND's repeated attempts, the Secret Service did not
respond to a request for comment on agents' seizure of a
Christian ministry's gospel tracts designed as
"million-dollar bills."
As WorldNetDaily
reported, the controversy began Thursday when the agents
visited the
Great News Network in Denton, Texas, and threatened to
arrest staffer Tim Crawford for hiding evidence in a
counterfeiting investigation. The agents took 8,300 tracts
and left their business cards and a receipt.
The Christian group argues, however, that
"million-dollar" bills can't be counterfeited
because they don't exist, and the tracts – which include a
"not legal tender" disclaimer on the front –
present the Christian salvation message on the opposite
side.
The gospel tracts are produced by evangelist Ray Comfort,
who told WND yesterday his Living
Waters Ministry in Southern California has no plans to
stop selling them.
In fact, he said, since news of the seizure, his office
has been inundated with requests – 500,000 were sold
yesterday, nearly exhausting the supply.
Comfort told WND if the Secret Service issues a
"cease and desist order," he will comply by
creating a new tract, one-and-a-half times the size of a
regular bill and emblazoned with "Secret Service
Version"
The New Zealand-born evangelist said his ministry –
known for its television program, "The Way of the
Master," and an association with actor Kirk Cameron –
has sold 5.7 million million-dollar tracts since March 2002.
Agents explained to the Great News Network's Crawford
that someone in North Carolina had attempted to deposit one
of the million-dollar bills in a bank account. The address
of the Texas group was on the back, and the Secret Service
went into action.
Ray Comfort |
The tract includes this message: "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."
Comfort, represented by the American
Family Association Center for Law and Policy, has been
advised by his attorneys not to hand over the gospel tracts.
"The thinking is that if agents show a judge a copy
of the $1 million tract, he would laugh till he cried and
then, after catching his breath, he would thank the agents
for a good laugh and then ask them to stop wasting his
time," he explained.
Meanwhile, a WND reader points out retail giant Toys R Us
has been selling "million-dollar bills," printed
on both front and back, for years. In fine print on the
back, the bill says, "This instrument is NON
negotiable."
A company called Learning
Resources sells "pretend currency" in ones,
fives, tens, twenties, fifties and hundreds.
"100 Mixed Bills
Play Money," by World Class Learning Materials |
World Class Learning Materials sells
a set of 100 bills of different denominations it calls
"play money"
A website called Prank
Place says its currency for sale "looks and feels
real. Great conversation tool. Our funny money and fake
million dollar bills look just like real U.S. Currency.
These are very high quality, designed by an incredibly
talented artist. Our fake money make great gifts, additions
to greeting cards, or even sales promotions and sales
tools."
Related offers:
"How
to Bring Your Children to Christ" by Ray Comfort
"Intelligent
Design vs. Evolution – letters to an atheist" by Ray
Comfort
"Nostradamus:
Attack on America" by Ray Comfort
"What
Hollywood Believes: An Intimate Look at the Faith of the
Famous" by Ray Comfort
Ann
Coulter's hottest book ever – "Godless: The Church of
Liberalism" takes on Darwin
Previous stories:
Christians
to battle Feds on 'million-dollar' tracts
Feds
seize 'millions' – in gospel tracts
Bill
Maher challenged to intelligent-design debate
Judge
sued for ordering no-speech zones
