The following is an e-mail forward I recieved today and my response. It generated some thoughts and questions that I hope stimulate some conversation and reflection.
REFUSE NEW COINS
This simple action will make a strong statement.
Please help do this.. Refuse to accept these when they are handed to you. I received one from the Post Office as change and I asked for a dollar bill instead. The lady just smiled and said 'way to go' , so she had read this e -mail. Please help out...our world is in enough trouble without this too!!!!!
U.S.Government to Release New Dollar Coins
You guessed it
This simple action will make a strong statement.
Please help do this.. Refuse to accept these when they are handed to you. I received one from the Post Office as change and I asked for a dollar bill instead. The lady just smiled and said 'way to go' , so she had read this e -mail. Please help out...our world is in enough trouble without this too!!!!!
U.S.Government to Release New Dollar Coins
You guessed it
'IN GOD WE TRUST' IS GONE!!!
If ever there was a reason to boycott something, THIS IS IT!!!!
DO NOT ACCEPT THE NEW DOLLAR COINS AS CHANGE
Together we can force them out of circulation..
Please send to all on your mailing list!!!
DO NOT ACCEPT THE NEW DOLLAR COINS AS CHANGE
Together we can force them out of circulation..
Please send to all on your mailing list!!!
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AND MY RESPONSE:
This is interesting stuff. I'm intrigued by the idea that people could force this out of circulation. I wonder what happens when allthe tellers have is this type of coin. Perhaps we refuse coin changeall together. What happens when this is removed from our paper bills? I don't usually get involved in these forwards, but I felt compelled.
I may be wrong, but my understanding of trusting God means that welive and move in the world in a certain way because we trust andpursue the way of Jesus. I don't know that worrying about what ourmoney says is changing things, or making the kingdom of God any moretangible in our world. I don't think anyone is being persuaded totrust God based on the way the US spends the money on which we declareour trust.
A few thoughts:
Would the Way of Jesus be more visible and transformational in the USif we cared more about trusting God than declaring it on our currency?
Would the Way of Jesus be changing us and changing others more if wecared more about how we spent our money than what it says?
Does this declaration on a coin pacify us, distract us from thereality that we're fighting small, meaningless battles over nominalfaith, rather than asking the difficult questions, choosing theirregular way, and delving deep into the mysterious and challengingway in which Jesus has invited us to live?
I'm ok with not having my money speak for my religion. But this demands that my life speak for my faith.
My opinion. Hope it generates some thought and conversation.
Peace,
Ben
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