I saw this story earlier and dismissed it as just more propaganda coming out of Iraq.

The U.S. military suspended a Marine on Thursday for distributing coins quoting the Gospel on them to Sunni Muslims, an incident that has enraged Iraqis who view it as the latest example of American disrespect for Islam.

The Marine, stationed in the western city of Fallujah, handed out silver-colored coins this week that said in Arabic: “Where will you spend eternity? (John 3:36).” The other side read: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).”

I dismissed this because my first thought was this is a stupid thing to do.
Yes, stupid.
So stupid this had to be a fake story.

I dismissed it because I can’t imagine why anyone would make a gospel coin.
I dismissed it because I can’t imagine anyone in uniform not grasping how trite this trinket is.

A U.S. statement referred to the coin incident as “an allegation” and said “appropriate action” would be taken if the claim was substantiated.

“Regulations prohibit members of the coalition force from proselytizing any religion, faith or practices,” said Col. Bill Buckner, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad. “Our troops are trained on those guidelines before they deploy.”

I didn’t know a coin like this existed. I was very wrong.

05/29/2008
I love these!!! I make it a habit to leave one in the credit card slots after getting gas and, I keep one or two in pocket at all times you just never know when God will speak and show you someone to give one to.

03/06/2006
This is another great one. I use this one with alot of military personnel. Coins are used as an award and this one adds to their collect and supports the gospel message as I wittness to them.

These are great for leaving all over. When summer time comes…I plan to drop these outside the doors of bars. Something shiny…

There is a site that sells these in 80 languages. There are sites that trumpet these as great gifts. (If you’d read this far, you’ve grasped I’m not a collector and this Jesus junk has no currency with me)

Then I got thinking.
What would I do if someone handed me one?
At best I’d be polite and toss it in the nearest garbage can at the first opportunity.

But what if I was living under occupation and a soldier handed it to me?

That would change the dynamic dramatically.
What would it be like to live in a war zone and have a fully armed soldier hand me one?

I can’t imagine that because I’m not living in a war.
I don’t know the fear, the weariness, the hopelessness, the humiliation, the rage.
I don’t understand his reasoning.
Even if he is an avid numismatic, I don’t understand his reasoning.

What is he thinking?
In his mind where I spend eternity trumps his training, uniform, responsibility and regulations.
In his mind his trinket is a way to witness, after all he can’t speak my language, so the coin does it for him.

He is already several steps removed from me, has the weaponry in his hands to take my life and make things unbearable for my family and my neighbourhood.

Someone had to make these coins, and I’m willing to bet it isn’t an Iraqi company stamping them out. McClatchy has a picture of one.
This is a uniquely western entreprenurial-evangelistic concept.
And uniquely western stupid.
This is not trading regimental coins with peers, this is tragically stupid.

What if distributing these coins is a decision made higher up and this marine is another scapegoat?
Who makes these and gets them to Iraq?

The US military says the coins were distributed by a lone Marine and he has been suspended.
If they substantiated that, they know where the tract-coins came from and have chosen not to elaborate.