A Christian/Messianic Medium Of Exchange
Chapter 1
This essay is offered as a
starting point to consider the ramifications for a new Christian medium of
exchange. Furthermore, it is my sincere hope that someone, who is talented at
communication within the medium of words will consider rewriting the below so
that it could be better understood by a larger audience.
History teaches that all
empires fall into disrepair. There are multiple reasons for these usually awful
episodes, but I believe the main physical culprit is due to what passes as money.
Six major economic events always
precede the demise of great civilizations. 1) restricting or stopping the
trading of naturally occurring gold & semi-refined silver, 2) stamping
idols upon refined pieces of gold & silver. 3) debasement1 by adding
base metal to the precious metal coinage, which leads to 4) no Nobel metal coinage
in circulation leaving only base metal coins, which ushers in 5) the rise and
fall of paper money, and finally the ever present 6) love of money.
Based upon my research the
first biblical metal money was naturally occurring lumps of gold and apparently
refined lumps of silver referred to as shekels2. When governments
(Kings) were instituted money became further sophisticated with images stamped
onto both sides of coins. And, even though precious metals remain as civilizations
come and go—money eventually becomes The
People’s god. For living proof of the preceding sentence I offer this reality:
don’t we willingly give allegiance to
the source of our incomes?
A few years ago I felt beckoned
to broadcast to all who would listen about fashioning a piece of metal
that could be traded within the Christian faith. After this idea germinated and
to this moment I remain astounded that no piece of silver or gold has ever been
dedicated strictly to representing the Creator and the Savior. Oh sure, there have
been numerous coins issued over the past couple thousand years that have had some
semblance of so-called Christian symbols or images of Christ. But, these same
coins also had a king or government emblem on the front side.
So, the question remains –
why hasn’t the Christian community created a coin that could trade amongst
themselves so they could be constantly reminded of their Creator and Savior
instead of coins with an idol or king? Could it be that no one thought of such
a concept? Or, is it possible that The
People have always wanted an earthly King, Caesar, or government issued currency
to place their faith and trust in?
I readily admit that for a
long time I never had an idea of anything other than using government created
money. Fortunately, I now have another way of looking at what I consider to be
a fundamental flaw in what we who claim to be believers and followers of Christ
choose to call just weights and measures.
Furthermore, let it be known
that I am not finding fault with nor judging anyone in the public or private
arena for making, accumulating or trading government issued money. After all, The People have the right to choose (allowed
by YHVH & tempted by Satan) how existence will be conducted, which they do
by their actions. Likewise, I choose to exchange mediums of trade I perceive that
conform to Biblical scripture. Unfortunately though, at least for me this type
of tradable currency does not exist. Therefore, in my humble opinion a way must
be found to make a suitable Biblical pecuniary standard for those of the Christian3
faith. Can such a way be found and traveled? I believe the answer is yes, with
the help of YHVH & Christ. I can only speculate as to what the
ramifications or consequences might be if this simple, yet profound course of
action is not implemented4.
1… http://www.mises.org/money/3s4.asp
2… My research indicates that
an ancient shekel is equivalent to today’s ½ ounce of either gold or silver.
3… I use the word Christian to indicate anyone who
believes in and/or tries to follow the ways of Christ as
indicated by scripture.
4… Luke
bramble bush gather they grapes.
Colossians
thanks to God and the Father by him.
Chapter 2
Idols
Since the crucifixion of
Christ believers have not had a monetary unit that is reflective of either the
Savior (Christ) or the Creator (YHVH)5. Therefore, I think it is
long over-due that we demonstrate there is good gold and silver that does not
carry images (idols) or words symbolizing any kind of deity other than YHVH
& Christ.
Sadly,
Oh, I know there are those
vague words “IN GOD WE TRUST” stamped on some past and all new
Oddly, even though the KJV
Bible so states, many Christians don’t or won’t believe that the master of deceit
is the current prince of this world. What's more, I suspect that the father of
lies has always had a hand in making what is called money? Thus, is it possible
that
Is there any money anywhere
that can pass the test of scripture11? Personally, I don’t think so,
and yet
5… I choose to use “YHVH”
instead of the word “God”. I will devote more words to this subject in a
later
chapter.
Note:
For further claification be sure to read what I included within the Inscription section in last
chapter.
6… http://www.silver-investor.com/cs_jan04.htm
A
bit of history which I think clearly shows that the silver & gold never
belonged to The People.
7… In my opinion the
scriptures which say give to Caesar clearly speaks of money with Caesar’s face
and
emblems stamped upon the pieces of gold
and silver. However, without these earthly images all gold &
silver is good and belongs to YHVH and
gave it to man for good works.
Matthew
Caesar's; and unto God the things that
are God's.”
8… www.accu-thump.com/book/igwt.html an essay about the motto IN GOD WE
TRUST.
9… www.cjnetworks.com/~ggarman/tripoli.html
10… Exodus
Proverbs
11… Because I am using my
accu-thump truck tire thumper website it would seem appropriate for me, if I
am going to thump scripture I should
do so as accurately as possible.
Chapter
3
Blissful
Ignorance
A lot of water has passed
under the bridge of time, but, there is now at least one generation in
What has always been at the
heart of trade? Is it not convenience, coupled with and honest weights and
measures? Precious metals has for thousands of years provided a simple means to
satisfy this seldom verbalized demand. But, being what humans are we constantly
seek an easier way to conduct economic life. Hence, like we left the fields for
city factories what passed as money changed from metal to paper, which also metamorphosed
into plastic and mythical digits.
So
is it any wonder why church-going Christians who ignorantly or purposely accept
the Sun-god-day as the Sabbath also readily accept something other than
scriptural money? In fact, ancient and modern Christian’s pay tithes with
government money. Sometimes I wonder if these so-called tithes are not reality
nothing other than camouflaged corporate tribute. But, why not, after-all modern
Christians have full faith in this form of money. Furthermore, like it or not,
the fact is that most so-called Christian churches today are government created
corporations. Therefore, it is quite understandable why both silver and gold
coin is currently considered a curious oddity that has no place in 21st
century economic transactions.
All
my life I have tried to avoid the ever-present crowd mentality. Yet, like it or
not this mind-set rubs off. As a result, sadly, and all too often, when
something awful happens economically like when the stock market plunges people
act out the portrayal of crazed Lemming’s jumping mindlessly off a perilous
cliff. Consequently, are we not also faced with a similar abyss if we who claim
to be Christians don’t or won’t change our concept of what money is?
Even though we are all
imperfect and ignorant we have been given the ability to seek and thus find. So
and regardless of what the crowd does I prefer seeking the TRUTH, which I
believe is none other than our Creator and Savior and His gospel Word.
Christians or follower’s of Christ12
go to church to study, read and hear the Word hoping to discover, and comprehend
the Truth. Yet, when it comes to tithing the majority of Sun-day worshippers nonchalantly
pull from their pockets something other than what YHVH said is good, honest and
truthful. Why is this? Are we ignorant and blind? Or, do we not give a hoot?
I know that tradition has allowed
the use of corporate (Caesar’s) money13. I also realize that we go
along to get along. But, since when did two seemingly minor wrongs ever make a
right? For this reason, I say again – why won’t or don’t Christians and their churches
demand real money versus convenient synthetic corporate currency? Therefore, shouldn’t
the Christian community re-examine what mediums of exchange are used to trade
goods, services, tithes and charitable works?
12… I prefer to use the word
“Christ” instead of Jesus. Furthermore, although I don’t say such herein, I
now use Yeshua in place of Christ..
13… YHVH says at Haggai: 2:8 “the silver is mine and the gold is mine.”
Question – When governments or Caesar’s
stamp their faces, inscriptions, emblems, etc., on gold and
silver
coins do these coins now belong to the Caesar’s?
Chapter
4
Mystery
Babylon
Mysteries captivate the mind
and influence the heart. For instance, is it not strange that money can make
man do almost anything? Eventually, mysteries are what everyone can see, but seldom
do? For example – if we could see the snake we would not get bit. In other
words, the mystery is right in our face, but because it is in the face it
cannot be recognized. Some people call this phenomenon the forest for the trees
syndrome. For me this sure sounds like a definition for money.
I often read that “bad money
drives out good money”. This statement sounds straightforward, but from my
research and current position I have no choice but to believe that since the foundation
of this country there has never been any Biblically good money. In fact, I am
of the persuasion that what is called good
money has and still belongs to an entity that has its roots in
All man made governments have
a piece of paper testifying to the justification or legality for such an entity,
that usually has a god-head or sovereign, which is often referred to as a King,
Queen, Caesar, President, or Czar, etc., etc. This piece of paper becomes known
as an Organic Act, such as the
American Constitution. This organic14
body somewhere during its creation becomes known as a corporation. Incidentally, keep in mind
that many a moon ago the scientific community classified humans as organic,
whereas this same enlightened organized group of scientists saw fit to name the
metals as Inorganic15. Apparently, from my limited research
scientists of that day thought of metals and minerals as lifeless and without
structure, character or individuality. So, and needless to say, it would have
been very hard for humans to form synthetic governments out of metals/minerals.
Therefore, the organic (paper) entity
16 is the corporation, which can give birth to any number of lesser
entities or organs, such as the Department of Transportation, the Environmental
Protection Agency or the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Treasury, etc.,
etc., etc.
Now, I’ll try to advance to where and what Mystery
Babylon is? In a feeble attempt to keep this deeply contested subject as simple
as possible I’ll start by saying it is mammon17 in all its beastly
forms. Mammon has been around for thousands of years and money is its name and
resides in all the corporate states of the world.
Try this idea on for size and
if it doesn’t fit throw away as you would any worthless garment. The corporate
state can live forever and has been given legal personhood status. Now I ask
you, by what authority does man have to legally create an organic state with an
Act to be the same as man? If this does not sound like the Beast in Revelations
I would be inclined to not wear for an instant the thought that Mystery Babylon
and its demons (sovereigns) are the world’s banking system. Ask yourself this
easy question: where can you go or what can you do to escape the clutches of
Ever
hear the adage: “there’s nothing new under the sun”? Well, there’s nothing new
about government either and the people love it. Not too long ago I heard a Baptist
preacher say – “love it or leave it”. Is this a sound Christian ethic to
expound from the pulpit, when scripture says we are to love our neighbor like
ourselves and we are not to give allegiance to anyone or anything other than
YHVH?
There are not many people
living who have 1st hand knowledge of how money can become almost
worthless overnight. Yet and besides the ravaging effects of insidious inflation
could it be that what has faded from memory is about to revisit us all? What will
we do if this awful event were to happen in the not too distant future? Will The People go back to the old tried and
true (gold/silver), or will honest weights and measures remain forgotten?
Perhaps I am babbling and no
foundational change is needed. But, if Mystery Babylon is the great harlot who
rides the mammon Beast, then perhaps we’d better hang on, because ready or not it’s
round and round she goes, where she stops nobody knows, except to say I doubt
that we will like the results.
What I am writing herein is
not meant to be a remedial course of action to stave off the tragedies of a
economic crash. However, by recognizing that money is what greases the wheel of
the economic merry-go-round, maybe, before it hits the fan we will choose to
not get soiled by reconsidering what good money is and is not.
Someday, we all will have to
account for our actions. But, will our sacrifices measure up? What side will
the Cain & Abel scale measure each of us? Ignorance may well be bliss, but
when the reckoning day arrives I suspect that personal responsibility will
weigh heavily towards a Biblical monetary standard.
14… Organic – This word apparently
invented during the 1500’s. There are multiple meanings that can be
found
in any physical or online dictionary, but in general means: “constituting law
by which a
government exists”. CHECK TO SEE IF I REFER
TO PERSON LIFE
15… Inorganic – This word
began its illustrious career in 1790’s. I will pursue this further in another
related essay.
16… What can live seemingly
forever other than a synthetic demon that stealthily travels by way of
corporate money?
17… Mammon – there are any
number of sources one could use to define this controversial word, but I’ll
use one from
Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1989.
“Riches regarded as an object of worship and
greedy pursuit; wealth or material gain as an evil, more
Question: even though YHVH said that
gold and silver was His, does stamping some kind of symbol
of ownership on gold & silver coins make
these coins fall into a new synthetic authority?
Since
Today’s miners dutifully go
about excavating the scarce precious metals in the hopeful expectation that
their rewards will be abundant corporate government paper. I find this to be both
appalling and sad because exchanging real value for paper seems like such a
waste.
For the past few years the spot
price of precious metals has been rising and sparking renewed interest in mining.
Although I am glad to see this industry being revived from a long deep slumber
I am very suspicious of the paper king who is unlikely to go quietly to the
bottomless pit.
Today, mining companies and investors
say there’s money to be made as the metals
rise in paper value. Nonetheless, I fear that they are being duped. For, from
my vantage point all I see is it taking more and more paper to purchase the
same items. Therefore, I fail to see how exchanging tangible reality for
mythical assets is anything other than buckets of muck.
Since the middle 70’s I began
to see the erosion of the entire metal working industry and became known as the
rust belt. Of course millions and millions of associated jobs also vanished.
This trend has continued and even though most can’t see the writing on the wall
the signs are there in big bold letters – get ready, pay-day is just around the
corner. The trouble is, I doubt that even those who believe in big brother and
aunt nanny, as well as those who went along to get along will be pleased with
what’s left of the American pie.
So, when the American dream
becomes a nightmare will Christian’s cling to paper or metal? Will they beg for
crumbs or will they find a new and better way to enjoy a Christian way of life?
Chapter
6
Hounds
of Hell
It’s a historical fact that
whoever owns the gold and silver also makes the rules18. For a while,
in the long gone American West a few hardy entrepreneurs had a short lived
taste of liberty while digging the Nobel metals. Today, however, one often
hears, or sees in the movies that the West was a quagmire of lawlessness.
Consequently, laws & rules were necessary to govern these wild industrious men.
Wanna-be rulers then as now
claim that the lack of order is bad and is the source of chaos. On the surface,
primarily due to prolonged programming I would say what was and continues to be
preached about laws is utter nonsense till I began examining their words. Just
what are the old and modern day power brokers really saying? Simply, that if
individuals were allowed to be free of Caesar’s rules then there would be no
need of demigods.
Who financed the enforcement
the spreading of laws? It sure was not the frontiersmen, for they fled Eastern
ways in search of a new life where individualism was a way of life.
Nevertheless, into the so-called chaos came an endless horde of finger pointing
preachers. This begs the question is, as well as today – was and is religion an
ORGANized tool of government? How many denominations are not chartered
corporations?
The only way to control these
wayward, rugged and self-sufficient frontiersmen was to brand them heathens, similar
to what the Spaniards and U.S. Government did to native Indians and
Once so-called order was planted,
secured and generally recognized the gradual controlled harvesting of the natural
resources began. Look at how easily the whiners and do-gooders stopped the
practice of using water cannons to stir the dirt to get the gold. Believe it or
not these were the same EcoElites19 that are with us today. Oh sure,
these jets of water altered the ground, hills and mountain sides. But, man did
not do anything different than nature does everyday. Nope, the behind the
scenes screams and yells weren’t about scenic beauty, changing the landscape or
causing streams and rivers to become muddy. Put simply – the power brokers did
not want more gold in circulation, just as they don’t today. I used to listen
to narrow minded environmentalists rant and rave to legislators that silver and
gold was no good and that mining destroyed the earth. It was gibberish in the
1800’s and it is gobbledygook today, unless of course one subscribes to the
belief in the wants and needs of the almighty corporate entity called
government20.
Recently I was reading an
article in the November, 03 issue of World magazine, which sorta sums up some
of what I have alluded to and feel a part of this article should be placed here
to describe the state of affairs we all find ourselves. “Abraham
Kuyper (1837-1920) There is no right
but immanent right which is written down in law. The law is right, not because
its contents are in harmony with the eternal principles of right, but because
it is the law. If on the marrow it fixes the very opposite, this also must be
right. And the fruit of this deadening theory is, as a matter of course, that
the consciousness of right is blunted, that all fixedness of right departs from
our minds…. That which exists is good, because it exists; and it is no longer
the will of God, of Him who created us and knows us, but it becomes the ever
changing State, which, having no one above itself, actually becomes God, and
has to decide how our life and our existence shall be” (Lectures on
Calvinism).” Does this not sound like this gentleman was talking about today’s situation?
For the last 40 years I heard how government should or will be curtailed or
downsized; but all that really occurs is that this entity, like any beast
continues doing what it does best, which is: preying and devouring everything
to satisfy its unquenchable appetite.
The corporate
environmentalists say humans are out of control organisms and must be regulated
so they don’t pollute and destroy the earth. By carefully listening to their
own shrieks – it sure sounds like ratting on their selves, because if humans
are merely organisms like any other creature then humans are just doing what
any bacterium or animal does as part of nature’s plan. Yet, the EcoElites21
in their wisdom or arrogance claim that they alone know how to manage human
affairs and aid nature, despite the fact that they too are human. Or, maybe some
of them are not so human? Regardless of what and who the environmentalists are
in the scheme of things, after a lot of soul searching it behooves me to say: forgive
them Father for they don’t know what they are doing to their fellow man.
I never thought I’d be able
to say anything kind to environmentalists, but life has been teaching me many a
lesson. The biggest tutorial of all was when I began a sincere exploration of my
past deeds. Astonishingly, I found that I was an expert upon breaking the 10
Commandments. In fact, when I really began scrutinizing my past works I
realized that my abundant pride gave me the ability to rationalize and justify
on the alter of self righteousness all my ignorant labors. So, now I realize
that no matter how awful people can become I can not judge them. All I can
really do is hope that they too will see the errors of their ways, make
changes, repent and ask forgiveness. Maybe, being inspired and/or allowed to
broadcast this coin issue is in some meaningful way partial compensation, or,
perhaps a way for others to avoid some mighty dark marks.
It’s my belief that unless
all Christian men who so are inclined should be allowed to dig the earth in any
manner they choose so as to reap a harvest of gold and silver there can never
be anything called freedom, at least till Christ returns. Oh I know there will
be the rebuttals suggesting that men will rape, pillage and plunder the earth, leaving
no resources for future generations, etc., etc. All I can say is this can’t
happen, because earth’s resources are not as finite as naive people have been
led to believe or that the controllers want people to believe. Oh yes, the
multi-national monopolizing corporations are capable of making significant
alterations to the landscape, but the believers in man’s government have their
corporate laws & rules to guide them. Similarly, because Christians would
try to follow the rule of loving one’s neighbor as thyself, most adverse
situations would be avoided.
Basically, what I am saying
is there cannot be real freedom without the means to be self-sufficient, and it
is pretty darn clear that believing in government is not the way to finding or
possessing a Christian freedom.
Furthermore, before Christ
returns a Christian cannot be self-sufficient without gold and silver. After
all,
man cannot serve two masters,
it’s either using YHVH’s good gold & silver or the deceivers’ mammon.
18… Even though the Caesars of
the world claim ownership of gold &silver coins, as well as all the
land – YHVH has always owned all the gold and
silver, including all the land for it says at Psalm 24:1
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness
thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Therefore,
even though darkness pretends to make the
rules, YHVH is the final judge and rule maker.
19… What I refer to as modern
day Pharisees, but are really Secularist’s doing the corporate state’s dirty
work, which is nothing other than
controlling everything man does with the land, so as to have
complete dominion over the earth. What
biblical entity does this remind you of?
20… Scripture indicates that
that at least sometimes it is right to avoid government rulings. For instance
Mary
& Joseph went into
Thus, they clearly disobeyed government edict.
This one single Biblical fact destroys the arguments
that
some suggest that government or the sovereigns of the states are messengers of
YHVH. These
same individuals also say that Christians are
to obey Governments because Governments could not
exist without YHVH’s blessings. Frankly, this
type of logic sounds like darkness trying to weasel in
on a tad of light. Sure, nothing, including
governments could exist without YHVH. But, we have a
choice, we can go along to get along
or seek the face of YHVH and follow Christ’s teachings. So, till
I know better, I continue trying to
not participate within the Babylonian empires that are likely to
keep existing till the return of
Christ.
21… A term I dubbed years ago
to describe the all-wise environmentalists, whose god is Nature, critters or
Gaia.
Take some time to examine what the environmental movement stands for, as
well as their
stated goals. It’s a shame that so
many well-intentioned folks have become the unwitting dupes of
those who foster deception. Then
again, there are those who truly believe that they know what’s best
for humanity and will do anything to
achieve their goals, which includes any and all manner of
government control of natural
resources which, believe it or not includes all human activity for man is
considered a resource or there would
be no government department called Human
Resources.
A
New Day
There’s a lot of ground that
I have left untouched, but these buried and lofty places will have to wait the
prospectors pick till another day. The whole point of the preceding chapters
was to illuminate a path to this veiled place where common ground exists
between believers in YHVH and the followers of Christ.
While gazing upon the monetary
landscape it seems patently obvious that only a Christian coin can help guide
the way back to freedom where Christ is King. Does He not say that His kingdom
is at hand? If so, then how could we hope to hold His helping hand while
grasping corporate money?
When one ponders the meaning
of money it becomes apparent that we actually think in dollars. Could this be
construed to suggest that our thoughts are anti-scriptural? I have a sneaking
suspicion that darkness continues to suppress
the light of Christ by keeping our minds washed in dollars.
Sometimes I read that the
No matter how hard I try I
cannot fathom how to change the system to anything other than what it is. I
read volumes concerning economics, and to this day I have not heard or read of
anything that could or would change the Hell-bent course
Nevertheless, and in spite of
present circumstances I do think Christian’s can chart a new course by using a new
monetary compass that points towards Christ. Would it not be exciting to be new
frontiersmen whose wanderings would help pave the way for future Christians?
Wouldn’t it be a blessing to stop participating in a doomed system, and
discontinue paying Caesar tribute for supervision and protection?
Christians know Christ is the
light and the way. So, just as the moon was given to help control darkness perhaps
we were also given silver, the whitest metal to light our way along the trail
of trade where prosperity can be found. The secular world never appreciated
Christ nor is it thankful for silver, which is like no other metal and does so
much for man’s well being.
Silver has long been known to
be poor mans gold, and for the moment while it is still easy to obtain it would
seem to be a logical choice for a Christian coin. Besides, is there better metal
that would constantly remind us of The Savior every time an exchange was
executed? The trouble is – I don’t know if this embryonic concept has long
enough legs to get off the ground, little alone go anywhere?
Man reaps what he sows and if
he decides to live as a corporate citizen, so be it. After all he’s still free
to choose. But, for those who don’t place their faith in what belongs to Caesar,
then perhaps silver could nourish our earthly wants like scripture satisfies
the mind and spiritual needs. As I stare backwards all I see is the paper
snare. But, as I gaze towards the future I glimpse what life could be.
When Moses and his people
left
22… Exodus
lent unto them such things as they
required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.” The key word in this
KJV scripture is “spoiled”, which
means plundered, whereas pharaoh probably construed their actions
as stealing.
Implementation
Obviously you think for yourself
and are not just another rung on the corporate ladder to be constantly stepped
on, or you would not have made it this far. By now there are probably a few questions
that have risen to the surface. Although I pose a few questions and possible
answers it is my sincere hope that many will come forward to aid in this quest,
and perhaps we avoid dead-end streets while attempting to flee
Remember the saying – “its
money stupid”? Well, money is synonymous with power for they go hand in hand.
So, maybe we ought to take a serious look at really voting with our pockets
instead of participating in a rigged game. Is it not about time to live free
according to scripture instead of placing our faith in man made laws?
This proposed coin won’t launch
us into Christ’s Kingdom, but I believe it is a step in the right direction. And,
even though Moses led his people out of bondage, it took 40 years of wandering
the wilderness to arrive at the Promised Land. So, under the present
circumstances I have to wonder – are modern day Christians ready to shake off
the shackles that bind them? Part of me says NO! While another part of me
cries-out with – I sure hope so, even if it takes 40 years.
I look forward to your email
comments, suggestions and ideas.
The following questions are
for helping to bridge the gap between what has been to what could be. There are
many more questions that will have to posed and answered, but till most of the
following are dealt with the others are merely academic curiosities. With a lot
of your help and with Yeshua’s approval I look forward to implementing this
concept of a Christian coin.
Q… Is this idea of a
Christian coin sacrilegious or abominable?
A… I have wrestled with this
question many an hour and so far I have not been able to discover anything
anti-scriptural regarding a Christian
medium of exchange. Nevertheless, I may be too biased and not
pragmatic enough to answer this
question. Therefore, maybe someone will see what I have failed to
recognize.
Designation
Q… Should a name be stamped
into the coin to declare what it is?
A… I have mixed emotions
about calling this coin anything at all. Yet, I realize that coins have all had
a
name to designate what it is so that
users can communicate within commerce.
Q… What type of unique and
understandable name could or should be used for such a new coin?
A… Again I have racked my
infantile brain and keep coming-up short.
A… Perhaps Shekel and Talent or a derivative should be considered because these words are
biblical. Plus,
these words are known within the
Christian community and might make it easier for most Christians
to not only use but recognize.
Q… Should a word describing
such a coin be in English, Hebrew or perhaps Aramaic?
A… Each language has merit as
well as potential controversy.
Q… Would a name stamped into
such a coin have any semblance of idolatry?
A… This is why I have
reservations about using any name at all. I suspect that any name stamped upon
such a coin could be construed to be idolism.
Therefore, clarification and a lot of thought seems to be
appropriate.
A… Perhaps a scriptural name
that is synonymous with genuine, authentic, real, valid, legitimate,
lawful, legal, official, etc., etc.
could be found to reflect instant communicative acceptance between
users.
A… This web page article
indicates why naming a coin may be less than desirable.
http://www.mises.org/money/3s5.asp
Valuation
Q… How should value be
established?
A… I think the prudent
approach to pursue would be to consult the Old & New Testament Scriptures.
Q… What was money in
scripture?
A… Both silver & gold and
was referred to as shekel. Brass also was used as a form of money.
Q… What was the Biblical
exchange value between gold and silver?
A… I’ve heard it said that it
was 10 silver to 1 gold. But, I also hear that a 16:1 ratio was the standard.
Q… What should the exchange value
between the metals be today?
A… I am not sure. There are
many variables to be considered, such as Biblical era standards or modern day
70 to 1 ratio, availability, acceptance
and costs.
The following scriptures might aid in determining current value:
2
Kings 7:1 a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures
of barley for a shekel
Leviticus
27:16 “…an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty
shekels of silver.”
Note: It seems that a homer
is about 2 liters.
Note: American barley in the
middle to late 1800’s was around a dollar per bushel. Whereas barley in
the
1990’s averaged around $1.75 a
bushel.
Note: Stone ground wheat
flour in the year 2000 averaged about
$1.75 per pound.
A… Many variables obviously
must be considered before settling upon what the value or worth of a
single
ounce of silver in the form of a
Christian coin should be.
A… I have a tendency to also
consider utilizing what ancient and modern people would expect to be
compensated for a days labor. For instance: so-called common or unskilled
labor in the 1800’s,
such as cowboys, teamsters, ditch
diggers, etc., accepted, but albeit
probably begrudgingly about 1
silver dollar per day. Yet, by 1960,
just prior to
was averaging about 8-10 silver dollars
per day. I realize that circumstances and scarcity of labor
influence what labor was and was not
paid. Nevertheless, I have chosen to use the so-called unskilled
labor rates because it seems that it is
the masses that shapes what the world is likely to become.
Inscriptions
Q… What should be on each
side of coin?
A… I realize that many English
names of the Creator and Savior could be used, however until I know
differently, I am favoring the Hebrew
name for YHVH to be placed in center of coin face 
and that the Aramaic name for our Savior
be on the obverse face 
It is also possible that English,
Hebrew and Aramaic could all be used, but would require smaller
lettering, which could create confusion
and make the coin appear polluted with too much information
and thereby losing the appeal of
simplicity.
Q… Should the lettering of
the names be as big as possible or smaller in size?
A… I would think that the
lettering used for The Heavenly Father & His Son our Savior should be as
large
as possible, so that when one feels a
coin that these letters instantly communicate exactly what is
being touched.
Q… How thick or thin, should
the raised or indented lettering be?
A… It would seem logical that raised lettering
would wear, whereas indented lettering would remain
almost exactly as originally stamped and
still easily communicate what is being felt. Likewise, the
names should be as wide as possible,
yet staying well within the perimeter of coin edge.
Q… Should all lettering be in
upper case?
Q… Should YHVH be indented or
projected?
Q… Should Christ be indented
to reflect coming out of YHVH and within YHVH, or projected?
Q… Should any other set of
words be small lettering, but in all CAPs like is stamped into US Coinage?
Q… Should there be any additional
lettering, such as: weight, purity and value?
Q… What should the basic
shape of these proposed coins be -- Round, Square, Rectangular, etc.?
Q… Should there be a
different shape for silver, gold or brass?
Q… Should one metal be
thicker or thinner than another?
A… If the metals are made
from purified stock, which is then rolled to pre-specified thickness the coin
blanks will naturally be larger or
smaller, thicker or thinner due to specific gravity differences.
Q… Should there be a smooth,
serrated, raised or notched edge?
A… There are merits to both
sides of this issue.
Types of Metals
Q… Besides using a silver should
gold also be employed?
A… Yes, a gold coin should be
utilized.
Q… Should any other metal be
used for coinage?
A… According to scripture
Brass and perhaps Copper was used.
Q… What should the physical
size be?
A… Most likely the silver and
gold coins would be similar to dimes, quarters, 1/2 dollars and a silver
dollars.
Q… Is there another equitable
method by which to divide each metal into differing weights?
Weights
Q… What system of weight
should be used: troy or American?
A… To avoid confusion and
controversy I see nothing wrong with the
had a different system so I would tend
to think that this method of Talents should be seriously
considered. However, using Talents
could cause confusion.
Q… Should the silver and gold
be contaminated with a base metal or precious metal to aid in hardening the
metal
for longevity?
A… I have mixed emotions
about this. Scripture seems very clear about this issue.
Leviticus
Deuteronomy
25:13 Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights,
a great and a small.
Deuteronomy 25:14 Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures,
a great and a small.
put this under church
Deuteronomy
25:15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just
weight, a perfect and just measure shalt
thou have:
Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the
LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
Proverbs
Proverbs
Note:
A couple years ago I made a brass coin with the raised inscription YHVH on
face and indented Christ
on the other side. Since casting this
brass trial coin I have carried it in my pocket and have not seen
any appreciable wear. I also carried a
.999 silver bullion round in my pocket with this brass coin and
have seen no significant wear on the
pure silver or brass. Therefore, which is contrary to
conventional wisdom I am of the current
opinion that the purer the coin’s content the closer to the
Truth each coin would be, as well as
conforming to scriptural demands.
Q… Should a weight (1/10th,
¼, ½, & 1 oz) be stamped on each coin?
A… Visual size of each coin
could be enough, but for clarity and avoiding confusion it would seem to
be preferential to have a designated
weight stamped into the coins.
Q… Should a date be stamped
onto/into each coin?
A… There is merit for doing
this, but there are also reservations.
Q… Would this constitute
man’s rein over the metals and thus form a possible idol image?
A… I doubt that a date is a
requirement.
PURITY
Q… What is pure?
A… In man’s world I feel that
purity is very hard to define. For instance, if there are 999 parts of a
statement that is TRUTH and only 1 part
in a thousand that is not Truth then can it be said that the
statement is true? In my way of
thinking anything less than pure is where Satan dwells.
Q… How pure should such a
coin be?
A… The only scriptural
reference I have found regarding silver purity is that it is to be tried by
fire seven
times. Perhaps, someone has done an exhaustive
study on how silver or gold was purified for money
in old/new Testament times.
Q… Should purity be stamped
on each coin?
A… Rather than stamping a
series of nines (999 or 9999, etc.) it seems to me that each coin should be
stamped – tried by fire 7 times.
Micah
Sources of Silver
Q… Should silver be purchased
on the open market?
Q… Should a silver mining
company, although probably a corporation be seriously considered for precious
metal purchases?
Q… Should other precious
metal purchasing options be explored, such as asking for silver donations?
Organization
I personally don’t like organizations,
because, eventually they have a strong tendency to become
Tainted, infiltrated or corrupted. Yet
some type of group or rotating fellowship needs to be founded.
Q… How can a coin exchange
within a Christian community be accomplished and thrive?
Q… Who should be in charge of
making coins?
Q… Who should distribute and
how should coins begin their voyage into the Christian community?
Q… Who should oversee that
all requirements are met?
Q… Should this organization
seek out Christians within the mining community?
Q… Who should be in charge of
accounting?
Q… Will wages be necessary as
this grass-roots organization takes hold, and if so where will this money
come from?
A… Perhaps donations could be
a source of initial revenue.
Q… Should a Foundation be
created for a funding vehicle?
Q... Can or should a church
be created to begin use of silver mediums of exchange?
Q... If so, how could this be accomplished?
Q... Where to start distribution?
Q... Who gets the first coins?
Q… How many coins made initially (100,
1000, 10,000)?
Q... What should the church
or fellowship organization do with these coins?
Q... What are the potential
benefits, such as gifts and tithes?
Costs
Q… How should any and all
expenses be added into these coins?
A… Clearly, it would behoove
this originating organization to seek-out fellow Christians to work at no
charge, at least during initial stages
of this new concept.
Perhaps, initial benefactors could be
reached to fund beginning stages of this venture.
Q… How should transportation
and distribution of pre-refined and final refined silver be handled?
Refining
Q… Who should the refiner be
if not a fellow Christian?
Q… How should quality control
be ascertained?
Minting
Q… Who should design coins?
A… Perhaps a Christian
working at a mint?
Q… Who would pay for this
original design?
A… Perhaps a fellow Christian
who has art talent or who is employed at a custom mint.
Q… Should an in-house
stamping operation be considered or left to a mint only?
Q… Who should buy the original
bulk silver?
Q… What mint should make
coins?
Circulation
Obviously for this concept to
take root there will have to be put in place a way for all to participate
within the Christian community. Most likely, concept nourishment will be
isolated to begin with. But, with time and good stewardship a firm foundation would
be set for others to follow.
Leaving
There are many issues I have
not begun to deal with regarding a silver currency within a Christian community,
but till the main issues are adequately dealt with all other questions are academic.
Created:
Email address: jcummins@accu-thump.com