What is money, really? Is it just paper, digital numbers, or something far more meaningful with moral and biblical implications? Many of today’s economic challenges, inflation, debt, instability, and misplaced priorities, can be traced back to abandoning God’s principles for money. On Pirate Money Radio, we continually return to this truth. In this conversation, banking expert and biblical money educator Andy Keusel joins me to explore what Scripture, history, and common sense reveal about biblical money, and why it still matters today.

God’s Design for Money

From the opening chapters of Genesis, the Bible places special emphasis on gold, calling it “good.” Throughout Scripture, gold, silver, and copper are consistently used as money for trade, inheritance, worship, and commerce. These metals were not randomly chosen. They possess the qualities honest money requires: durability, scarcity, divisibility, recognizability, and intrinsic value.

Andy Keusel explains that these characteristics are not accidental. Across cultures and civilizations, not just Christian or Jewish, gold and silver have served as money for thousands of years. This universal acceptance points to intentional design. Scripture reinforces this by repeatedly associating precious metals with purity, permanence, and trustworthiness.

Honest Weights, Measures, and the Moral Problem of Inflation

The Bible is explicit in its condemnation of dishonest weights and measures. God calls them an abomination. While Scripture may not use the modern term “inflation,” the concept is clearly addressed. Inflation is the silent erosion of value, a form of theft that disproportionately harms workers, savers, widows, and the elderly.

By expanding the money supply without real backing, modern systems dilute purchasing power. Prices rise, savings lose value, and families are forced to work harder for less. Andy notes that this is not just an economic issue; it is a moral one. Scripture does not permit hidden theft, regardless of how sophisticated or normalized it becomes.

Biblical Money Vs Fiat Currency

Paper currency was never intended to be money itself. Historically, paper notes were receipts representing gold or silver held on deposit. Over time, those receipts were detached from the metal backing and declared “money” by government decree. This shift made unlimited expansion possible and opened the door to debt, manipulation, and deception.

As Andy explains, there is no such thing as “paper money” in biblical terms—only paper claims on real money. When that claim is no longer redeemable, the system rests entirely on belief rather than substance. Scripture repeatedly contrasts enduring value with temporary promises that fail under testing.

The Federal Reserve and Centralized Money Creation

One of the most misunderstood institutions in modern finance is the Federal Reserve. Despite its name, it is neither federal nor backed by actual reserves. Created in secrecy, it enables money creation out of nothing, a power Scripture attributes only to God.

Centralized money creation allows those closest to it to benefit first, while the rest of society absorbs the cost through inflation. Andy points out that secrecy itself should raise concern. Biblically, truth withstands light; deception depends on darkness.

Banking, Fractional Reserves, and Systemic Risk

Banking can serve legitimate purposes, safekeeping, payments, and lending. However, the modern system of fractional reserve banking allows institutions to lend far more money than they actually possess. Depositors believe their funds are available on demand, while banks simultaneously lend those funds long-term.

This system functions only as long as confidence remains. When trust collapses, so does the illusion of stability. The result is bank failures, government intervention, and inflationary bailouts that shift losses to the public.

Why Gold and Silver Endure

Gold and silver have preserved purchasing power for centuries. A similar amount of gold that once bought a quality suit, livestock, or land can still do so today. What has changed is not gold’s value, but the value of fiat currency.

Scripture’s frequent association of wealth, inheritance, and permanence with precious metals reflects this reality. Gold and silver endure testing, while paper promises fade. This distinction mirrors the biblical contrast between what lasts and what burns away.

Why This Matters for Christians

Biblical money is not about greed or fear, it is about obedience, stewardship, and truth. While Scripture warns against the love of money, it also calls believers to wisdom, honesty, and care for the vulnerable. Understanding God’s design for money helps Christians give generously, spend responsibly, and invest faithfully.

Andy Keusel emphasizes that education is the first step. When believers understand how money works, and how it can be corrupted, they are better equipped to align their financial decisions with biblical values.

Final Thoughts

If we want real economic stability, we must return to God’s standards. That begins with truth, education, and the courage to question systems built on deception. Biblical money is not outdated, it is timeless.

As believers, we are called to be faithful stewards in every area of life, including our finances. Returning to honest money is not just an economic solution, it is a spiritual one.

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