The modern global monetary system is built on property rights — but not the absolute, God-given kind rooted in universal truth. Instead, these rights are defined and enforced through legislation, meaning each nation’s view of property is shaped by how its leaders and lawmakers imagine it should work.
A Hypothetical Example: RichInWriters Nation
Imagine a country — call it RichInWriters — that abolishes minimum wage laws and keeps its federal government extremely small. If this nation also has the means to defend its borders, it would stand a strong chance of economic success.
The challenge, however, is that many libertarian-leaning thinkers underestimate human nature, particularly the role of incentives. Some envision a fiscally conservative, anti-war, non-interventionist model. While appealing in theory, this vision ignores a hard truth: modern global trade depends heavily on security — and in today’s world, that security is largely maintained by the U.S. military.
The Overlooked Role of U.S. Naval Power
One reason piracy is rare today is because U.S. naval forces patrol the world’s oceans. If America stepped back from this role, international trade could change overnight. Piracy could surge, and in extreme cases, organized pirates might seize entire fleets from smaller nations.
Tangible assets — ships, ports, goods — still matter. The U.S. military’s global presence grants America enormous influence over the international monetary system. That influence has helped make the U.S. dollar the world’s dominant currency, valued even above tangible assets in many situations.
Why the U.S. Dollar Rules — and Why China Can’t Replace It
The dollar’s dominance rests on the world’s willingness to transact in it. Economies that align closely with the dollar enjoy more stable and predictable trade.
China, despite its vast tangible assets, is a persistent violator of property rights. If global monetary rules were rewritten under Chinese standards, nations would likely revert to an asset-based system to protect themselves. This would make Chinese goods prohibitively expensive and could collapse China’s export-driven economy, especially given its inefficiencies and structural bloat.
Diminishing Returns and Domestic Constraints
Economic decline often begins as a domestic problem. The U.S. dollar experiment, while currently free of capital controls, sometimes functions more efficiently abroad than at home. Whether this is sustainable remains unclear — but it is the system we live with today.
In this “conceptual age,” alternatives like Bitcoin are presented as escapes from the dollar. Yet governments and banks are increasing restrictions, blocking access for those they deem “hostile actors.” If the dollar system failed, most people would rush to accumulate tangible assets and find ways to protect them from seizure.
Barter, Salesmanship, and Survival
In such an environment, knowing how to sell, barter, and negotiate becomes essential. Even in faith, Christians “sell” the Gospel — not for profit, but because we believe the Kingdom of God is the best kingdom of all.
Ultimately, all property belongs to God. As His children, we must not allow ourselves to be bullied out of what He has entrusted to us. We are called to offer others the chance to repent, yet we also have the right to defend ourselves against force and hostility.
Biblical Lessons on Ownership and Stewardship
The Bible shows that God sometimes allowed His people to be conquered as part of His plan. History confirms a pattern: property flows to those who will treat it best.
Ethiopia is a modern example. Though regarded as a Christian nation, it embraced socialism — and is now landlocked, with diminished influence. In history, Constantinople fell to the Ottomans, ending Christian control there. Many of its defenders were mercenaries, not volunteers committed to God’s kingdom.
The question for modern Christians is clear: Do we volunteer to defend a Christian nation? If not, why? The answer often lies in the reality that our political ideals are dominated by secularism. Socialism, with its censorship and hostility to God’s principles, thrives when Christians retreat from leadership.
Christianity and capitalism work together because giving is core to our faith — and giving includes education, not just money. Capitalism without faith can decay into wage-dependence and protectionism; faith without economic stewardship risks becoming powerless against tyranny.
The Danger of Misplaced Trust
God made us capable of creating abundance, even to the point of reducing or eliminating the need for money. Yet sin, pride, and spiritual blindness often prevent this. Judas walked with Jesus yet allowed greed to open him to the devil’s influence. While Judas may have had talents — perhaps even as a recruiter — his flawed foundation led him to betray Christ.
This serves as a warning: it’s not money itself, but how we handle it that determines whether it serves God’s purposes or Satan’s schemes. Israel’s history shows that God can use outsiders to free His people when they fail in their calling.
The Real Lesson
Despite its flaws, the U.S. monetary system will persist until God determines otherwise. Any future replacement is not guaranteed to be better. In times of declared “emergency,” governments — regardless of currency type — will seize property rights.
Do not put your hope in a government-backed gold standard to restrain government power. A gold standard could make a government more authoritarian if it chose to act under the guise of national security.
Place your trust not in fiat or asset-backed money, but in God through Yeshua. Through Him, all things are possible.
Consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today.