Thank God for Bitcoin: The Creation, Corruption and Redemption of Money

by Bitcoin and Bible Group, Jimmy Song, Gabe Higgins

"There is an economic storm brewing that threatens the sandy foundations of our monetary system." - From the Foreword by Russell Okung, Super Bowl Champion

Money is a fact of everyday life. We earn it, spend it and save it. We’re tempted to worship it and to trust it to provide for our needs. While much has been written about the power, danger, and stewardship of money, little has been written about what money actually is and whether or not money itself is moral. That information gap has been exploited to enrich a privileged few, enslave millions, and reap confusion and division throughout the world. How did this happen and what can we do about it?

Thank God for Bitcoin explores the ways in which the current monetary system is broken and what can be done to fix it. It explores the creation of money, its corruption and its potential redemption. It looks at how Bitcoin is redeeming the ills of our corrupt monetary system and how the ongoing transition to sound money is a source of hope for a broken world.

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction, Finance, Business, Christianity, Christian, Money

148 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2020

Reviews

[Murtaza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is less about Bitcoin per se than a critique of the current fiat-biased monetary system that prevails globally, closing with a brief account of how replacing this system with Bitcoin would have morally positive downstream results. The analysis is decidedly Christian, with many quotations from the Bible (several of which were beautiful and true), but the core argument can be boiled down to an ethical one. Fiat money is inflationary, there is no limit to how much can exist and it is not tied to any underlying value. As the authors argue, inflation is a modern version of the old debasement of currency that rulers in pre-modern times engaged in to rob their subjects: whether alloying coins or reducing their weights from what is advertised. Moreover, since fiat money is unlimited and you can always print more, it unmoors those in power from any sense of responsibility for their choices while making it easier for elites to fund evil endeavors like wars. The indirect tax of inflation is a much easier way to rob people to pay for a war than a direct tax, which people would be far more likely to resist.

In contrast to fiat money, Bitcoin is finite. There are 21 million Bitcoins in existence and will never be any more. The unit of currency is divisible, but not infinitely so. That makes it a hard form of exchange more like the gold standard that the United States and the world abandoned in the 20th century, switching to the fiat-based U.S. dollar that has also become a powerful tool of U.S. global imperialism. The state not only controls the money supply, its administrators have privileged access to it and can also cut off whomever they like. If the world were to switch to Bitcoin to order its economic affairs, the authors argue, there would be positive moral consequences that permeate all of social life. People would be paid in a far more real coin than the flimsy dollar bill whose value leaks out by the day. No one would be able to cut off individuals or entire countries from economic activity simply because they dislike them, as the U.S. also does in a frequently abusive fashion at present. The authors view of the present monetary system, as well as notional left-wing proposals such as Modern Monetary Theory, are that they are similar to the systems that prevailed in pre-modern civilizations that were led through ruin through elite robbery through the means of currency debasement. They see the United States indeed heading down this same path and view Bitcoin as a way out of participating in this immoral and dangerous socio-economic system.

This book helped me understand the deep conservative opposition to inflation and continued longing for the gold standard far better. I would not recommend it as a starting point to learn about Bitcoin, it is dealt with only in two chapters, but the book offers a rousing critique of fiat-biased money that should make anyone think more deeply about the implications of the monetary system that we use today. If there is a way to build alternative mini-societies within society, Bitcoin would be a free, finite, and independent currency to order economic affairs. It will likely be of continued interest for those whom the current system cuts against the grain in various ways.

[Darryl Burling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally good, but with one key unhelpful tone...

I recently came across bitcoin and crypto currencies, and have been reading around economics and money ethics since then. I first learned about this book listening to a podcast in which a couple of the authors of this book were interviewed.

This book does a good job of explaining some of the key themes related to bitcoin and our fiat money system today. Key issues such as the ethics of inflation are well covered, as are the benefits of bitcoin by contrast to fiat currencies. There are also some excellent and thought provoking additions in this book, which I personally benefited from, such as the impact of fiat currency on the church and for Christian living generally. So, there are many positives to commend this book.

Having said that, it seems clear to me (I have a theological PhD) that while the authors quote scripture throughout, and there is a surprisingly clear focus on personal holiness, the authors are not making a theological argument as much as an ethical one. This isn’t really a big detractor, but as a book for Christians, it is worth noting that if you’re looking for a theological treatise on money, this probably isn’t it. For this reason, it may not be ideal as a book to take groups through (though I would suggest you read it first and then make that decision for yourself). However, it would be fairly easy to take the material in this book and plug it into a more theologically driven outline.

My biggest criticisms for this book, and the reason I’ve given it four stars rather than five, is twofold. First, at times, it comes across as a little alarmist, though I don’t think the authors are trying to be alarmist. This might be a symptom of being so deeply in the bitcoin bubble (or echo-chamber) where things are sometimes said that sound alarmist to those outside. This can be said of lots of communities, so it isn’t true only of the bitcoin social network communities.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, at other times it comes across anti-government or anti-establishment. As Christians, we are called to submit to those in authority, and one of the biggest problems with the church today is that Christians are so belligerent against authority. So to throw fuel on this fire seems both unwise and unbiblical.

However, don’t let these things stop you from reading this book. It is a worthwhile introduction to why we need a better currency standard than we have today and it will provoke lots of thought about why we do what we do both individually and as local churches.

[Joshua Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. I genuinely think every Christian should read this book. Their theology may not be perfect, and the Bible verses and their explanations of those verses mentioned in this book may not exactly be exegetical expositions, but they were still helpful for the subject. They were used for application purposes.

My view on money has changed forever. I have been involved in cryptocurrency since 2012, and knew it was something special, but this book solidified it. I have absolutely no doubt that cryptocurrency is the future of money. As a Christian with a theonomic postmill eschatological view, cryptocurrency makes perfect sense.

The current monetary system is inherently corrupt, and causes more problems than you can ever imagine, even spiritual problems that you may have never thought of.

[Rachelle Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite an interesting and informative perspective between unsound and sound money.
It spends about 90% talking about the theft of unsound money and how people are robbed of their work, dignity, and future by the continuous devaluation of money perpetuated by their governments. It shows us that what's going on right now is unbiblical and causes us to not "love our neighbor" because we're too busy surviving and trying to stay on the hamster wheel. Wars are also funded by printing money and the effect of unsound money is great wealth disparity, the source of many societal sins.

The solution, of course, is sound money in the form of Bitcoin.

[Rhah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much at first. Little did I know that this book would not only turn out to be an excellent read with very many great insights, but would also prove itself to be a profoundly important book that has forever changed my (previously skeptical) perception and opinion of Bitcoin.

It isn't so much a book about Bitcoin (the term isn't used until chapter 8 of its total of 9), as it is a book about the the many inherent flaws of our current monetary system. For throughout the first 7 chapters, it gives the reader a concise but detailed explanation of the history of our current fiat system, its inherent flaws, as well as the manipulative politics behind it and the way in which it negatively impacts our lives as a result.

"Because money is so pervasive, bad money corrupts all aspects of life."

This is important, for in order to see the potential that Bitcoin has to offer us in freeing us from our enslavement to money and the authorities that control the money supply (due to Bitcoin being completely decentralized and not under the control of a human authority that can abuse its power), it is necessary to understand why our current monetary system is broken and how exactly it negatively affects our day-to-day live and our future. As the book states:

"We cannot understand Bitcoin's significance without understanding that our money is broken. It is much easier to grasp a thing's importance after understanding the need that it fulfills. This is why many people remain uninterested in Bitcoin; they simply don't realize that there's a problem to be fixed."

And I'm glad to say that this book has succeeded in doing exactly that in a very straightforward, clear, concise, and easy to understand fashion that makes it easily accessible to everyone, without demanding a prior understanding of finances or economics of its reader.

After having read this short book, I can say that I am no longer a skeptic, but now consider myself to be a proud and optimistic holder of (some fractions of a) Bitcoin and a fool for having stubbornly refused to consider it for so many years. This is a book that gives hope and should be read by everybody.

I will leave you with one of its many profound insights:

"Money was intended to store the value of work across time, but instead it has become the prime tool to exploit the community. Inflation in our current monetary system demands ever-increasing sacrifices from the community. To preserve wealth in an inflationary economy, a large investment of time, energy, and even money is required.
Broken money requires everyone who wants to preserve the value of their wealth to constantly work. The more wealth a person has, the more time, energy, and money they need to spend on wealth preservation.
As we move toward a Bitcoin standard, however, this changes. Bitcoin helps its owners plan over the long term. Bitcoin doesn't degrade or inflate, which allows us to place more value on our time. Bitcoin causes us to value our time more because our labor can be stored in money that holds its value. As a result, we don't worry about money as much and are left free to pursue more meaningful work.
When enough people change their perspective on work and time, profound changes occur in our community. We start valuing other people's time. We gain a deeper understanding of the past and make better plans for the future. We start saving for future generations instead of stealing from them. We start building up civilization instead of tearing it down.
Our current mentality is a sick and twisted one. If we don't value other people's time, we are not loving them. The core evil pervading our wasteful bureaucratic systems is that they have stolen billions of hours of human time. We can act against this evil by using money that better reflects the value of human time. Bitcoin helps us to love our neighbor and helps us lead purposeful lives."

[Adam Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title alone made me not want to read this book. It seemed a bit campy and grandiose. Nevertheless, when my rather intelligent buddy who rarely reads at all recommended this book, I felt like I had to honor him by giving this a shot. While the writing style reminded me of a undergrad essay, it was still informative if a tad boring. Bible verses were sprinkled out of context so often that I eventually just stopped reading them, but I did appreciate and learn a good bit about the fiat monetary system; things I had never considered in the past. Narrative was rarely used, statements were made at times without supporting evidence, and the counter arguments weren't really represented adequately but I still am glad I read this. If you are interested in learning more about our current monetary system and how something like Bitcoin can help resolve many of its issues, check this out.

[Billy]

A book every person sick of the world we live in should read

The authors go into a very easy to understand yet revealing look at why our current social, political, and economic situation is so corrupt and how each of us as individuals can make a difference moving forward. A thoughtful wake-up call to citizens the world over who are looking for a way out of the moral bankruptcy foisted on us by politicians and their respective (not respectable) governments. Read it, think about it, and give it to your friends....

[ALECIA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a great overview for the power of Bitcoin. In addition, it will also teach you the past, present and future of money in a way that you'll have a greater understanding of how the world works. This is a must read!

[Mohammed Al Sarraf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explains the mordern abysmal monetary system with all of it's flaws and introduces Bitcoin as a moral solution to the mess it created.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a famous quote, "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." Topics that might not be on many people's radar - like monetary ethics, investing, and this 'crazy new bitcoin thing' - nevertheless impact everyone immensely, even if they're not paying attention. TGFB is a quick read that provides a plain-english summary of many of these topics, particularly from a Christian perspective. This will be the most important book you read this year, and potentially life-changing for many.

[Liam York · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cherry picked verses and strawmen arguments galore. Really useless and utopian, perhaps blasphemous, and a total snooze.

[Carli Loubser Basson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Loving this book!!! Thanks guys!! What a revelation!!! Amen!!!

[Russell Sigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone curious about cryptocurrency and learning about it and our monetary system through a Christian lens, I highly recommend this book.

[Jon Den Houter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book clumsy and repetitive, with typesetting errors such as pages of half gray-, half black-colored text, but what especially bothered me was how each section dutifully quoted a Bible verse which often did not apply. That said, the ideas the authors presented about the United States' fiat currency were so eye-opening that I was able to overlook these things. I learned a tremendous amount from this book!

First, I didn't even know what fiat currency was before I read this book. In short, fiat currency is a currency that is backed up by the fiat ("decree") of the government. The US Dollar is a fiat currency. Specifically, the authors explain the US has a "central-bank-controlled fiat monetary system" (Ch. 4, "The Problems with Fiat Money"). The authors taught me a lot about this that I don't want to rehash here, but suffice it to say that in our system, the US government through its control of our central bank can print money anytime it wants to fund anything it wants. While printing money has an immediate stimulating effect on our economy the long-term result is massive inflation. Printing more US dollars has the effect that everyone's dollar is suddenly worth a little less. Another auxiliary effect is that those closest to the government and central bank, such as banks that are "too big to fail" and politicians, gain from this process (I will explain how below) while people who have sought to save money lose from this process as their savings suddenly have less buying power.

Those closest to the money supply benefit through the Cantillon effect, for these government insiders, CEOs, hedge fund managers, etc., have access to cheap assets that they can purchase before the latest wave of inflation kicks in, whereas wage-earners do not have the capital available to capitalize on the temporary cheaper prices of assets. (The authors discuss how the Cantillon effect plays out in the US in Ch. 4, "The Problems with Fiat Money.")

In addition to the illumination the authors gave me regarding the U.S. monetary system, they also gave many insightful examples from history of how printing money has effected other nation-states. For example, the Romans debased their currency, meaning that over time the Roman government put less and less silver (and more and more dross) in their denarius coins in order to gain more buying power--for after each debasement, the Romans could buy 1,000,000 denarii worth of labor with based coins that were worth only 800,000 denarii. The market hadn't caught on yet to the debased coins, so the Roman government took advantage of their buying power before the population caught on and raised their prices to compensate for the newly devalued currency. While most of the Bible verses quoted throughout this book did not apply to the ideas the authors were talking about, it was in these sections that I found the Bible verses to be revelatory. For example, the authors quoted Isaiah 1:22, "Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water," explaining that as currency becomes debased, merchants are often forced to debase the quality of their goods to compensate. The authors gave a stunning modern-day example of this with Snickers bars, which "have shrunk from 58g in 2012 to 45g in 2020 while the price has remained the same" (Ch. 6, "The Moral Consequences of Corrupt Money").

There is MUCH more I could say--I haven't even mentioned Bitcoin yet! Suffice it to say that this book, clumsy as it was, was a revelation to me about our country's corrupt monetary system, which in addition to promoting theft has degraded morality at every level. Even the church has gotten embroiled in our corrupt system, which the authors detail in Ch. 7, "How Bad Money Corrupts the Church." Chs. 9 and 10 introduce the idea of Bitcoin, a "perfectly scarce" currency, as having the potential to redeem our corrupt system if enough people buy into it. Since nation-states throughout history have given into the temptations of debasing currency, printing money, and other thefts, I don't have much hope that even Bitcoin can redeem us. All I can say is, using some of John's words from Revelation 22:20, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

[Viljar Kähari · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Thank God for Bitcoin" offers a fascinating and unique perspective on the world of cryptocurrency. This book delves into the ethical and moral implications of our current financial system and how Bitcoin presents a solution to its inherent flaws. The authors, a group of Christians in the field of tech and finance, bring an unconventional but enlightening angle to the discussion, intertwining economic history with moral philosophy. Their arguments are well-researched and presented in a manner that is both accessible and engaging for readers, regardless of their religious beliefs.

What stands out in this book is the way it addresses the moral aspects of money, an often-overlooked topic. It challenges readers to consider the ethical dimensions of the monetary systems that govern our lives and how Bitcoin, with its decentralised and transparent nature, offers a path to a more just and equitable financial system. The authors effectively use historical examples and current financial crises to illustrate the shortcomings of traditional money, making a compelling case for the adoption of Bitcoin.

In conclusion, "Thank God for Bitcoin" is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the deeper implications of cryptocurrency and the future of money. It’s not just a book about Bitcoin’s technology or investment potential; it's a profound exploration of how this digital currency can lead us towards a more honest and fair financial world. This book is highly recommended for its insightful analysis and the fresh perspective it brings to the conversation on money and morality.

[Loren Picard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This might come across as an unfair review. The book is credited to eight different authors. Any book created by committee is bound to be sub-par. This is no reflection on any one of the authors. The tone of the book comes across as self-righteous and preachy. The authors are Bitcoin Maximalists and do not show any awareness for the developing decentralized world coming into being by other blockchain technologies. This is too bad. Also, the book represents a high-school level summary of the work of Saifedean Ammous and Andreas M. Antonopoulos (at least Ammous ' "The Bitcoin Standard" is included in the Resources section in the back of the book). Given the authors' Christian background they include numerous biblical references. Some are very good and pertinent. There are so many they start to become annoying. Less is more in this case and the book could have benefited from a good editing. With all that said, its a quick read and hits all the high points of Bitcoin's real and perceived characteristics. And the book includes a few good nuggets of historical reference. In conclusion, I should give it 2 1/2 stars.

[Jalen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

I was not interested in this topic, but my brother asked me to read it since he is deeply invested in Bitcoin. It was a quick, easy read, so I was happy to oblige. While very informative (hence the two stars), I have more logistical problems with this book than anything.

For starters, it felt like I was reading an undergrad essay more than a published work. It could have benefited greatly from some serious editing. And could it have killed them to hire a designer to format the page layout, is it rough!
(-1 Star)

Secondly, it can’t seem to decide if it’s based in economics, philosophy, or theology.  It tries to do all three, I would argue unsuccessfully.
There are bible verses on just about every page, very slim references to the bible and how money affects Christians and the Church. The reality is that you could cut just about every biblical or Christian-based thing in this book, and it would still communicate its message (arguably, even more) effectively. (Theology) It gives some solid insight into the history of money, how our current monetary system works, and its massive flaws. (Economics) But then also gets deep into the morality of money and how money can affect our day-to-day lives, ultimately controlling how we think and act. (Philosophy) I do get that money affects all of these areas of life, but it makes the messages more muddled when you try to tackle these topics interchangeably. 
(-2 Stars)

Sidenote: The last chapter, ‘The Redemption of Money,’ felt a little too drink the Kool-Aid for my tastes. Sort of totting Bitcoin as this all-encompassing solution to all the problems (and their effects) of our current monetary system.  Which I kind of expected but, still you’ve given your arguments. Let your readers decide.

All in all, it was a quick (mostly) informative read… if nothing else it has helped me to understand my brother’s hyper-fixating rambles of bitcoin, fiat currency, and decentralized currency. 

[Jacqueline Mok · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recall thinking that the fractional banking system seemed like a Ponzi scheme when I first learnt about it in economics class, and was a little baffled that our whole (functioning) economy is built on an illusion that *seems* so fragile in theory but *appears* so resilient in practice. This book is like a full recap of economics 101: the monetary policy edition, but with the bonus of calling a spade a spade, albeit in a Sunday school setting. Its critique of the fiat money system is very insightful (and very readable), but despite its title, this book still has not fully convinced me that Bitcoin is The Solution. Basically how the writers have tried to sell the idea of Bitcoin is to define it as everything fiat money is not. Good start, but without developing the idea further, imo that makes the argument one sided. The book also critiques the ills of an inflationary economy, but I'm sure a deflationary one will have its own set of problems that we'll have to grapple with too (perhaps I'm brainwashed by traditional economics?), but this isn't explored. There was only one paragraph of obligatory disclaimer that "of course Bitcoin isn't the panacea", though everything else they're saying sounds like Bitcoin IS the ultimate solution. Not a book to learn about Bitcoin, though the transparent explanation of the fiat money system makes this a totally worthwhile and eye opening read.

[Ashley Cook]

Very well written, and profoundly succinct. Kind of book that you want to highlight, but you would end up highlighting almost every page. It walks you through the thesis that btc actually does repair our dysfunctional relationship with money (both physically & spiritually). I was a skeptic on the "thank god" spiritual part before reading, but like all things bitcoin, now I get it.

The books lays out the facts and information showing how our current monetary system is immoral, and why we are ensnared by the worship of it. Then it effectively presents the strong case for bitcoin's moral system by design, arguing conclusively imo that "Bitcoin is nothing less than the redemption of our corrupt monetary system".

If you are religious (or not), and feel you have missed the opportunity, or you feel it's ungodly to investigate bitcoin because it represents "greed" and "love of money", don't believe that lie! It's not too late, and probably will never be too late. Read it with an open mind and heart. It will be a blessing.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a recommendation from a friend. It is relatively short and sweet - I finished in a single flight. The first half is a surprisingly great overview of “what is money?”, and the discussion on money inflation vs price inflation was actually very illuminating. I am now feeling inspired to dive more into Modern Monetary Theory. The second half had a section relating the monetary theories and problems to the Church. I found it interesting but tougher to swallow - there’s not a lot of data or citing going on, just generalizations from the author. The final section is on, of course, bitcoin, where the author lays out how bitcoin can solve the world’s problems. I really appreciated the bit on gold vs bitcoin as the world’s standard as I had that question while I was reading. All in all, an informative read clearly meant as a primer with a good list of “further reading” at the end.

[Jennie Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great explanation of money and how money works for beginners. It does not explain how Bitcoin works (there are references provided for those interested though) but instead provides a look at functional failings of historical and contemporary currencies. The case is made for Bitcoin as an ethically superior monetary system due to scarcity, decentralization, etc. I loved the hopeful message of this book, and highly recommend it to anyone curious about Bitcoin…or, honestly, anyone frustrated by inflation! (So basically: everybody! I highly recommend this book to everybody)

[Derek Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Recommendations; Average Theology

Though that the authors did a good job of outlining some of the pros and cons of both our current monetary system and the system of Bitcoin. However, I think they put a little too much hope in BTC, didn’t expound on the entire crypto ecosystem and how it will have impact as well (it’s inextricably linked with Bitcoin), and spuriously included Bible verses at random with no real connection to the topic at hand.

[Robin Owens · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book explores the ways in which the current monetary system is broken and what can be done to fix it. It explores the creation of money, its corruption and its potential redemption by Bitcoin. The book discusses the current monetary system and how the ongoing transition to sound money is a source of hope for our world. Interesting view, but cautionary read, as I see several red flags regarding motive and bias.

[Matt Fricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book outlines the “broken” nature of fiat money and explains how bitcoin solves the monetary problems we face today, namely inflation.

It can get a little idealistic at times, but I agree with the takeaways and I like the biblical perspective on sound money leading to human flourishing. There is a lot of corruption around our current monetary system and a move to sound money sounds like a win to me.

And thank God for bitcoin.

[Ryan Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful, simple, critique of the immorality of the current economic system. I highly recommend giving this a read. Only 2 chapters are on Bitcoin and it is not technical at all.

This is an excellent introduction to why Bitcoin matters and why it can radically help change society for the good.

[Jared Townley · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is one of the few books to discuss spiritual questions and bitcoin, it is not the first book I would send someone to read. That book still is Broken Money by Lyn Alden. Perhaps the most interesting claim came towards the end when the authors suggest the fiat system we live in actually pushes us to love money more that we would in a world on a Bitcoin standard.

[Dave Murray]

About time we return to God.

Explains we'll how fiat money destroyed our economies and corrupted politicians and banks.
Bitcoin is the next evolutionary step.
Fiat will fail we just done t know when.
The clever move is to be prepared.

[William Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've been in Bitcoin and want to know the biblical reasons why it resonates with you, buy it.

If you're a Christian and don't understand Bitcoin, buy it.

Passing my copy on to my pastor this Sunday and giving other copies to my parents.

[Cliff · Rating 1 out of 5]

The authors spent 85% of the writing trashing traditional $$ rather than sharing the benefits of Bitcoin. In the end, they admit Bitcoin is a type of $. It hasn't been corrupted yet - give humans time. It won't take long.

[William McKeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Power and Freedom for the individual.

Monitoring the thief of wealth by those whom we trust has not been high on my list of things to do. I think it’s time for a change.