The Biblical Case for Gold: In the 21st Century

Copyright © 2023 Judd F. Allen.

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WestBow Press

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ISBN: 979-8-3850-0822-3 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0824-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023918138

WestBow Press rev. date:  12/11/2023

Contents

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Section 1: Present Situation

Epilogue

Problem 1—Governance Issues

Problem 2—Monetary Issues

Problem 3—Debt Issues

Section 2: Biblical and Historical Perspective

Chapter 1—In the Beginning

Chapter 2—Exoduses

Chapter 3—The Tabernacle and The Temple

Chapter 4—Sanctuary Tax

Chapter 5—Feast, Famine, and Fragments

Chapter 6—Disaster, Deception, and Disillusion

Section 3: Present and Future Applications

Chapter 7—100 Memorable Quotes

Chapter 8— 100 – 1,000 – 10,000 – Blessings?

Chapter 9—Free-Will Givers

Chapter 10—What? – Which? – When? – Where?

Chapter 11—New Jerusalem

Chapter 12—Further Study

Acknowledgement

Thanks for their help is greatly acknowledged to—Todd Houston, Vivien McMahon, and Leta Krumrine for their insights, patience, advice, wisdom, and interest. Particularly, gratitude is expressed to Dr. Houston for his insights in colonial economics. In addition, appreciation is warranted for Vivien in her patience in deciphering my chicken scratching. Lastly, thankfulness is due Leta for her numerous house calls in transcribing this project to the publisher.

Introduction

This is a curious book. It is an attempt to blend 4,000-year-old Biblical principles with 21st Century Financial Planning. Living today in two different realms is not unprecedented. In fact, God believers, since at least the time of Genesis, have lived in two distinct worlds. Moses, in Exodus 3:10 was called to be the administrator-leader of the Israelites. Aaron, God appointed as spiritual leader—High Priest in Exodus 7:1. Other co-regents were Samuel (High Priest) and Saul/David (King). Further instances are Ezra (Priest) and Nehemiah (Administrator), and Isaiah (Priest) with Hezekiah (King). A similar arrangement appears also in the New Testament—Jesus and later Peter were the priestly leaders and Judas Iscariot was treasurer for the disciples (John 12:5-6; 13:29), although Matthew had extensive financial expertise, as a former tax collector (Luke 5:27). Even today, the tiny mountainous European nation of Andorra, nestled between France and Spain is reigned by two joint rulers—a Spanish Catholic Bishop and whoever is the current President of France. Thus, a religious regent and a governing-administrator regent reign over Andorra. The terms today for joint rules are co-regency or diarchy.

This book is an attempt to blend, to wed, the earthly practical financial world of the 21st century we live in today with the eternal, blessings, spiritual world of tomorrow.

Over the past 75 years of life, I have come to realize virtually everyone is passionate or has a strong opinion when they hear two specific words: God and gold. Satan, for thousands of years, has attempted to suppress the truth of the Bible, about God and Jesus. Similarly, governments around the globe in their lust for greed and power have often had a disdain for precious metals. Yet, wars, exploration, adventures, and even life, (or death) itself have been captured by the desire, in particular, for the yellow metal.

Years ago, I recognized that only one letter in the alphabet separated two of the most passionate words in the English language—God and gold. How important is that little letter L? Then it occurred to me, both have to do with government. One Heavenly governance and the other earthly governance. The prophet Isaiah declares concerning the Messiah, the government will be upon His shoulder... of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end… (Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV). In contrast, the prophet John records Satan is the Ruler of this world (John 14:30). Yes, we have our citizenship in a Heavenly eternal home, but currently we are living on the Earth as foreigners, non- resident aliens, strangers, sojourners, and as ambassadors of Jesus. This book offers possible tools to enhance our security and peace while living in this tumultuous, strange, and foreign land.

Many today understand something’s just not right—but they can’t define it. In searching for answers and Biblical truth, it was much like peeling an onion as layer after layer of fact and fiction were pulled back to seek the truth. This is not a book extolling a works salvation but it is a tool based on one of Jesus’ last parables—The parable of the talents applied to the 21st century. Moses wrote in Leviticus the need to consider the testimony of two or three witnesses. As a result, we begin first by categorizing three issues confronting Americans today. Second, begins the quest to perceive Biblical bedrock and financial history in order to anchor the financial house of Americans on solid rock—and not on shifting sands. The third part of the book is the practical application of the lessons learned in the two prior sections.

I once had an instructor declare, The best storyteller ever, was… Jesus. We remember the stories—the lost sheep, the lost coin, the rich man and Lazarus, and the prodigal son—more than we remember the commandments, statutes, precepts, or the Word itself.

Consequently, along this journey, are interspersed rambling, wandering tales—hopefully they will help the reader to recall or learn the messages. In addition, the current generation and their fathers have been misdirected away from sound Scriptural principles and solid economic policies. When a human bone is broken, the physician must reset it in order for it to mend correctly. The author is not wise, but does agree in the multitude of counselors, there is safety (Proverbs 11:14 NKJV). Hence, I encourage you to ponder the wisdom of those who have preceded us and their pertinent quotes. Thus, within this little book, the reader will find quotes from Plato, Thomas Jefferson, Adolf Hitler, Abraham Lincoln, Dolley Madison, Grover Cleveland, Karl Marx, John Kennedy, Ludwig von Mises, Teddy Roosevelt, and others. A consensus of these 100 quotes will help the reader achieve direction, truth, and a plan to strengthen one’s family finances.

Truth is truth—100 years later—or 1,000 years later.

Eventually, we will begin to map a pathway to trustworthy, solid, dependable economic policy, if not for government, at least for our families and future generations.

Section 1

Present Situation

Epilogue

Stop! Go first and read the Introduction.

Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future too.

Marcus Aurelius 160 A.D.

No, this is not a misplacement of the concluding chapter of this book. However, this Epilogue is designed to show the summation of mankind’s failure to follow God’s Instruction Manual for our financial well-being and needs for today—and the ultimate consequences. We have lost our way. America has lost its way. This book is about 21st Century financial planning with a Biblical overlay. America today has an addiction problem—no, it’s not alcohol, marijuana, fentanyl or heroin—it’s an addiction to government handouts and more free gifts from the government.

As a professor at two different universities, I taught classes for five years about investing. Never getting a doctorate, I spent the last forty-five years of my career advising clients as to their financial issues. Over this almost half-century, I observed a common fallacy in virtually all of my clients. It was a small oversight, but nevertheless a major concern. This neglect or financial ignorance stems from three very different, yet closely related, sources. These three issues have now persisted for decades—in fact, for close to a century. To better understand the solution, first, this book delves into how we have arrived where we are today by investigating the origins of these three erroneous assumptions.

We have not followed God’s guidance, not only in America, but throughout most of the world, over the past several centuries. Consequently, this Epilogue is a composite of the results of our disobedience over a long time span. In the Bible, we are instructed to not accept the testimony of just one witness but to seek two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15; 1 Timothy 5:19). Therefore, the author shares three witnesses as problems facing America today, how we got here, and the need to turn to the Word for direction. At least three major issues face U.S. citizens today with regard to their financial soundness. The three problem areas are: governance issues; monetary issues, and debt issues. After studying the history of each of these three issues, then a survey of our present circumstances hopefully will outline a path forward, if not for our government and our neighbors, at least for our individual families. After evaluating ancient history to see where the origination point was for each of these three areas, we will look at more recent history and arrive at where we are today. Ideally, by better knowing the past, we can achieve a more promising future.

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did what was right in his own eyes.

Deuteronomy 12:8 (NKJV) and Judges 17:6; 21:25 (NKJV)

PROBLEM 1

Governance Issues

History

First, let’s ask the question: what type of nation did our founding forefathers envision for the 13 colonies? How would this group of 13 widely varying colonies formulate not just governance, but also fiscal and monetary policies? The choices are much more than just political preferences. They are more basic, more fundamental, deeper, more subtle, than just Democrat, Whig, Libertarian, or Republican political parties, and more than Liberal or Conservative values and outlooks. It’s not viewing each other simply as profit hungry, greedy, capitalist pigs versus pro-climate change, pro-equality, pro-diversity, pro-environmental wackos. Today we judge these subtleties as one man’s opinion in contrast to the next person’s opinion on how best for America to achieve self-governance. We usually don’t consider governance of a nation as a spiritual issue, but in reality, it very much is. Regrettably, the spiritual usually gets overwhelmed by the political. To understand the dilemma, we need to go back to the very earliest days of economics. Throughout most of history, survival and commerce were accomplished via one of two avenues—aggressive behavior (war) or peaceful behavior (barter). With both of these approaches, actual money never was even a consideration. The goals or objectives were more territory, more food, more tools, livestock, slaves, spices or ships. By the 1700s, the Dark Ages and Middle Ages of feudal systems were diminishing into obscurity. Specialization of skills, moving into communities, innovations, and improvements in transportation, were all ushering in an industrial transformation. As a result, fledgling capitalism and socialism were beginning to be birthed.

Conservatism

As commerce began to evolve, people were very cautious and wary. Thus, it’s not surprising that the first baby steps of governance were in a conservative vein. We all know that July 4, 1776, was the date of America’s Declaration of Independence. This bold, unique statement was pertinent not only to the 13 colonies’ future existence, but was also a clarion call to the entire world. But another, more muted, earth-shattering event had taken place less than four months previously, on March 9, 1776. And what was that? A Scottish economics philosopher had authored a book that would catapult him into being recognized as the Father of Economics. Adam Smith penned the classic—The Wealth of Nations. Smith, a friend of Benjamin Franklin’s, had devised and invented the capitalist system of governance. Consequently, the colonies enlighten themselves and applied much of Adam Smith’s writings to the forming of their new nation. No doubt Ben Franklin was the conduit to our forefathers for much of Smith’s visions for self-governance.

Smith’s writings began with Capit, the Latin term for the head, and hence "capitalism." His focus was to use the mind (i.e. the head) to think and to reason. With such a continual process of thinking, reasoning, and evaluating, it would lead to learning and wisdom. Thereby, increased wisdom would enhance creativity. This burst of creative juices would create new products, markets, and opportunities, consequently leading to people wanting to acquire the new product or visit a new market. In turn, eventually this innovation by the thinking man would lead to wealth for the creator- developer. It didn’t have to be an invention. It might simply be selling his cattle for the best price over two or three markets, rather than only in one market near his home. Such innovation and originality would often appear almost as a surprise. Thus, with increased learning and knowledge, it improved one’s skill set. The improvement in education became the crux of capitalism. Furthering and increasing of knowledge would provide even more opportunity for even better decision-making outcomes, which in turn, created even more prosperity. A basic precept of capitalism and its success, is first achieved by the individual—the inventor, the entrepreneur, the developer.

Smith called our freedom and liberty to pursue our own self-interest, to be our own boss, the invisible hand. As many individuals each followed their own self-interests, they would become a productive and profitable nation. The colonies, in effect, became a Petri dish to confirm Smith’s ideas of a prosperous country. These beginning successes created still more incentives in others to enhance even further continued success. As a consequence, Smith’s archetype had contributed to a nation benefiting from a growing economy. Smith had just created one of life’s greatest inventions—an expanding, larger economic pie. The feudal lord or some government did not give us the rights to life, or liberty, or the pursuit of our own happiness. Our own rights had been bestowed on us by our Creator God. Proof of the invisible hand at work is equally valid in Colorado, or the Congo, or in Chile. Government cannot take away what it never had granted in the first place. Capitalism soon provided a fertile ground for the flowering of Christianity. Even among Jesus’ inner circle, Peter, James, and John were entrepreneurial fisherman in Zebedee’s or their own boats.

Adam Smith’s capitalism focused on the individual. Likewise, Christianity’s focus has always been on the person, the individual soul, the personal accountability, and the individual’s well-being. Jesus’ parables were almost never about groups—the woman at the well, the rich young ruler, the parable of the talents, the Good Samaritan, etc. In the Declaration of Independence as originally composed by Thomas Jefferson, he had borrowed a phrase from John Locke, an English philosopher. In one of Locke’s propositions, he had written about the free will of man’s rights as given by God to be life, liberty, and the right to own property. Locke was thinking of the feudal system and the serfs. But in the American colonies, Jefferson was burdened by the slave issue. Consequently, Jefferson changed right to own property to pursuit of happiness.

God had created the earth. He owned it all. Yahweh appointed man’s role to be a steward of God’s creation. As a result, man is a steward with personal responsibility to God (Exodus 21:29). Man has been granted by the Creator, life itself, freewill (liberty), and accountability (the right to acquire his property and be held responsible for maintenance and stewardship of that asset). We have been lulled into sleep over the past two centuries to thinking that we own our homes and our vehicles. But if we don’t pay the property tax or other taxes, then see who will sell it at auction. We are only stewards with personal accountability.

The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

Benjamin Franklin

It is impossible to reason without arriving at a Supreme Being.

President George Washington (1789-1797)

He is led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Every man lives by exchanging.

Adam Smith

Among the natural rights of the colonists are these. First, a right to life, secondly to liberty and thirdly to property—together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can.

Samuel Adams

Liberalism

Adam Smith’s text had espoused a life, conservative capitalists free will, invisible hand, or individual responsibility and accountability of the soul doctrine. Most of mankind reveled in this prospect of freedom, but not all did. In 1848, some 72 years after the immensely successful The Wealth of Nations, another author came forth with an opposing view. This author had studied Aristotle, John Locke, and Charles Darwin. This author with the opposing view, was an economist, as was Smith. The author with the countering view in 1848 was Karl Marx, author of The Communist Manifesto. Marx had an interesting biography. In his Jewish heritage were numerous rabbis, yet Marx himself was a devout atheist. With some Biblical instruction, Marx developed an especially focused attention on Acts 2:44-45. He came to not trust the voluntary freewill