Cryptocurrency and the currency of Christ

in #religion6 years ago (edited)

Usually once getting involved with cryptocurrency we begin starting to think about money differently.

One of the first questions that usually come to mind is "where does the money come from?" Once we start diving down that rabbit hole we usually begin to question or own understanding of money, which up till then most of us have taken for granted.

Its not long before we bump into phrases like "store of value" and "medium of exchange" etc.

It's then that we figure out that pretty much anything can be a reasonable currency if it meets those two fundamental requirements. The degree to which it satisfies those requirements determines the effectiveness of that thing operating as a currency.

Gold and silver are "things" and have operated as currencies or money for millennia because they mostly satisfy the two requirements.

They are relatively hard to come by and because they are scarce and that makes them generally good "stores of value". For transactions they are similar to bearer instruments and can be exchanged in person. Thereby they satisfy the "medium of exchange" criterion.

Their usefulness as currencies becomes a little strained if the value of gold or silver drops wildly, therefore they no longer "store their value" or the transactions are very large or occur over vast geographies. Hauling tonnes of gold half way across the planet just to perform a transaction is not very feasible theses days, therefore in those scenarios they become impractical as a "medium of exchange"

But that's enough on currency criteria and usefulness.

When we hear Christian speaking about Jesus Christ they often use phrases that mention "paying the price of sin", etc.

This had me thinking: "Is Christ or His blood then a currency" that can pay for something?


img source

If that is so, what is the "store of value" and what is the "medium of exchange"

"Store of value" is not that difficult to discern. Even non-Christians that have studied indepth the teachings of Christ find immense value in his teachings and example. If we think about it carefully, just as inanimate objects or things (like gold and silver) can "store value" so can living things store or produce value. It is however a little more difficult to transfer or exchange value in living things especially if they are living people, unless we have no qualms about slavery, force etc.

Many of the ancient trading economies of the past used the products of living things or those things themselves as mediums of barter or trade. One simply has to think of furs, ivory, spice etc.

Spice is a very nice example because the store of value is in nurturing the grove or orchard of spice producing trees and the spice it produces is the medium of exchange while the trees remain in the same place. The spice essentially is the "proof of work" either in nurturing, harvesting or transporting the end product. It's value was based on how useful and scarce the resource was and to some extent how much work went into making it available.

In this case we can consider that the great learning and ideas of a person can be transferred (in a sense, exchanged) through their teachings and writings. Is this a way that Christ is seen as a store of value and exchange?

Perhaps in some senses, but this would not require the shedding of his blood, his teachings would have been sufficient.

We will explore other deeper options next time. In meantime consider that the price of his betrayal was 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave.

Sort:  

Geez!...

"Is Christ or His blood then a currency?" No. It is a gift, not a currency.

While His blood does "pay" for our sin (and therefore could be considered to act as a store of value), it is by no means a barter-able commodity. Christ's gift of eternal life (salvation) was given freely (Eph 2:8-9; 1John 5:13), but it cannot be given or traded away.

Great topic! You really got me thinking!

This comment cuts the assumption of the subject so far. 👍 But i would like to add something:

”Perhaps in some senses, but this would not require the shedding of his blood, his teachings would have been sufficient."

Also, apart from shedding of His blood, His teachings and all of the prophets prophecies would have no sense at all. He was speaking about His death, the prophets wrote about it hundreds of years before He came. And for us, the practical thing in which we can apply this sacrificial love of Christ is that we must see how evil really sin is. It took the death of God's own son for us to be right with Him because we ourselves are not righteous enough to stand before a Holy God. All of us have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23), yet when we are still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). It is a gift. The question is, will we respond to this gift of eternal life through Christ? Will we repent on our sins and believe in His gospel?

This is of paramount importance. This is the only way things are.... His blood was not shed in vain, but to pay for each and every one of us... It is the payment of a Father who finds his children sold to slavery, and pays the ultimate price (his own life) for them....

Blessed are they who believe these things without seeing them, for even those who saw did not believe.

I am in accordance with you, it cannot be traded or even taken out of us once we are sealed by it...

It is an exclusive of God to pay with it! And the one that is bought, remains bought... Blessings!

Talking about this topic is very sensitive, only the one who can deduce an answer in a responsible way without offending any kind of religion, has the right to respond and give his opinion.
I, as a woman of God, a Christian for 15 years and knowing a little the word, I can say my own opinion and that Jesus was sent by his Father to earth to pay the highest price that a human being can pay, Jesus He was 100% man 100% God, but he suffered for the sin of each one of us.
His price was the highest and he did it with obedience, no monera reaches a comparable value or what Jesus cost to everything he lived.
Beloved is my simple opinion as a woman of God. I have no words to thank for the payment of my life. God bless you greatly

You are also right in these statements... There is no comparison.

His blood cannot be considered a currency, because it cannot be traded; the Redeemed cannot be un-redeemed in exchange for something else, or even to "pass on Redemption" to a loved one.

Jesus' teachings ARE sufficient. To those who need to believe in "miracles" or "superstition" or who believe in a God of human sacrifice, they need bloodshed. I find it unfortunate that so many people are either constituted this way or refuse to give up on their barbaric tradition.

In order for the teachings to have value, people must find value in them. Again, so many are constituted such that they think the teachings don't have value and can't receive them.

No, you are wrong... He did die in that cross... He and the Father did consider it a NECESSITY. And if you find them sufficient, it is because you've been bought at the price of blood, too.

God bless you, my brother.

I haven't been bought at the price of blood. I don't believe in a God of human sacrifice. Over and over again in the scripture it says that God hates human sacrifice. You have been lied to and disenfranchised of your spiritual self and your connection to God.

In this case we can consider that the great learning and ideas of a person can be transferred (in a sense, exchanged) through their teachings and writings. Is this a way that Christ is seen as a store of value and exchange?
You have justified the statement completely my friend thus christ is a currency that can pay.

No, it is not that what he meant... In fact, the teachings COULD be considered a currency (can be stored and to a degree traded), but the BLOOD OF CHRIST is not tradable... nor it is storable unless it has already been given away freely, BY GRACE.

BY GRACE

BY GRACE

To listen to the audio version of this article click on the play image.

Brought to you by @tts. If you find it useful please consider upvoting this reply.

Thanks gavvet for this thoughtful post.
First of all whats a store of value?
A store of value is the function of an asset that can be saved, retrieved and exchanged at a later time, and be predictably useful when retrieved. More generally, a store of value is anything that retains purchasing power into the future.

In other words, things that are generally perceived and somewhat proved to be appreciating in value with time, some known examples would Land, Money, Gold, and other precious metals etc.

Can jesus be a store of value?

Hes already is a store of value and has consistently proved it. In a way that people are using him to heal others.

Excellent explanation

Gracias a que Jesucristo pagó el precio de nuestras vidas, hoy día tenemos la gran oportunidad de ser hijos de Dios el dueño del oro y la plata. Quiere decir que tenemos un valor incalculable en las manos del Señor...Bendiciones para ti, gracias por compartir tan hermoso tema.

Really Great Piece on Values , looking forward to the next episode!

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.25
TRX 0.11
JST 0.033
BTC 64057.95
ETH 3104.17
USDT 1.00
SBD 3.90