Show Notes
What happens when faith collides with politics, economics, and questions about authority?
What starts as a casual chat about hockey fandom and Canadian rivalries quickly opens the door to something bigger: the tension between government power, personal freedom, and what the Bible actually teaches about authority. I’m joined by Alin Armstrong (Pastor Coin), who focuses on helping the church understand Bitcoin and why it matters for the future of money and freedom.
I wrestle with questions many believers are asking right now. Verses like Romans 13 are often used to argue that Christians must submit to the state, but what happens when government actions start crossing into areas many people believe belong to the church or to individual conscience?
We connect those questions to Bitcoin, free markets, and the argument that decentralization may lead to stronger and healthier societies than centralized control. Along the way, the story of the Tower of Babel raises a deeper issue: why humans repeatedly build systems of power that place authority in human hands instead of God’s.
If you’ve been thinking about the intersection of Christian theology, government authority, Bitcoin, and decentralization, this episode raises questions that may challenge how you see all of it.
You’ll Learn:
[00:00] Introduction [08:26] Why pastors are becoming more politically engaged, and what the Bible actually says about it [17:12] The biblical origin of centralized government, from Babel to Israel's kings to the gospel [31:17] Romans 13 as a slavery text, and why "maximize Jesus, minimize Caesar" is the biblical [47:20] Biblical entertainment, the rise of shows like House of David, and whether Christians should make better art [55:13] How studying Bitcoin led a pastor to Scripture, fiat debt, sin, and who actually bears the guilt [01:08:43] Why denominational labels have lost their meaning, and what "Jesus Maximalist" replaces them with [01:14:46] Mary as the second Eve, the Genesis 3 thread that runs all the way to the cross [01:25:47] Applying "minimize Caesar" to diet, homeschooling, and food sovereignty [01:32:54] Biblical archeology, Sodom's sulfur, the Book of Enoch, and the Giant of Kandahar [01:41:31] Cold Case Christianity, why the resurrection is the only question that matters
Find more from Alin Armstrong (Pastor Coin):
Pastor Coin | X Alin Armstrong | Website The Bible and Bitcoin by Alin Armstrong | Book
Find more from Adam O’Brien:
Adam O’Brien | X Adam O’Brien | Instagram Adam O’Brien | Spotify
Stay connected with Adam’s latest insights by following along on all social platforms.
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