3 min read

Albertans will recall that in early 2022, Canada’s Federal Government froze the bank accounts of many citizens who donated to Ottawa’s Freedom Convoy. Also, at least some of us have become aware of the emergence of central bank digital currency (CBDC),[1] and even the ways in which our existing financial system already acts as a mechanism of digital control.[2] These actions and trends have led to great opposition from many Christians in Alberta. Is their concern justifiable? Do we have digital property rights as well as those for physical property?

Since our digital property comprises money and investments, Biblical teaching would answer in the affirmative. Money can be included among property, and its owner can choose how to use it. For instance, the Apostle Peter admits that Ananias had complete control over the money he gained from selling his property: "Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?" (Acts 5:4). Ananias and Sapphira did not sin by making their own decisions about the proceeds, but by announcing publicly that they had given all of their sale’s earnings to the church, when in fact they hadn’t (v. 8). So not only do we have the right to own land and possessions, we also have the right to the free use of our money – without having it be surveilled or controlled. So digital property rights are worth defending.

What about digital privacy rights? Does the information we keep online deserve privacy just as we do for our physical space?  Most citizens of the world seem to have resigned themselves to using websites, apps, or “smart devices” while knowing full well these digital services and products are collecting and selling their personal data.  Yet it's reasonable to consider that the "you shall not steal” command ought to be extended to include protection of this data from unauthorized access or exploitation, whether it's accessed online or embedded in tech devices. The command may include any form of taking, without consent, what rightfully belongs to another–whether it is possessions or information, or physical or digital.

Therefore, it is biblically legitimate for us to protect everything we have in our digital space just as we would for all we have in the physical realm. Even so, both a challenge to our actions and a caution as we do them are worth mentioning.

First, the challenge: fighting to protect our digital currency and data from surveillance and privacy-breaching actions is going to be something of an uphill battle. A great number of governmental and corporate powers seem determined to take our freedoms away in the name of security, but just as likely for the purpose of control. This PDF book, article, and Substack publication are just three among many resources that could help us protect the digital property we have. The long-term effectiveness of these resources, though, is uncertain.

Even while we seek to protect our digital possessions and privacy, a caution is in order. We can easily be led to think that these things are absolutely and ultimately ours. However, they are the property of our Holy Father, as Psalm 24:1 attests: “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains” (NASB). All that we have are things He has entrusted us with, and for which we must give an account (Mt 25:14-30; 2 Cor 5:10). After all, God is the One who sees everything-not just our physical goods, but also our digital assets, and even our very thoughts and motives. “Where can I flee from your Spirit?”, asked King David (Ps 139:7). Adds the author to the Hebrews: “…no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:13).

Of course, we should not let these sobering thoughts deter us from fighting to hold on to what we have gained. But they ought to help us remember we are just stewards of the things we’ve acquired, and that we can’t take them with us (Ps 49:16-17; 1 Ti 6:6-7). Lest that discourage us, we can firmly hold to the promise that those whose trust is the LORD Jesus will eventually receive an inheritance that can never spoil or fade (1 Pe 1:3-5).

[1] – Yuliya Barabash, “Threats and risks of implementing digital currency (CBDC) for average person”, Finextra, November 23, 2023, https://www.finextra.com/blogposting/25246/threats-and-risks-of-implementing-digital-currency-cbdc-for-average-person

[2] – Aaron Day, "The Stablecoin Trap: The Backdoor to Total Financial Control", Brownstone Institute, March 18, 2025, https://brownstone.org/articles/the-stablecoin-trap-the-backdoor-to-total-financial-control