Christian Investment Principles, the American Protestant Tradition

Helping the Community

We should put our money into companies and projects that help people and protect the environment. This way, we can help make the world a better place for everyone.

• John Wesley’s Sermon “The Use of Money”
• Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 16
• “The Believer’s Stewardship” by R. C. Sproul
• “The Problem of Pain” by C.S. Lewis

Respecting People

When deciding where to invest our money, we should choose companies that treat their workers well and don’t hurt people. We should avoid companies that do bad things, like using child labor or discriminating against people.

• Genesis 1:27 – “So God created mankind in his own image…”
• “Institutes of the Christian Religion” by John Calvin, Book III
• “On Social Concern” by Reinhold Niebuhr
• “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis

Taking Care of the Earth

We need to take care of our planet because it is God’s creation. We should not invest in companies that harm the environment or waste natural resources.

• Psalm 24:1 – “The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
• “Evangelicals and the Environment” by John Stott
• “For the Beauty of the Earth” by Steven Bouma-Prediger
• “God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?” by John Lennox

Avoiding Bad Things

We should stay away from investing in businesses that do things that go against our values, like making harmful products or supporting unjust wars.

• Ephesians 5:11 – “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness…”
• “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• “A Plea for Purity” by Jonathan Edwards
• “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist” by Norman Geisler

Getting Involved

We should also be involved in the companies we invest in. This means going to meetings, voting on important decisions, and talking to the company about doing the right thing.

• Micah 6:8 – “Act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God.”
• “Business for the Glory of God” by Wayne Grudem
• “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” by Max Weber
• “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel

Being Careful and Wise

We should think carefully about where we put our money. It’s important to know how the companies work and if they align with our beliefs.

• Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
• “Decision Making and the Will of God” by Garry Friesen
• “Knowing God” by J. I. Packer
• “Reasonable Faith” by William Lane Craig

Helping the Poor and Needy

We should choose investments that help the poor and those in need. This is part of being fair and just, and it’s what Jesus taught us to do.

• James 1:27 – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”
• “Let Justice Roll Down” by John Perkins
• “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger” by Ronald J. Sider
• “The Reason for God” by Timothy Keller