What is a Christian’s obligation to invest in only firms that are supportive on one’s moral and ethical code?

Assignment Brief

There are many firms operating in the United States that engage in practices Christians find disagreeable. Depending on your faith tradition and Biblical interpretation tobacco, alcohol, casino firms may fall into this category. Beyond the actual business that firms are in there are also firms that support in some way abortion, drug legalization, and many other policies and practices. What is a Christian’s obligation to invest in only firms that are supportive on one’s moral and ethical code? What about the fact that tax money is used to support similar practices such as subsidizing abortion providers and tobacco farmers and casino operators and so forth?

Please post a total of three (3) Dialogue posts on this subject in the online Dialogue section of the course. As noted in your Syllabus, each Dialogue will consist of an initial post of 200-300 words (due Thursday), and two (2) response posts ranging from 125-200 words (due Saturday). Utilize the required readings as a base, cite appropriate examples/principles from the texts and include a minimum of two academic peer reviewed scholarly articles that bring depth and insight to the dialogue.

Sample Answer

A Christian Approach to Ethical Investing

As Christians, we are called to be stewards of our resources (Psalm 24:1; Matthew 25:14–30), which includes where and how we invest our money. This means avoiding companies that openly support or profit from practices that violate Biblical principles such as abortion (Psalm 139:13–16), gambling (Proverbs 13:11), and substance abuse (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). While it may be difficult to find firms completely free of all questionable associations, Christians are still encouraged to apply spiritual discernment (Romans 12:2).

Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) has grown in recent years, with funds that exclude companies involved in activities like tobacco, alcohol, pornography, and abortion. These funds allow Christians to invest while staying aligned with their values (Peifer, 2015). However, complications arise with indirect support, such as government taxes funding morally questionable practices. In this fallen world, complete separation is nearly impossible (1 Corinthians 5:10), but we are still called to personal integrity in choices within our control.

Ultimately, investing is not only a financial decision but a spiritual one. Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us to trust God in all decisions. By praying for guidance, researching companies, and possibly consulting Christian financial advisors, we can invest in a way that honours our faith while recognising that we cannot control every external factor.

References:

• Peifer, J. L. (2015). Faith and finance: Understanding religious influences on financial behaviour. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 54(1), 139-159.

• Biblically Responsible Investing Institute. (2020). Why Christian Investors Should Care.

Response to Classmate A:

I appreciate your point about how hard it can be to completely avoid investing in companies that have some form of unethical practice. You`re right, our globalised economy means most firms are interconnected in complex ways. But I also agree that doing “the best we can” is still meaningful.

Your idea of engaging with companies as shareholders is really interesting. It reminds me of Matthew 5:14–16, we`re called to be light in the world. Some Christian investors do try to bring change from within by voting on shareholder resolutions or communicating with boards of directors. This may be one way to have a positive influence.

However, I also think there’s a risk of moral compromise if we’re not careful. As Christians, our witness matters. Perhaps combining BRI with activism, where possible, is the best of both worlds?

Continued...