Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI): An In-Depth Explanation

Investing is an essential part of financial stewardship, and many individuals seek to align their investment choices with their values and beliefs. For Christians, this can mean investing in a way that honors biblical principles and promotes moral integrity. Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) is an investment strategy that seeks to honor God by aligning financial decisions with biblical teachings. BRI involves selecting investments that promote Christian values while avoiding companies or industries that engage in activities contrary to those values.

Defining Biblically Responsible Investing

Biblically Responsible Investing is an approach to financial management that integrates biblical ethics with investment decisions. It is often compared to other values-based investing strategies such as Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing, but it is distinct in its foundation upon biblical morality rather than secular ethical frameworks.

BRI seeks to ensure that a Christian investor’s portfolio reflects their faith and biblical convictions by avoiding companies involved in practices that conflict with Christian teachings while actively supporting those that promote godly principles.

Principles of Biblically Responsible Investing

There are several key principles that guide Biblically Responsible Investing:

1. Avoiding Investments in Immoral Activities: BRI investors seek to exclude companies that are involved in activities contrary to biblical teachings. This includes businesses that profit from:
   • Abortion (e.g., funding, promoting, or supporting abortion providers)
   • Pornography (e.g., adult entertainment industry or explicit media production)
   • Alcohol, Tobacco, and Gambling (e.g., companies that manufacture or distribute these products)
   • Unethical Business Practices (e.g., exploitative labor, fraud, human trafficking, or corruption)
2. Investing in Companies That Promote Biblical Values: Beyond avoiding negative investments, BRI also encourages investing in companies that actively promote:
   • Family values and ethical business practices
   • Respect for human dignity and life
   • Stewardship of creation and responsible environmental care
   • Charitable giving and corporate responsibility
3. Stewardship and Wise Financial Management: The Bible teaches that financial resources are entrusted to individuals by God, and they should be managed wisely. BRI aligns with the biblical concept of stewardship (Genesis 1:28, Matthew 25:14-30), ensuring that investments are handled prudently to honor God and support ethical business practices.
4. Engaging with Companies for Positive Change: Some BRI investors believe in engaging with businesses to encourage them to adopt more biblically responsible practices. This could include:
   • Shareholder advocacy (e.g., voting on shareholder resolutions that align with Christian values)
   • Constructive dialogue with corporate leadership about ethical concerns
   • Encouraging transparency and corporate accountability

Biblical Foundation of Biblically Responsible Investing

Several biblical passages support the principles behind BRI:

• 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
• Proverbs 3:9 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your produce.”
• Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
• Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not lay up yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
• 2 Corinthians 6:14 – “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

These verses emphasize the importance of ensuring that all aspects of life, including financial investments, reflect a commitment to honoring God.

How Biblically Responsible Investing Works

1. Screening Companies

BRI employs negative screening to filter out companies that engage in immoral or unethical practices and positive screening to find businesses that promote Christian values. Screening criteria may include:

• Moral concerns (e.g., abortion, pornography, gambling, substance abuse industries)
• Business ethics (e.g., fair wages, responsible leadership, environmental stewardship)
• Community impact (e.g., charitable giving, social responsibility, ethical supply chains)

2. Investing in Faith-Based Funds

Many financial firms offer faith-based mutual funds or ETFs that follow BRI principles. These funds actively select stocks that align with biblical principles while excluding those that conflict with Christian values.

3. Shareholder Advocacy and Influence

Rather than simply avoiding unethical companies, some BRI investors engage with businesses to encourage them to operate more ethically. They may:

• Vote on shareholder resolutions
• Participate in corporate discussions
• Advocate for policies that align with Christian ethics

4. Aligning Personal and Church Finances with Biblical Values

BRI is not only for individuals but also for churches, ministries, and Christian organizations seeking to ensure that their financial resources align with biblical principles. Many Christian institutions apply BRI principles to their endowments and retirement plans.

The Impact of Biblically Responsible Investing

BRI seeks to transform the financial industry by demonstrating that investors can achieve both strong financial returns and moral integrity. Some of its key impacts include:

1. Encouraging Ethical Business Practices: By directing investments toward companies with high ethical standards, BRI fosters a business culture that values integrity, transparency, and social responsibility.
2. Strengthening Christian Witness in the Marketplace: BRI investors use their financial power to promote Christian principles in business, reinforcing the message that faith should influence all aspects of life.
3. Promoting Long-Term Sustainability: Many businesses that align with BRI principles also practice sustainable and responsible management, leading to long-term financial stability and ethical success.
4. Empowering Believers to Invest with Purpose: BRI helps Christians make financial decisions that reflect their faith, allowing them to invest with confidence, knowing their money is being used in a way that honors God.

Challenges and Criticisms of BRI

Despite its advantages, BRI faces some challenges:

1. Limited Investment Options: Some critics argue that filtering out many companies reduces investment opportunities and diversification.
2. Subjectivity in Screening: Different Christian groups may have varying definitions of what qualifies as “biblically responsible,” leading to inconsistency.
3. Potential for Lower Returns: Some investors worry that avoiding large, profitable industries (e.g., alcohol, gambling, entertainment) may impact financial performance. However, studies suggest that ethical investing can still yield competitive returns.
4. Measuring True Impact: Ensuring that a company genuinely upholds Christian values can be challenging, as corporate practices may not always be transparent.

Conclusion

Biblically Responsible Investing is an investment philosophy that integrates faith and finance, ensuring that investment decisions reflect Christian principles. By avoiding immoral industries, supporting ethical businesses, and engaging in shareholder advocacy, BRI allows believers to honor God through their financial decisions. While challenges exist, the growing availability of faith-based investment options provides Christians with meaningful opportunities to steward their resources biblically.

Ultimately, BRI is about more than financial gain. It is about investing with purpose, demonstrating faith in action, and advancing God’s kingdom through wise financial stewardship. If you are interested in learning more about biblically responsible investing, please give us a call today!