"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart,
not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver."
(2 Corrinthians 9:7)

Each of us has the opportunity to give unto the Lord. Using Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) may cause you, the Christian investor, to manage God's resources in a manner that influences you to be a cheerful giver.

What is "BRI" Biblically Responsible Investing?

The goal of BRI is to achieve both financial returns and to glorify God by avoiding investments that support non-biblical practices and by directing investments towards companies that align with Christian values.
BRI, sometimes known as Faith-Driven Investing or Biblically Inspired Investing, is an investment approach where Christians align their financial decisions with their biblical principles and values.
BRI investors avoid investing in companies involved in activities deemed incompatible with biblical teachings, such as abortion, gambling, pornography, alcohol, tobacco, or companies actively promoting an anti-biblical worldview. Some sources also mention avoiding companies involved in human rights violations or LGBTQ+ activism.
BRI encourages investing in companies that align with biblical principles, promoting social justice, environmental stewardship (caring for God's creation), ethical business practices, and positive community impact. This reflects values like compassion, integrity, and responsible management of resources.
BRI emphasizes that all aspects of life, including financial decisions, should honor God, drawing support from verses like 1 Corinthians 10:31 ("Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God") and Matthew 6:21 ("For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"). This approach views investors as stewards of God's resources.
BRI is often contrasted with Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing. While all are values-based, the key difference lies in the source of those values: BRI adheres to biblical principles, while SRI and ESG criteria can be more secular or broadly ethical.
While some areas may overlap (e.g., both may avoid tobacco or weapons), BRI's criteria are specifically rooted in a Christian worldview, often taking a more conservative stance on social issues compared to SRI or ESG.
Investors can utilize BRI by defining their values, screening potential investments, seeking companies with positive biblical alignment, and partnering with Christian financial advisors who specialize in this approach.
There are also specialized Biblically Responsible Investing mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available that incorporate BRI screening methodologies into their portfolios.

ARGUMENT AGAINST BRI

Purchasing a Stock or Fund Does Not Directly Benefit the Company

When a company first offers its stock to the public on an exchange (the Initial Public Offering "IPO") the company receives the money from the initial shares of the stock. This same transaction happens when a company offers new shares. However, when purchasing individual shares of a stock (or a mutual fund that includes the stock) the money transfers to the seller of that stock, not directly to the company. This is because shares traded on a stock market, referred to as a "secondary market" are traded between investors. An example difference between these transactions is that of purchasing a new car as compared to a used car. When purchasing a new car, the money is goes to the manufacturer. When purchasing a used car, the money goes to the prior owner of the car - not to the manufacturer.

Counter to the Argument

After purchasing a stock (or mutual fund including the stock) on the secondary market, the investor is interested in the profitability and sustainability of the company in question. If the company is successful, their profitability provides sustenance for an increase in their stock price thereby benefiting the investor. The investor has every reason to want to promote and encourage the company to perform.

BRI Screening Tools

BRI Research and Articles

HUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY - "BRI Investing BIBLICALLY" (3/29/23)
RAMSEY - "Are Christian Mutual Funds Right for Me?" (4/17/25)

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