Evangelical Christian Finance

Evangelical Christian finance is a sub-discipline of personal finance deeply intertwined with religious beliefs and values. It emphasizes biblical principles as guides for earning, spending, saving, investing, and giving. The core tenets revolve around stewardship, generosity, and a focus on eternal values rather than solely material wealth.

Stewardship: Evangelicals often view themselves as stewards of God's resources, entrusted with managing their finances responsibly. This perspective influences financial decisions, encouraging budgeting, debt avoidance, and prudent investment. It promotes the idea that wealth is not inherently evil, but how it's managed reflects one's faithfulness. This leads to an emphasis on living within one's means and avoiding frivolous spending.

Generosity: Giving is a central theme. Tithing, giving 10% of income to the church, is widely practiced. Beyond tithing, evangelicals are encouraged to contribute generously to charitable causes, missions, and helping those in need. Giving is viewed not just as an obligation but as an act of worship and a demonstration of faith. It's believed that generosity opens doors to spiritual blessings and aligns believers with God's purpose.

Debt Avoidance: While not always strictly adhered to, evangelical finance strongly advises against excessive debt, seeing it as a form of bondage. High interest rates and the pressure of repayment are viewed as hindering one's ability to be generous and serve God. Many evangelical financial advisors advocate for aggressive debt repayment strategies, prioritizing becoming debt-free as quickly as possible.

Investing with Purpose: Investments are often considered through an ethical lens. Some evangelicals avoid investing in companies that conflict with their values, such as those involved in alcohol, tobacco, gambling, or pornography. Socially responsible investing (SRI) or biblically responsible investing (BRI) is increasingly popular, focusing on companies that align with Christian principles. Furthermore, there’s often an emphasis on long-term, value-based investing rather than speculative trading.

Eternal Perspective: Evangelical Christian finance encourages a shift in perspective from temporal gains to eternal rewards. While financial security is important, it shouldn't be the ultimate goal. Saving for retirement and providing for family are valued, but with the understanding that earthly possessions are temporary. Investing in spiritual growth, relationships, and kingdom-minded activities is prioritized alongside financial planning.

Biblical Counsel: Many evangelicals seek financial guidance from pastors, Christian financial advisors, or through resources that interpret financial principles through a biblical lens. This integration of faith and finance provides a framework for making financial decisions that align with their spiritual values, impacting everything from day-to-day spending habits to long-term wealth management.