Endorsement:
Biblically Responsible Investing begins with endorsing. Before asking what we should avoid, we first ask what we should support. Biblically responsible investors seek to own companies that operate in ways consistent with biblical values and promote human flourishing.
These are businesses that serve their customers well, contribute positively to their communities, and treat their employees with dignity and respect. They create products and services that genuinely add value. They operate with integrity, not just when it is convenient, but as a matter of principle. They understand that profit and responsibility are not opposites. In fact, they often work together over time.
Examples of businesses worthy of endorsement include:
- A textile company that takes extraordinary care to ensure its supply chain is free from child labor or exploitative working conditions.
- A pharmaceutical company pursuing innovative treatments for serious diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s.
- A hotel chain that has chosen to remove pornography from its properties, even at the cost of foregone revenue.
- A coffee company that provides above-average wages and benefits, viewing employees as people rather than line items.
- An energy company that prioritizes responsible extraction, minimizes environmental harm, and invests meaningfully in cleaner and more efficient energy solutions.
- A hospital system that protects the unborn and cares for mothers by refusing to offer abortion services.
Investing in companies like these honors God by stewarding capital to support the flourishing of people made in His image. No company is perfect. Every business operates in a fallen world and carries some degree of imperfection. However, with wisdom and intentionality, we can seek out the best companies available.
At Oakstreet Financial, we help faith-driven Americans Invest on Purpose. We build a plan that brings confidence and peace. If you would like to explore whether this approach is right for you, we invite you to start a conversation with us.
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This content and the Endorse, Engage, and Exclude framework referenced here are adapted from Robert Netzly’s Biblically Responsible Investing: On Wall Street as It Is in Heaven and applied within Oakstreet Financial’s broader stewardship-focused investment process. Robert’s book is available at https://canonpress.com/products/biblically-responsible-investing-a-wake-up-call-to-christians-everywhere.