Bible Money Matters

Christian personal finance

Menu
    • About
    • Archives
    • Contact
    • Close
  • Making Money
      • Popular Articles

        • 50 Ways To Make Money: Maximizing, Creating And Increasing Your Income
        • 10 Weird And Unconventional Ways To Make Money
        • Making Money With A Blog (e-Book)
        • 10 Places To Sell Or Trade Your Unused (Or Broken) Electronics
        • Ways To Make Extra Money Series: 20 More Income Generating Ideas From Our Readers
        • Making Side Income Can Help Blunt The Impact Of Becoming A One Income Family
        • Earn Cash Back With Discover it® Credit Card
      • Recent Articles – Making Money

        • Best Sites Like Fiverr To Make Money As A Freelancer
        • 13 Of The Best Independent Contractor Jobs
        • 25 Of The Best Gig Economy Jobs
        • How To Make Money Blogging: Turn A Blog Into A Business
      • Categories

        • Making Money
        • Investing
        • Retirement
        • Jobs & Work LIfe
        • Money
        • Income
    • Close
  • Saving Money
      • Popular Articles

        • 50 Easy Ways To Save Money Every Month
        • 10 Weird And Unconventional Ways To Save Money
        • 10 Practical Ways To Save Money And Increase Your Net Worth
        • How To Save Money On Just About All Of Your Regular Monthly Bills
        • Ways To Watch TV Without Paying An Arm And A Leg For Cable TV
        • Save Money On Your Hospital Bill - Just By Asking
      • Recent Articles – Saving Money

        • How To Save $100k In 7 Practical Steps
        • Stairs App Review: Save And Invest To Earn 4-6% Interest
        • Honey Review: Save Money Automatically When You Shop Online
        • 9 Convincing Reasons Why You Need An Emergency Fund
      • Categories

        • Saving Money
        • Frugality
        • Planning
        • Finance
        • Saving For Retirement
        • Savings Accounts
    • Close
  • Banking
      • Best Rates For 2019

        • Best Credit Cards
        • Best Savings Accounts
        • Best Mortgage Rates
        • Best CD Rates
        • Best Brokerages
        • Free Credit Scores
      • Recent Reviews

        • TradeStation Review: Commission Free Stock And ETF Trades
        • Firstrade Review: Commission Free Trades on Stocks, Crypto, And Options
        • Cadre Real Estate Investing Review: Commercial Real Estate Investing
        • Axos Self Directed Trading Review: Invest, Trade Stocks For Free
      • Categories

        • Bank & Software Reviews
        • Investing
        • Credit
        • Banking
        • Mortgage
        • Insurance
        • Family Budget
    • Close
  • Recommended
  • Video
    • Close

Is It Ok For A Christian To Invest In “Vice Stocks”? Part 1

By Peter Anderson 2 Comments - The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited April 15, 2021.

Share10
Pin
Tweet
Share
10 Shares

I was reading in Kiplinger personal finance today that in a turbulent market like it is has been recently, with the economy on the verge of a recession and the housing market unstable, one of the best investments people can make are in so called “Sin Stocks”.

Hard times won’t stop gamblers from betting, partygoers from drinking and smokers from puffing. In fact, economic turbulence might give them even more reason to indulge. That makes so-called sin stocks, or shares of alcohol, gaming and tobacco companies, a safe bet as the U.S. economy slows.

Should Christians Invest In Vice Stocks or Sin Stocks?

Quick Navigation

  • Should Christians Invest In Vice Stocks?
  • The Competing Camps
  • Viewpoint: It’s Never OK To Invest In Vice Stocks
  • Related Reading

Should Christians Invest In Vice Stocks?

My question is this: Is it okay for a Christian to “indulge” in investing in these types of stocks? Is it reasonable to think that we as Christians should make sure all of our investments are in companies that we morally agree with?

In this three part series I will look at investing in so called “Sin Stocks” and talk about some of the competing ideas as to what is acceptable, and what isn’t.

The Competing Camps

When looking for opinions on the subject of Christians investing in vice stocks two competing camps came into clear view. The camp that says it is never OK to invest in vice stocks and those who say that it isn’t advisable, but it is near impossible to micro-manage all of your accounts.

Today, I’ll look at the viewpoint that it is never OK to invest in vice stocks.

Viewpoint: It’s Never OK To Invest In Vice Stocks

Boundless.org in their article on investing with a conscience say that people who would never invest in a questionable company have two main reasons for not doing so:

For those who don’t want to invest in morally questionable companies, two reasons usually come to the forefront: personal conscience and societal change. First, they don’t want their money going to companies that promote, well, let’s just say it — sin…. But beyond just keeping their money in moral companies, many Christians choose faith-based funds as a tool for societal change.

First, as a Christian there are many things that we avoid as it runs counter to our belief system. But not engaging in those activities isn’t enough, say proponents of keeping your investment portfolio clean. You should scour your 401k accounts, investment funds and financial holdings to make sure that you aren’t investing in stocks that in some way support an immoral lifestyle. Boundless.org puts it like this:

Would you work for Playboy magazine? Probably not.

Would you buy a Playboy magazine? Let’s hope not.

But are you supporting Playboy magazine financially anyway?

No way, you say.

Not so fast. Have you checked your 401(k)?

Does that index fund you hold in your retirement account include a stock with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) ticker “PLA”? If so, you are a part owner of, that’s right, Playboy. Not that you’ll be getting invitations to Hugh Hefner’s mansion (and not that you want them). But a little bit of your money, however infinitesimal, is going to the Playboy conglomerate.

How would you feel if you found out that was the case? Would it bother you?

Would it bother you to find out you held stock in Playboy or Hustler magazine? How about stocks in gambling concerns or big tobacco companies? Clean investing proponents argue that if you find those activities concerning, then you should rid yourself of active ownership in their company’s stocks in order to keep a clean conscience.

Beyond just keeping their investments in companies they consider sound morally, many Christians choose faith-based funds as a tool for societal change.

The culture war has a new battlefront,” declares the web site of The Timothy Plan. That new battlefront? Wall Street.

Pointing out that politically left activists have long used their influence as shareholders to influence corporate policy, the web site encourages Christians to use this influence as well.

“Boycotting alone is a commendable yet incomplete action,” The Timothy Plan Web site states. “Boycotting coupled with the avoidance of stock or bond ownership of such companies is a much more effective approach.

The Barna and the Investment Company Institute approximates that 40 million Christians invest over 4 trillion dollars in mutual funds. If they put their money in socially and religiously responsible investments, broad societal change can be started. As Arthur Ally of the Timothy Plan states:

I believe you could see positive cultural change in America come from Wall Street long before it comes from the White House.

So many Christians believe that you should never invest in questionable companies because they support an immoral lifestyle.

By taking their investment dollars elsewhere, they hope to keep their own consciences clean, and help bring about societal change in the process.

Companies that can help people do this, like the Timothy Plan are popping up all over, and while some of them charge fees that some might not be comfortable with, they have the advantage of being “clean investments”.

Next in this series I’ll talk about those who say that it is sometimes unavoidable to invest in certain sin stocks, and why you can never fully divest yourself from those companies. In the meantime check out all the great reading through the links below.

Related Reading

  • The Virtues of Vice Stocks – Kiplinger.com
  • Investing with a conscience – boundless.org
  • Why religion is an important part of personal finance – Getrichslowly.org
  • Funds for Christian Investors – Business Week
  • Timothy Plan Hall of Shame Companies to avoid
  • Ethical Investing
  • Socially Responsible Investing: The Debate Over Where to Draw the Line
Is It Ok For A Christian To Invest In \

Related Posts

  • Is It Ok For A Christian To Invest In "Vice Stocks"? Part 3

    Should Christians make sure all of their investments are in companies that they morally agree with, or is it OK to invest in vice stocks?…

  • Is It Ok For A Christian To Invest In "Vice Stocks"? Part 2

    Should Christians make sure all of their investments are in companies that they morally agree with, or is it OK to invest in vice stocks?…

  • Is It OK For A Christian To Love Money?

    God allows us to use money and wants us to be appreciative for how it impacts our life. But He certainly doesn’t want our love…

Share10
Pin
Tweet
Share
10 Shares
Last Edited: 15th April 2021 The content of biblemoneymatters.com is for general information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Visitors to biblemoneymatters.com should not act upon the content or information without first seeking appropriate professional advice. In accordance with the latest FTC guidelines, we declare that we have a financial relationship with every company mentioned on this site.

This article is about: Christianity, Ethics, finance

About Peter Anderson

Peter Anderson is a Christian, husband to his beautiful wife Maria, and father to his 2 children. He loves reading and writing about personal finance, and also enjoys a good board game every now and again. You can find out more about him on the about page. Don't forget to say hi on Pinterest, Twitter or Facebook!

Comments

    Share Your Thoughts: Cancel reply

  1. Mary says

    This is the article I’ve been needing. This is the website I’ve been looking for. At 24 years old I’m a rookie investor but have been a follower of Jesus my whole life and was wondering about the ripple effect of subconscious investing into immoral companies. So, thank you for this. ~MA

    Reply
  2. raz says

    I don’t see how you can support a company by buying their stocks unless it is an IPO or if the company issues new stocks in order to get more money. Other than that the stock market is a second hand market. The stock you bought is a stock someone else owned before you. But I see two ways you can do something positive with the stock if the ethics of that company is not the best:
    1. Go to the annual general meeting and use your vote to increase the ethics of that company.
    2. If it is a dividend stock, use the dividends for good. Give the money to church or give a homeless person a meal etc.
    I’m not giving the advice that one should own vice stocks but if you do, then this I think could be a good way to counter the bad of the company. If you buy a stock you buy some power. Use that power for good.
    If all shareholders of a bad company attended the annual general meeting and voted for good things then I believe that company will have to change for the better.

    P.S. I have seen that some people think that you increase the value of the company by buying the stock, but that will not happen if you are “fishing” i.e. buying at a low price. This can actually help move the price down.

    Reply
Previous Post: Personal Finance Bible Verse Of The Day: Rewards
Next Post: Bible Verse Of The Day
Discover Investment Platforms

Popular Posts

  • 21 Easy Ways To Earn Free Amazon Gift Cards
  • 10 Best Free Tax Filing Services And Software Online
  • 21 Apps That Pay You Real Money Fast
  • 17 TV Apps And Live TV Streaming Services To Watch TV Free
  • 30 Legit Online Jobs That Pay Well
  • 37 Easy Ways To Get Free Gift Cards
  • How To Get Free Stock
  • 40 Easy Ways To Get Free Money Fast
  • 21 Places To Read Free Books Online
  • 24 Legit Online Jobs
  • 17 Best Work From Home Jobs: A List Of Legit Online Jobs That Pay Well

Recent Posts

  • How To Save $100k In 7 Practical Steps
  • How to Save Money When Remodeling A Home
  • How To Hire A Contractor For Your Remodeling Project
  • Remembering 9/11 Years Later: Where Were You On That Fateful Day?
  • TradeStation Review: Commission Free Stock And ETF Trades
  • Firstrade Review: Commission Free Trades on Stocks, Crypto, And Options
  • Cadre Real Estate Investing Review: Commercial Real Estate Investing
  • Best Sites Like Fiverr To Make Money As A Freelancer
  • Axos Self Directed Trading Review: Invest, Trade Stocks For Free
  • 30 Quotes About Easter And Resurrection: He Is Risen!

Disclaimer

The information contained in BibleMoneyMatters.com is for general information or entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial advice. Please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your specific situation.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, we state that we have a financial relationship with some of the companies mentioned in this website. This may include receiving access to free products and services for product and service reviews and giveaways.

Any references to third party products, rates, or websites are subject to change without notice. We do our best to maintain current information, but due to the rapidly changing environment, some information may have changed since it was published. Please do the appropriate research before participating in any third party offers.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

We respect your privacy: Privacy Policy.

Thanks for visiting!

Bible Money Matters - Seen On These Sites and more..
Bible Money Matters is a personal finance, entrepreneurship and investing community. Give more, save more and live more.

Copyright © 2023 · Bible Money Matters | Sitemap | Advertise | Privacy Policy