Over the past several years, work on The Way of Capital (new book under development) has grown out of two convictions. First, Scripture offers a uniquely coherent lens for understanding the marketplace—especially when acquiring and managing capital. Like a pair of glasses, a worldview clarifies what otherwise appears blurry; the Bible supplies a comprehensive frame that makes sense of profit, risk, stewardship, and generosity where other systems merely hint at coherence.
Second, most popular books that link money with meaning—valuable as they are—stop one step short. See, for example, Mark Spitznagel, The Dao of Capital Austrian Investing in a Distorted World, 2013; Brian Portnoy, The Geometry of Wealth 2018, David Dubofsky and Lyle Sussman, Your Total Wealth: The Heart and Soul of Financial Literacy, 2021, and Pulak Prasad, What I Learned About Investing From Darwin, 2023. These authors skillfully describe human behavior but rarely probe the deeper tension between our sinful bent and God’s lavish provision.
This tension matters. Any view of capital that ignores sin’s distortive power risks either naïve optimism (“markets will sort themselves out”) or cynical despair (“capitalism is irredeemable”). A Christian worldview refuses both extremes. It recognizes markets as arenas of both common grace and common corruption, places where divine generosity and human rebellion intertwine. The Way of Capital therefore begins with two anchoring truths: God’s loving abundance and humanity’s sinful depravity. Together they form the rails on which faithful investing must run.
The Bible’s authority is assumed throughout: inspired, inerrant, infallible in its original manuscripts, and trustworthy when responsibly translated and applied. Debating that foundation has its place, but the present project aims to build, not re-litigate. A previous published book—Evaluating the Philosophical Roots That Influence Financial Fruit—surveyed competing worldviews; here the goal is construction, not demolition. Investment concepts are presented unapologetically from a Christian stance.
Enter the Biblinarian
A pastor once coined a playful but pointed term—biblinarian—for believers who treat every biblical syllable with rigorous attention and reverent obedience. Imagine approaching assets, liabilities, and portfolios with that posture. What changes when asset allocation, discounted-cash-flow models, or venture valuations are filtered through the command to love God and neighbor? The biblinarian worldview refuses a compartmentalized life; Sunday doxology and Monday deal-making must speak the same language.
Plenty of excellent ministries already guide Christians through budgeting, debt reduction, and emergency funds. Crown Ministries and Ramsey Solutions have helped millions establish sound financial footing. The Way of Capital is written for those ready to venture beyond balance-sheet triage toward capital formation and strategic deployment—questions like:
1. Should emerging Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) funds be part of a diversified portfolio?
2. How can shareholder influence be stewarded for the common good without drifting into political idolatry?
3. What disciplines protect an investor’s heart when markets thrill or terrify?
Such inquiries demand more than spreadsheets; they require theology with callouses.
Preparing Minds for Action
Peter’s charge rings across the centuries: “Prepare your minds for action… be sober-minded… set your hope fully on the grace to be revealed” (1 Peter 1:13-16). Capital management is one arena where that preparation proves its worth. Dollars and data invite sober analysis, yet hope remains fixed on grace, not gains. Holiness—the command to mirror God’s character—extends to ticker symbols and term sheets.
Martin Luther marveled that Scripture’s mysteries, once hidden, are now “brought out of doors and displayed to public view.” The gospel’s clarity extends even to portfolio theory, at least for those whose eyes the Spirit has opened. Conversely, biblical illiteracy often masks spiritual blindness. When pages of Proverbs or parables of talents seem opaque, the problem may lie less with the text than with the reader’s heart. The remedy is not greater intellect but renewed sight—illumined by repentance and faith in Christ. Only then does the market cease to be a shrine or a jungle and become, instead, a field for faithful cultivation.
Looking Ahead
Future installments will tackle practical themes flowing from The Way of Capital: evaluating BRI metrics, cultivating contentment amid volatility, aligning charitable giving with eternal returns, and more. Feedback is welcomed; sharpening happens best in community.
The journey ahead is not merely about beating benchmarks. It is about stewarding gifts so that capital serves, rather than rules, human flourishing and gospel advance. May every reader join Peter in rolling up mental sleeves, fixing hope on grace, and pursuing holiness—even in the tick-by-tick hum of the trading floor.
For a dense, deep dive into Christian apologetics and finance please consider my recently published book.