Moody Podcast Network

ESG investing promises to align your portfolio with your values. But an important question remains: Whose values are shaping the standards?

Environmental, social, and governance ratings are often presented as measures of corporate responsibility. Yet the assumptions behind those ratings may not always align with biblical convictions.

Nick Schmitz, Professor of Finance at The Catholic University of America and a Board Member of the Christian Investing Council (CIC), joined the show today to explain the differences between ESG and faith-based investing—and why Christians should pay attention not only to what they own, but also to how their shares are voted.

ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. ESG ratings attempt to evaluate companies based on their performance in each of those areas.

But Schmitz points out that ESG standards are developed by secular ratings agencies and can shift with cultural and political trends. Faith-based investing starts somewhere different: with convictions rooted in biblical truth.

That distinction matters because a company may receive strong ESG ratings while supporting practices that conflict with a Christian investor’s beliefs about issues such as the sanctity of human life, religious liberty, family, or human dignity.

There may certainly be areas of overlap. Christians care about justice, responsible stewardship, fair treatment of employees, and care for creation. But agreement on certain issues does not mean the underlying moral frameworks are the same.

Faith-based investing asks a deeper question: Does the way this company operates—and the way my ownership stake is used—reflect the convictions I am seeking to live by?

One area investors may overlook is proxy voting.

Owning shares in a publicly traded company generally gives investors the opportunity to vote on certain corporate matters. But individual investors rarely cast those votes themselves. Instead, asset managers often rely on large proxy advisory firms to provide recommendations or process votes on their behalf.

That means Christians may unknowingly own investments whose shares are being voted in ways that conflict with their beliefs.

Schmitz offered an example involving shareholder proposals related to Google and crisis pregnancy centers. Some proposals sought changes in how those organizations appeared in search results and were characterized positively within ESG-oriented frameworks. Faith-based investors, however, could reach a very different conclusion because of their convictions regarding the unborn and the work of pro-life ministries.

For Christian investors, then, screening a portfolio may be only part of the stewardship equation. How shares are voted can matter too.

Schmitz has been involved in developing proxy-voting policies designed to better reflect Catholic investment principles. The effort grew from concern that existing guidelines did not always reflect the convictions they claimed to represent.

The broader lesson applies to Christian investors of many traditions: we do not necessarily have to outsource our influence without asking questions.

Faith-based investing can involve both screening and engagement.

Screening considers whether a company’s products, services, or practices conflict with an investor’s convictions. Engagement asks whether shareholders can encourage companies toward practices that better promote human flourishing.

That makes faith-based investing more than a list of companies or industries to avoid. Shareholders can also use their ownership to advocate for positive c

What does it really mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Today on BOLD STEPS, Mark Jobe compares the influence of the Holy Spirit to something surprising ... the way alcohol changes a person’s speech, thinking, and behavior.  He says the Spirit works the very same way, just in the opposite direction.  Be sure to tune in for the start of this next series … listen to Bold Steps with Pastor Mark Jobe.

Bold Steps Gift: Lee Strobel-The Case For Faith

Visit or watch Mark Jobe at New Life Community Church

Become a Bold Partner: https://www.moodyradio.org/donateto/boldsteps

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we wrapped up our weekly theme, “The Unstoppable Gospel.” Beth Hendrick, an author, educator, speaker, and mother who is passionate about helping children and families' faith flourish, shared how parents can move beyond simply teaching biblical information and help their children develop a genuine, growing relationship with Jesus. Then Janet Parshall, the radio host of In the Market with Janet Parshall, explained why the gospel is more than simply believing in Jesus; it involves repentance, surrender, and a transformed life. We then turn to our listeners and pose the question, “What was the biggest change in your life that you couldn't do on your own but with the help of God?” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast.

If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following timestamp:
Call Segment [ 11:00 ]
Beth Hendrick [ 29:58 ]
Janet Parshall [ 39:05 ]

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to a 2024 Real Clear Opinion Research poll, 70% of U.S. adults believe in hell, and roughly the same percentage believe in the devil. But believing and behaving are two different things. Dr. Karl Payne will join us to answer the question of why so few Americans let belief in the supernatural impact the way they live. Plus, we open the phone lines to take your questions. Call in early because there are always lots of questions on the topic of spiritual warfare.

Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partners

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Far from being a blind or naïve leap of faith, Christian belief is rooted in evidential reality. Todd Hampson will join us to discuss his newest book, The Apologetics Guide to Trusting the Bible. He will provide evidence across multiple disciplines including science, archeology, history, and Scripture itself to help us discover the many ways you can have confidence that the Bible is true and trustworthy in every sense.

Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partners

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s usually smarter to weigh consequences rather than chase probabilities. Whether you’re building a portfolio or mulling over a new job prospect, checking the odds of success matters. But what if even a low‑odds failure could wipe you out financially? On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Mark Biller talk through how to guard against events that can ruin a financial plan and more. Then, it’s on to calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live, biblical wisdom for your financial journey. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio. To join our team of supporters, click here.

To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.

To learn more about Rob West, click here.

To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't miss the return of those boys of the Bible, they put the "chat" in eschatology and the "phil" in Nephilim—Dr. Michael Rydelnik and Dr. Michael Vanlaningham—that's right, the two Michaels return to Chris Fabry Live! Ask your question about a difficult verse—or the meaning of a Proverb—or maybe you're struggling with a theological or Christian life question. Join the biblical fun with the two Michaels on Chris Fabry Live.

Mentioned resource:
Michael Rydelnik Testimony

August thank you gift:
Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children by Kathy Koch

Chris Fabry Live is listener-supported. To support the program, click here.

Become a Back Fence Partner: https://moodyradio.org/donateto/chrisfabrylive/partners

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s back-to-school time! How can we best love our local schools? Whether you have kids in your local school or not, you can be a light in your community. On this edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks, we will talk with Courtney Vinyard about some big and small ways you can love your local school. Hope you can join the conversation on the next Equipped.

Featured Resource:
Article: How to Love Your Local Public School

August thank you gift:
A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock

Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Become a Monthly Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/equipped/partners

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly theme, “The Unstoppable Gospel.” Dr. David Nelms and Yvonne Carlson joined us today. Dr. David Nelms, the Founder of The Timothy Initiative, shared how the gospel is transforming communities around the world and challenged believers to move beyond simply making converts to making disciples who make disciples. Yvonne Carlson, the Chief Technology Officer at ExploreGod, shared how digital tools are opening new doors for evangelism and creating personal connections that can lead to ongoing discipleship. We then turn to our listeners and pose the question, “Have you seen the power of God through invitation?” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast.

If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following timestamps:
Calls [ 10:47 ]
David Nelms [ 20:21 ]
Yvonne Carlson [34:30  ]
Make it a Metaphor [ 43:30 ]

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Risk is unavoidable in investing—and in life. But not all risks deserve equal attention.

It is easy to focus primarily on the probability that something will happen. If an investment, career move, or financial strategy has a high likelihood of succeeding, we may assume it is a good decision. But Mark Biller, Executive Editor at Sound Mind Investing, suggests another question may be even more important: If things go wrong, how wrong could they go?

That shift—from focusing on probabilities to considering consequences—can help us make wiser financial decisions and protect ourselves from risks that could permanently derail our plans.

Suppose someone told you there was a 99% chance an opportunity would succeed. Those odds sound compelling.

But what if the remaining 1% chance of failure meant complete financial ruin? Suddenly, the decision looks very different.

A simple illustration is crossing a busy street. The probability of being hit by a vehicle may be relatively small, but we still look both ways because the potential consequence is catastrophic. A low probability does not make a severe consequence irrelevant.

The same principle applies to investing. An outcome may be statistically unlikely, but if it could wipe out your savings, destroy your retirement plan, or leave you unable to meet your obligations, it deserves serious consideration.

Financial thinker Peter Bernstein summarized the principle well: the consequences of being wrong can matter more than the probabilities of being right. That leads to two important questions:

Financial history offers plenty of reminders that even highly intelligent investors cannot anticipate every outcome.

One famous example is the collapse of Long-Term Capital Management in 1998. The hedge fund was run by some of the brightest minds in finance and relied on sophisticated mathematical models. Those models worked under most circumstances—but a combination of leverage and extraordinary market conditions caused enormous losses.

The lesson is not that investors should avoid risk altogether. Risk is part of investing.

Rather, wise investors recognize the limits of their knowledge. We cannot predict every market decline, economic shock, or unexpected life event. That reality should lead us toward humility and encourage us to build financial plans with room for error.

One practical way to prepare for uncertainty is to maintain a margin of safety.

That begins before investing. A strong financial foundation includes reducing burdensome debt and establishing adequate emergency savings. Then, as you invest, diversification can help reduce the danger of concentrated bets, while avoiding excessive leverage can protect against losses that permanently impair your financial position.

The goal is not to eliminate every possible risk. That would be impossible.

Instead, margin allows your plan to survive when circumstances do not unfold as expected. Biblical wisdom encourages this kind of prudence. Proverbs 22:3 says:

“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”

Wise stewardship does not require us to live fearfully. But it does call us to recognize potential danger and prepare appropriately.

An emergency fund may seem separate from an