“Create wealthy, autonomous consumption machines.” That’s been described as the end goal of the American dream. Sounds positive at face value. But is it biblical? This week’s episode continues our series of breaking down the six ways that Christians can impact culture as presented in our book, “Joyful Outsiders.” Today, we’re focusing on builders, or people who build institutions where we live our common life (think: business, healthcare, education, church, etc.). To illustrate, we’re talking to Brent Beshore, Founder and President of Permanent Equity, a private equity firm that operates much differently than its counterparts. Brent starts by detailing his own journey and how he went from an atheist to a Christian. He explains how he weaves his faith into business, resisting the urge to create a model that’s built on self-reliance. He points out the pitfalls of the American dream, describes his ultimate goal for his businesses, and shares where he allows Christian values to come into play in business settings. Plus, is it a sin to be rich? How can someone know if it’s God, or the allure of the American dream, that’s calling them to an opportunity? And what advice would he give to people who want to resist the temptation to build their own kingdoms? Listen now!

Are you a builder too? Or maybe you’re an artist, protester, trainer, builder, advisor, or ambassador? Find out by taking our quick quiz now.

"Joyful Outsiders" is available now! Learn more, read a sample chapter, and grab your own copy here.

Note: This episode is from our previous podcast, Truth Over Tribe. We’ve kept a few of these conversations on our feed because they're worth revisiting, but the tone and focus have shifted from what we’re doing now on Not Just Sunday. For new episodes focused on how Christians can live out a full-time faith, check out Not Just Sunday, right here on the same feed.