The primary goal of Faith Driven Consumer™ (FDC) is to provide a platform that promotes Christian values in the marketplace, workplace and culture. These values include many different virtues and practices, all of which we find in God’s Word first, but also through observing successful societies in history. One such value that is central to our goal of impacting the culture in a transformative way is reflected in God’s very special and beautiful plan for His creation: the family. It’s no surprise then, considering FDC’s emphasis on the family, and as Mother’s Day quickly approaches, we want to take the time to recognize, thank, celebrate and encourage the mothers in our lives, acknowledging their incredible impact. Beyond that, we want to take a quick look at what it means to be a faith driven mother and make sure we appreciate all that biblical motherhood entails. This way, even if you aren’t a mother, you can celebrate and support mothers in grateful and godly ways. And if you are a mother, hopefully you will find encouragement while feeling cherished and appreciated for who you are in light of the responsibility God has given you.

When you step back and consider all of the profound and weighty responsibilities God has entrusted to mothers, you start to get a picture of just how vital a part of God’s plan for creation mothers truly are. In Genesis 1 and 2, we get a staggeringly beautiful picture of God’s power and His character. We learn about a God who does many wonderful, beautiful and powerful things. But the central theme among the works of God in creation is that He is a God who brings forth life. When God speaks, things come into being. And after demonstrating the process by which He creates life of all kinds and in every way, He culminates this creative process in making humans in His own image. Then He does something incredible. After God made man, He tasked man with doing the same thing to the earth that God had just done with the entire cosmos… go forth and multiply. It now became clear what the central goal of humanity was, to “go and do likewise” and bring light from darkness, order from chaos, and life where there was none.

Now you may be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with Mother’s Day, exactly?” Good question! The point is that God made humans to bring forth life, and to create, multiply and fill the earth. This is the first “Great Commission.” This is God’s plan for us. And if we look in scripture, in biology, in sociology, and many other areas, we find that at the heart of this grand and beautiful plan is God’s special place for women – particularly, the unique and incredible responsibility of motherhood. One of the most powerful ways humans can embody God’s plan is through the amazing privilege that is motherhood.

God has demonstrated His love for mothers in the order of creation, and in their capacity to emulate God in creation, by bringing new life into the created order. Even more than that, however, God has entrusted mothers with a central role in the family and instilled a special relationship between mothers and children. This relationship is profound and formative in the lives of children, young and old. God knows the importance of mothers in the lives of children – He designed it that way! That means that God’s plan for the future – His plan for who the church will be, what they will look like, and what the body of Christ will accomplish – largely depends upon the influence mothers have in raising up the next generation. So we get a picture of both an incredible privilege and also an enormous responsibility.

This enormous responsibility, and the impact of a mother on the life of a child, whether young or all-grown-up, is why we celebrate and recognize the importance of mothers in our society. It’s why we have a day (although, let’s be honest, every day should be Mother’s Day) dedicated to acknowledging and appreciating everything that mothers have done, as well as the immense sacrifices they make to fulfill God’s design for the family.

Although we almost got lost in the theological weeds there for a minute, the point has been to simply say thank you to all of the mothers who tirelessly work to uphold the beauty of God’s creation and His people – to go and multiply and bring forth life, and sustain it in a way that mimics the family of God in the Trinity. God’s Word, as well as all of creation, testifies to the vital role that mothers play in this beautiful story. This truth is evident in everyone’s life, as even those who may not have grown up with a mother in the house can still point to one woman or another who has played an integral part in their formation and success.

To all the mothers reading this today, we want you to be reminded of the special and beautiful plan God has for you, both in your specific circumstances, and also in God’s sovereign plan for the world. You are shaping the next generation of believers and the imprint of your influence is unmistakable on society, families and the body of Christ. It may be difficult at times, but God has made it evident that you too are cherished and a vital part of His plan to never leave you nor forsake you. So, be encouraged and know that God loves you and has prepared you for this blessing and responsibility.

And if you are reading this today and you are not a mother, please consider those who have influenced your life and the ways in which God has sustained you in your formative years or through tough times. Then, when you undoubtedly (and probably immediately) recall your mother, or another women who filled that role in your life, reach out and let her know how much she means to you and how thankful you are for her impact on your life.

The hope and prayer of all of us at FDC is that, if you are a mother, you will be encouraged and re-invigorated as you remember just how special you are to God and His sovereign plan for the world. We love you. We appreciate you. And we couldn’t do it without you. Have a Happy Mother’s Day.

How can we, as Faith Driven Consumers, engage a culture that is increasingly secular and antithetical to Christianity and its values? This week, we are going to look at Acts 17 and read Paul’s famous speech – a bold declaration regarding the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ – to the men of Athens.  If there was ever a people who were “cultured,” it was the ancient Greeks. In fact, the ancient Greeks provided the western world much of its cultural heritage, with the invention of philosophy, drama and history. But chief among these cultural contributions was an extensive religious narrative developed by Homer. This narrative included a vast pantheon of gods and a captivating story about where they came from, who they were, and how they involved themselves in the affairs of men. This theological story would soon become a full-fledged pagan religion that grew to dominate the cultural and religious landscape, not only in Ancient Greece, but also in the subsequent Roman Empire. This Roman Empire, who had adopted the Greeks’ religious traditions, had also expanded them greatly, until these pagan practices dominated the everyday lives of the millions who lived in the Roman Empire by the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The culture of the early church and of the apostles at that time, consisted of values, traditions and practices which were utterly antithetical and hostile to Christianity. Monotheistic claims of one perfectly good, big “g” God, who shares His glory and His greatness with no other “god,” were not very fashionable to say the least. Still, Paul, while in Athens, addressed these men in the Areopagus – the forum, or marketplace of ideas – and proclaimed the gospel to these men anyway. Let’s read the Apostle Paul’s great proclamation of the gospel and see if we can pull out a few important truths around how we can engage our own secular culture:

[22] So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. [23] For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. [24] The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, [25] nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. [26] And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, [27] that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, [28] for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ [29] Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. [30] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

[32] Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” [33] So Paul went out from their midst. [34] But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. (ESV)

Here are 4 things we can learn from this important passage:

1. Paul knew his culture. The apostle Paul understood the people he was addressing. He was educated and aware that the ideas they shared were contrary to what he knew to be true. But just because he knew the truth, and just because we know the truth, doesn’t mean Christians should be ignorant of the values and beliefs within culture that stand against those revealed in Scripture. Knowing your audience means caring enough about others to understand what they believe and caring enough about their salvation to know how to reach them.
2. Paul related to his culture. It’s not enough just to know the various beliefs and values of a culture. As Christians, if we are going to make a difference, we have to engage our culture in a way that will encourage others to listen. Paul knew this very well and demonstrated this important practice when he spoke to the men in Athens. He quoted two ancient Greek poets to them in verse 28, and even affirmed what they said. But what made this so effective evangelistically was that he recognized a grain of truth in what these pagan authors had said. He used it to show how much more profound, intuitive and ultimately, how true it was when understood through a biblical lens. St. Augustine said, “All truth is God’s truth,” so we should find ways to point them to Christ through their own beliefs and values, even those which are missing Him.
3. Paul doesn’t compromise truth. Even though Paul understood the culture and the audience he was speaking to and related to them using their own ideas and beliefs, he demonstrated his courage and integrity by never sacrificing the truth of gospel. He boldly proclaimed the One True God as the very thing they are missing. He said their efforts have been in vain and that they are all deceived. Paul demonstrated his love for his neighbors, including the leaders in his culture, by telling them the truth. He said, that for all their efforts to cover their religious bases, so to speak, they have utterly failed to find God and are helplessly lost without Him. This is a difficult truth to convey in today’s culture. And to be sure, we should proclaim it with love and grace, but the apostle Paul shows us the importance of the truth of the gospel and the need for it to be proclaimed as such.
4. Paul makes an impact. What is the fruit of our proclaiming the gospel in a world that is secular and hostile to the truth of Christianity? By God’s grace we will make an impact in our culture. Quite obviously, Paul’s testimony in Athens had an impact. Not only does the passage say that some came to believe because of it, but the impact of this speech is still reverberating through the kingdom over two thousand years later. And yes, the next time you witness to a coworker, it won’t be included in the Word of God. BUT, we can be assured that when we engage our culture like Paul did his, we will make a powerful impact in our community. Why? Because of our dynamic and well-rehearsed evangelistic strategy, right? WRONG. We can be assured only because of the power of the gospel, which can change lives and transform cultures.

Armed with great examples like the ones from the apostle Paul above, the early church not only survived in a remarkably hostile and anti-Christian environment, it flourished. As our culture becomes increasingly secular and we find ourselves becoming marginalized as Faith Driven Consumers, we should remember this great proclamation in the face of cultural opposition, do our best to follow Paul as he followed Christ, and engage our culture like he engaged his. And when we do, we will begin to see a transformation in our communities, by the power of the gospel.

The word “consumer” has become something of a dirty word in our culture. It implies consumerism, which is universally derided as something we, especially as Christians, should avoid. Consumerism refers to a lifestyle or attitude characterized by mass consumption of goods and services. It’s a way of looking at the world, or even people, through the self-absorbed filter of what these things can do, or be, for me. And it’s easy to spot people that are consumeristic. They never are content or satisfied and must always be indulging in the “latest and greatest.” Maybe it’s your neighbor who trades his car in every year for the newest model to give him that new car smell and the confidence boost from believing he is “keeping up with the Jones’.” Or maybe it’s your coworker who has never worn the same clothes twice and rarely walks in wearing anything other than the trendiest of outfits. Maybe it’s a family member who can’t go without indulging in excess food or drink. But to be honest, it’s probably something that describes each of us from time to time as well. We’re surrounded by a consumeristic culture and an abundance of stuff for us to watch, wear, drive, eat, drink, and ultimately, consume.

But what’s so bad about consumerism? And if it is so bad, then what about being a Faith Driven Consumer? How do we live as a consumer (something everyone has to be in order to live) without being consumeristic? These are very important questions that we should ask ourselves as Christians, and specifically, as Faith Driven Consumers (FDCs). So we’re going to briefly consider them and hopefully arrive at some biblically faithful conclusions that encourage, inform, and challenge us to be who we are called to be as Faith Driven Consumers.

So, what’s so bad about consumerism, and why should we avoid this kind of mindset and lifestyle? As is often the case with spiritual/moral questions, we should not consider only the physical actions themselves when we ask whether or not something is “wrong.” We should also examine the character of the individual committing the action, specifically, the motivation behind the action. And this is an issue where we are asking less of a “is this sinful?” question and more of a “what is the wisest and most God-honoring way to be?” kind of question. We are asking a big picture question about how to avoid the pitfall of living for things instead of living for Jesus.

As Christians, we don’t think enjoying food or drink, or consuming media/entertainment, or buying new clothes is sinful. In fact, these things, when enjoyed in the right way, to the right extent, and with the right perspective, are all testaments to God’s goodness. They are opportunities for us to experience the greatness of God and express our love for Him through praise and thanksgiving. However, the sinfulness can creep in, not necessarily in the what, but in the how and the why. So, while enjoying these things may not be sinful or unbiblical, as fallen humans, we all know how quickly we can make good things idols and put them in God’s place. This is why John Calvin wrote in his Institutes that “man’s nature… is a perpetual factory of idols.” We are constantly elevating the things of this world to the place of God and trying to squeeze every drop of satisfaction out of these things, which cannot and do not satisfy. The Apostle Paul describes this compulsion in Romans 1, saying,

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (ESV)

Since Genesis 3, we have been following our sinful desires and chasing satisfaction by turning the things of this world into our gods, but it only leaves us unfulfilled and broken. 3000 years ago, these gods were made of gold and shaped liked a calf. Today, many are made of wires and glass. But whether it’s an ancient, hand-carved figurine, or the new iPhone, we exchange these things for the “glory of the immortal God” when we live for them instead of for our Father in heaven.

This is why consumerism can be such an anti-Christian lifestyle. It’s not because enjoying yourself is wrong, or because filling up a shopping cart disappoints Jesus. Instead, it’s because of the motivation behind the endless consumption of stuff and what it says about where our love and our hope resides. Are we enjoying the good gifts of our good Father? Or do we replace God with His good gifts and use them to try and fill a void in our lives? Have our culture, the media, commercials, and our idols on social media become our source of truth, instructing us how to use (abuse) the good gifts we’ve been given? Or do we keep the biblical perspective C.S. Lewis described when he said, “our minds should follow the sunbeams back to the sun”?

We should remind ourselves daily that the pleasures we find on this earth are simply the blessings of a good God who allows us to enjoy them. Consumerism stops short of God. It doesn’t follow the rays of the sun back to their source. And those who buy into it (no pun intended) will find themselves singing along with the Rolling Stones, who “can’t get no satisfaction.” But as Christians those lyrics shouldn’t ring true because we can get some satisfaction. Christ died to make that possible. And as Faith Driven Consumers we have that which satisfies: a personal relationship with our Redeemer and our Creator. We should ask ourselves if we’ve been living like it.

In a typical blog post, we try and pose a relevant question in which you, the Faith Driven Consumer, might benefit from the answer. We then work through the best way to approach the question or issue, in accordance with our biblical values and beliefs, and hopefully arrive at a faith driven solution. Finally, we aim to encourage you or point you toward other resources that will help you accomplish these goals and implement these solutions as we all strive to be the best Faith Driven Consumers (FDCs) we can be. This week’s blog will look similar, but with a key difference, because this week’s question is not only one you must ask yourself, but it’s also one we had to ask ourselves at Faith Driven Consumer™ (FDC). That question is: how should we engage with brands that are not faith compatible? And, should we ever spend money at these establishments or promote them among our communities?

These questions are important for many reasons. First, we inhabit a commercial landscape in America that is largely hostile, or at the very least, indifferent to our beliefs and values as FDCs. We need to know if it is acceptable to do business with these companies that are incompatible with our faith. Is buying a product from one of these companies tantamount to supporting their incompatible beliefs or anti-Christian efforts? If this is the case, then we must abstain entirely, no matter how much we like or even need the product. This important question was addressed in an earlier blog where we concluded that there is no biblical mandate against making these purchases, but that it is mostly an issue of wisdom and personal conviction. (If you want to read more on this question and our answer at FDC, click here. “Making Everyday Decisions, Pt. 1 & 2”).

It may be OK to shop at these places, but we as Christians should heed the Apostle Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 10 when he says that “all things are lawful, but not all things edify.” So, if it is not cut and dry, and we aren’t sinning by shopping at these places, then we needn’t be legalistic about every single consumer decision. But the question still remains: how should we engage the businesses who are incompatible with our faith? Which practices are edifying to me and my community? Is boycotting the only way to create change? Or even, buycotting – is that the only way to make a difference?

At FDC, we do believe in buycotting. We believe in supporting businesses that take us seriously and commit to faith compatible corporate actions. This is primarily how we envision the FDC Community making a difference. However, to answer the question raised above, FDC believes there are other ways to make a difference as well – ways that even include occasionally making purchases with these brands who have not scored well on our Faith Equality Index. And, this is good news for those of us who might be enthusiastic about supporting most faith compatible brands, but have a few places we love to shop, or a product we just can’t live without, and are conflicted because they are not a faith compatible brand. So, how are we able to make a difference while shopping with these brands? How is it acceptable to ever spend money at these establishments? Well, as we said earlier, some may have personal convictions that compel them to refrain from any of these purchases. But many recognize that if we only shop at places that are faith compatible, unfortunately, the options will be very limited.

For these individuals who want to make an impact but still need or desire to buy certain products or shop at certain places, we have created the FDC Marketplace. The FDC Marketplace consists of thousands of money-saving deals on travel, food, home goods, electronics, and everything in between. The Marketplace offers money-saving and cash-back opportunities to every kind of business, no matter their compatibility rating on the FEI. So how do we offer these deals without compromising our values and our mission at FDC? And, how do you take advantage of these deals without compromising your values and mission as a Faith Driven Consumer? The answer lies in the FDC Marketplace’s ability to qualify and quantify data from our Community. If you listen to this podcast with our founder, Chris Stone, he elaborates more on what this means. Put simply, when you use the savings offered within the Marketplace to purchase products and services from these brands, you enable FDC to utilize that data and demonstrate the power of your choice to these businesses. When you go through the FDC Marketplace to make a purchase, you are amplifying your voice – making sure you are heard in the marketplace – and compelling your favorite brands to listen to you. FDC is able to take that data directly to these brands and demonstrate the importance of our Community for their respective businesses, and to compel them to hear our Community’s collective voice and make an effort to acknowledge us.

As our Community rapidly grows, making thousands of purchases through the FDC Marketplace (and saving money as they do it), Christians will finally have a recognizable and quantifiable presence in the overall marketplace as many other identity groups do. The implications are obvious. Once we demonstrate the values and commitment of our Community, and become a community that cannot be ignored, then we will start to see change in the corporate actions of these businesses. And when we start to generate these actions, we will begin to see a culture take shape that reflects the values of Faith Driven Consumers – biblical values which can transform a nation. If you haven’t yet joined, we hope you will consider becoming a member of the FDC Marketplace. We commit to provide you with countless ways to save money, but more importantly, to Purchase with Purpose™. We also commit to our goal of ensuring that each and every one of these decisions is leveraged toward transforming the marketplace and culture to be more compatible with the faith that defines us.

If this week’s blog were an advertisement listed at the bottom of a webpage, it might be entitled “9 tips to make you the best Faith Driven Consumer you can be” or “9 lifehacks your financial planner won’t tell you about.” We’ll spare you the cheesy teasers, however, and go ahead and spoil the message for you right up front: the key to being a Faith Driven Consumer (FDC) is being someone who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit when engaging in the marketplace. Let’s take a quick look at Galatians 5 and an application for us as Faith Driven Consumers (FDCs). But if you still prefer the dramatic caption, then this blog is 9 Tips for Becoming the Best Faith Driven Consumer You Can Be!

The context of Galatians 5 is about walking in step with the Spirit. As Christians, if we have put our trust in Jesus Christ, the Bible says we have been given the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells our soul and convicts us of sin, illuminates Scripture, leads us in our actions, and empowers us to holiness. In Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul is encouraging the church in Galatia to not walk in the flesh (don’t satisfy the sinful desires of our own fallen will or of the world we live in), but instead walk by the Spirit. He tells the Galatians that being a follower of Christ means rejecting behaviors that are destructive like: idolatry, envy, division, etc. So what does it look like to walk in the Spirit? How do we reject these sinful and destructive attitudes and actions? And moreover, what does this have to do with being a Faith Driven Consumer?

We find the answer in Galatians. Paul, providing for us the metaphor of individuals and their actions being much like trees that bear certain fruit, says that the fruit of the Spirit is very different than the fruit of the flesh listed above (destructive behaviors). Those that are empowered and led by the Holy Spirit produce attitudes and actions that reflect the image of Christ and the very character of God. And in case you’ve never known them or forgotten them… “The fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,” (Galatians 5:22).

Now before we do a little bit of application for us as Faith Driven Consumers, we should point out something that is often overlooked or misunderstood. Galatians 5:22 says the fruit (singular) of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc. This means that there aren’t a bunch (no pun intended) of different fruits of the Spirit. Instead, there is one “fruit” that is exhibited by someone walking in step with the Spirit, empowered by Him to walk in holiness. Most people, Christians and the irreligious, alike, are good at some of these and not so good at others. There are plenty of people who are patient or gentle, and plenty that have self-control. But without the Spirit, we fall hopelessly short of exemplifying all of these virtues in tandem with one another and to the right degree and extent. Much like our salvation, it has to be accomplished by something greater than our own efforts and our own will. The fruit of the Spirit isn’t really nine different things we’re supposed to do. It’s actually nine different ways we recognize one specific difference – the Spirit’s presence in the whole of one’s life and lifestyle. This kind of holiness could only ever be a result of the Holy Spirit leading and empowering the followers of Christ to be all they are called to be.

The implications for FDCs then become clear since the defining mark of a Faith Driven Consumer is the gospel’s influence on their life. All of the questions about how to act as an FDC, and how to engage in the marketplace, are all directly informed by the Scriptures’ call to bear the fruit of the Spirit. This means that we do everything, including taking stands that some people might dislike us for, in love. We don’t become bitter or sour over the direction of our culture. Instead we exhibit joy because our hope is in Jesus, not earthly things. This means we also have a peace that passes all understanding, even in the face of these difficult and uncertain times. We are patient, knowing that we aren’t going to change the marketplace, culture or the world overnight. We are kind to others, and not just the ones who agree with us or to the employees at faith compatible businesses, but also to the ones that aren’t. And we never compromise our values or ethics. We demonstrate the goodness of our faith and of our God whenever we go out into the world, and we remain faithful to the gospel and its truth in the face of cultural pressure to abandon or soften it. But we are gentle when we proclaim this truth, being careful to make sure our speech is “gracious and seasoned with salt” as Colossians 4:6 tells us. And finally, we exhibit self-control as Faith Driven Consumers, realizing that we are Faith Driven, first, and we are consumers, second.

How well are we living out the faith that is supposedly driving our behavior as FDCs? I hope you will be encouraged and challenged by this passage in Galatians 5 and strive to implement it in your life as a follower of Christ, and indeed, a Faith Driven Consumer.

Threading the Needle

Faith Driven Consumer™ (FDC) is dedicated to a specific mission: empowering you to leverage the marketplace and change the culture for greater acceptance of Christians. We aim to do so by equipping Faith Driven Consumers with tools that enable informed consumer decisions based on faith driven convictions. It’s what we strive to accomplish at FDC, focusing our efforts toward realizing this goal and achieving our mission. Even though we have a specific mission and a determination to avoid getting distracted from it, there are many aspects of what we do that run adjacent to cultural and political issues. What is FDC’s approach to walking this tightrope? How do we thread the needle of making a difference in the culture and standing for Christian values, without becoming sidetracked from our mission? And why do we feel we need to do this in the first place?

Let’s start with the last question: why do we feel the need to make sure we “stay in our lane,” so to speak, and not get too involved in the areas outside of our stated mission? This is a good question. It’s not obvious at first glance that we shouldn’t be a political group. In fact, there are a lot of political organizations doing great things that are compatible with our beliefs at FDC. The reason, however, is that our mission intends to represent and serve as many Faith Driven Consumers as possible. As such, we want to avoid unnecessary division that political debates naturally create. By sticking to the core values of biblically orthodox Christians, we make sure, as much as possible, that our witness doesn’t become distracted nor corrupted by politics. It also ensures we remain committed to being biblically faithful, not politically expedient.

That said, we also recognize it’s seemingly impossible to avoid taking any stances or ever supporting causes that are politically adjacent. Everyone has to believe in something. As bible-believing Christ followers, we unapologetically support many beliefs that some may consider “political” (although we understand them to be first and foremost biblical). We wouldn’t be the “business with a mission” that we proclaim without these specific values, beliefs and goals. The difference, however, is that our primary focus is not to serve a political end. We aren’t here to publish partisan talking points, nor do we exist to lobby congressman to pass legislation consistent with our beliefs. What we are here to do is make the marketplace, workplace and culture a more welcoming place for Faith Driven Consumers to inhabit.

Indeed, what makes us different than other organizations engaged in these kinds of, often-political, activities, are our motivations and our methods. Our motivation isn’t to win a political battle or punish our cultural “enemies.” It’s to make an impact in a culture that would truly benefit from the values and beliefs that our Community has to offer. And we can’t sully that witness or waste that opportunity by falling into the temptations of political fights and divisive behaviors. As followers of Christ, our methods should look very different from these types of actions, which we unfortunately see far too often. FDCs can have a host of different political opinions, stances and voting records. But we should all be united in the core values that make us Faith Driven Consumers, and the goals we share as a result of those values. We recognize that keeping this spirit of unity and focus is central to us accomplishing our mission and realizing our vision.

So, after considering a couple important questions: why does FDC avoid political debates when possible? and how does FDC strike the balance of standing on convictions without getting distracted? – we hope you understand a little bit better why we focus on the things we do. Sure, there will be times where we wade into political topics, if we believe that action to be directly relevant to our goals (in fact, we will publishing an article on the Equality Act very soon). However rare those instances may be, we will always remain committed first and foremost to our primary goal. This is to serve Christ while representing and empowering you, the Faith Driven Consumer, to leverage the marketplace, make an impact, and transform the culture into a welcoming environment for biblically faithful Christians. We hope that you share our commitment to avoiding divisiveness and distractions in pursuit of the incredible opportunity in front of us.

Part II of II: The Decision-Making Process

Last week we posed the question regarding how a Faith Driven Consumer can practically navigate all the different decisions involved in everyday purchases. While we at Faith Driven Consumer™ (FDC) aim to increasingly arm you with resources that help enable choices that align with your values, no easy, straightforward playbook exists. (If you haven’t gotten a chance to read part 1, check it out and then head back over here to read part 2) Before getting into the practical discussion of what that decision-making process may look like, it was important to cover why we should not be burdened by the massive amount of information and countless choices available. Being a Faith Driven Consumer should not mean that you meticulously obsess over every purchase and fret over the destination of each penny. Instead, we should remember that we aren’t going to change the world overnight: it’s a marathon, not a sprint.  As such, we should keep the main thing the main thing, and not become like the Pharisees in our attempts to steward our finances and Purchase with Purpose™.

Even still, taking these reminders to heart while remaining grounded in our faith and not our works, we still face a myriad of choices and questions concerning potential changes in our buying habits and the products we purchase. How do we navigate these questions, and what obligations do we have? Should you change products if your favorite is not rated Compatible, or even Acceptable by our Faith Equality Index? Is it ever ok to just say, “Well, it may not be the best company, but I love (fill in the blank) too much to change!” These are all questions you may ask yourself as a Faith Driven Consumer.

In the Part 1 blog, we gave an example of purchasing toothpaste to highlight some of these questions. We imagined your favorite toothpaste being Crest, a Proctor & Gamble product that currently receives an Incompatible rating with our FEI. We imagined you, as a Faith Driven Consumer, discover this fact and now have a few potential decisions to make. Let’s pick up where we left off and see if we can add some clarity to this decision-making process. Questions you may ask yourself include: Am I going to change toothpastes? Am I doing something wrong if I don’t? If I do change, can I just change to Colgate which is rated Acceptable? Or do I need to pick Arm & Hammer or another product that is also Compatible? What if I don’t like those toothpastes? What if I think another product that is less faith compatible is better at keeping my teeth clean, healthy and looking great?

There simply aren’t any easy, universal answers to these questions. Your responses will not change your faith, nor your salvation.  The Bible provides us with many words of wisdom on stewarding well and honoring the Lord with what we have been given, by giving back to Him and to those less fortunate. But it’s largely silent on the specific issues addressed in the questions above. We no longer live under the letter of the law in the Old Testament, although many rich truths and lessons remain to be learned from it. And the context of the New Testament is so alien to our current culture, which exhibits unique features due to modern economic factors like capitalism, industrialization, (comparatively) incredible wealth, (mostly) free markets, and many other features that were not a part of the context for New Testament writers or first-century believers.

That’s both the good news and the bad news. The bad news is, we don’t have clear biblical answers to these questions like we might have for other moral ones such as, “Should we murder?” Spoiler alert: we shouldn’t. But the good news is that there aren’t a host of rules we have to follow in this uncharted territory. That means, instead of viewing being a Faith Driven Consumer as a minefield of biblical commands to avoid breaking, you have the freedom to make these judgments for yourself and do something utterly positive. You are empowered to employ the biblical truths you have discovered, the conviction of the Holy Spirt, and the common sense the good Lord gave you. Armed accordingly, you can develop a decision-making approach that makes the most sense for you, your family and the current situation of life in which God has placed you in His infinite wisdom.

Alas, we admit it: we don’t have an easy answer for you on the toothpaste question. We aren’t here to tell you that being a Christian means throwing away the Crest and searching for your previously discarded coupons for AIM. But it’s also possible that might be exactly what you feel is right for you. We’re just here to help provide you with resources for decision making and subsequently, with our (very rapidly) growing Community, to help influence and change things for the better. And that’s ultimately our goal: informing, incentivizing and assisting you in making any and all faith driven decisions about what you buy and why you buy it. We’ll leave the rest up to you.

Part I of II: It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

At Faith Driven Consumer^TM, you’ll find access to many different resources and information on various brands and businesses. There’s a good chance some of your favorite brands and products have already been evaluated by our grading system, the Faith Equality Index (FEI). If not, rest assured we’re constantly adding more weekly. These resources enable you to make the most informed, and hopefully the best, consumer decision for you and your family. But, YOU still have to make this decision. And, further, it’s not just one decision, but ongoing decisions due to the many different kinds of products you buy.

After you’ve done some digging as a Faith Driven Consumer, and utilized the various resources available to understand where your dollars are going and if you’re being welcomed in return, how do you actually go about the decision-making process? How do you decide, for example, whether or not to switch from Crest to Colgate toothpaste? Or better yet, should you switch to Arm & Hammer or AIM?* What if you don’t really like those toothpaste choices as much, or even at all? Then there’s the health and hygienic question of which one is actually the best (if there even is a best toothpaste). And that’s just toothpaste! Comparatively, it’s a pretty simple product, but it is just one of the many essential products you use every day.

You’re probably asking, “How in the world do I keep up with all of the decisions that being a Faith Driven Consumer entails?” It’s a fair question and can seem like a daunting task. But, before we look at how to practically approach these decisions, and in order to help prevent you from getting overwhelmed, it’s important to be reminded of a few key truths for us as Faith Driven Consumers.

First, it’s important for us to remember that we aren’t going to change the world overnight. We should be excited about the opportunity to make a difference in our culture through the choices we make. And, obviously, we at FDC believe in the importance of this goal and have a mission and vision focused on helping this succeed. But just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither will we transform the commercial industry overnight. Our culture didn’t turn away from traditional principles in one fell swoop. Instead, it was a gradual move away from the kinds of beliefs and values that we, as Faith Driven Consumers (FDCs), hold. Ultimately, the values our culture has adopted were established through committed and consistent voices and choices, leveraging their worldview and their interests against the marketplace to ensure they were heard. When the community of FDCs eventually succeeds in turning the tide of marketplace, workplace and culture back toward a fair and welcoming place for Christians, it will be through the same methods: commitment and consistency in our voices and our choices.

Remember: it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Second, and even more important than the reminder above, is the warning we repeatedly see in the New Testament from Jesus himself: don’t be like the Pharisees. The Pharisees were Jewish teachers of the law who did everything “right.” They were professional Christians that always had their ducks in a row and always followed the rules. But Jesus repeatedly says, “Woe to you Pharisees.” (Matthew 23) and cautions us not to behave as they did. If we want to heed Jesus’ warning to not be a Pharisee, we have to apply this to our efforts as FDCs, as well. We have to keep the main thing the main thing and not get caught up in moral checklists and rule-following which can distract us from the most important aspects of the Christian life.

Being a Faith Driven Consumer is not about earning moral or spiritual credit through meticulously and legalistically obsessing over every decision we make, nor is it about punishing or judging others who don’t make similar decisions. Being a Faith Driven Consumer is about living out your faith – specifically your faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ – in a way that demonstrates grace and love, producing real change in our marketplace and community. If we do this, and keep the main thing the main thing, we’ll end up finding a healthy balance in how we go about stewarding our finances, supporting brands that welcome us, and fulfilling all the other responsibilities that life throws at us. Achieving this balance also enables us to avoid the temptation to become overwhelmed by unnecessary and unhealthy legalistic obligations, which can keep us from being effective in our many other faith driven activities. Consumer decisions shouldn’t feel like a burden; instead, we should see them as an amazing opportunity to make a real difference as a Faith Driven Consumer and as an agent for the gospel.

* FEI scores of brands mentioned above can be found here: https://faithdrivenconsumer.com/review/

• Crest (Proctor & Gamble): Incompatible
  Colgate: Acceptable
  Arm & Hammer, AIM (Church & Dwight): Compatible

Proverbs 3 Devotional

*Please see Disclaimer at the bottom of this page. 

As Christians, faith is central to who we are and what we do. Specifically, faith in God and the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ are what drive our mission and values at Faith Driven Consumer™ (FDC). While we aren’t a substitute for discipleship or spiritual formation in your local church and ministry communities, we, nevertheless, hope that we can encourage you in God’s word and provide you with scriptures to explore, helping us grow together. We aren’t biblical scholars, and we aren’t here to preach to anyone. We intend this devotional to be the first of many to encourage you and communicate the truth of God’s Word and love. We certainly need more of it in our culture today.

In light of this, we want to share and focus on the passage below from the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. Chapter 3, verses 9 and 10:

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. (ESV)

You may have read this passage before or heard it referenced in sermons on why people should tithe – donate some portion, usually 10%, of income – to the church or other religious organizations*. However, this passage goes beyond that, revealing something not just regarding what we should do with our money, but also how we should view and understand the resources, monetary and otherwise, with which God has provided us. It shouldn’t be written off as “the tithe passage,” nor should we dismiss it as another inconvenient reminder, or worse yet, a plea to anyone’s guilt, that we should be giving part of our paychecks away.

Instead, we should allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate the truth of what is being communicated through God’s eternal and true Word, and not condense it to a “rule” we should be following but will probably put off until “I’m in a better financial place to do so.”

In this passage, the command to give back to the Lord is wrapped in language of honoring the Lord. To show honor is to show respect, reverence and ultimately love for someone. As such, when we give, we do so because we love God and want to express that in tangible ways, such as, giving of our resources and wealth, however little or much that may be. We do so, not because God needs it. In fact, Scripture tells us it is all His anyway. Instead, we are blessed with what we have, because God is a good and loving Father who blesses His children in countless ways.

That said, just as blessings from God are evidence and expressions of His great love for us, so too are the gifts we give back to God. If we truly, even if not fully, while here on earth, understand that magnitude of God’s love and blessings for us, how could we not joyfully have the kind of attitude that Proverbs 3 urges us to have? How could we not, upon receiving the “firstfruits of the produce,” joyfully and willingly give them to God to honor Him and help further His kingdom here on earth? And sure, you might not be a farmer or own a winery, but the example holds true today, as it never was about the “rule” you should be following, or the percentage of your income you give away. It’s always been about understanding the blessings of our gracious Father, and then responding with overwhelming thankfulness, honoring Him in return with all that we are and all that we have.

The Scriptures tell us that if you do this, God will bless you. BUT, before we start thinking we can treat God like a cosmic vending machine, where we put a few coins in and get a sweet prize in return, we must remember the specific command at the beginning of the verse: “Honor the LORD.” God will surely bless us, but only when we love Him for who He is and how He loves us. We do this when we respond in gratitude and thankfulness with a willingness to give of ourselves, our time and our resources to whatever degree is required. THEN, God will bless us in these ways.

At FDC, we understand that as Christians, how we steward our finances and manage our spending is a way to appreciate God’s goodness to us in our lives. Our response to Him is an opportunity to show Him honor and further His kingdom. Saving, spending and investing are all opportunities to honor the Lord with what we have. We are so excited to be even just a small part of helping you do this. We look forward to applying these Scriptures within our lives and alongside yours in order to grow, making our lives and communities #faithdriven.

*Faith Driven Consumer does not seek donations of any kind. This devotional is intended to encourage readers and communicate God’s Word and love.

If you spend any time on our website, reading our blogs or listening to our podcasts, you’ll probably hear us use the phrase “leverage the marketplace.” We say things like “leveraging the marketplace for the interests of Faith Driven Consumers” or “we want to help you leverage the marketplace to make an impact on culture and create a more welcoming environment for Christians.” So, what exactly do we mean when we use this term?

It means that you as a consumer, hopefully a Faith Driven one, have something that thousands of businesses and brands are working 24/7 to get from you. Commercial industries spend millions of dollars hiring marketing teams, assembling focus groups and acquiring your data to get a few things they need desperately from you: your money, your time and your approval (and ultimately your time and approval are just means to the end of getting your money). And don’t get us wrong, there is not anything inherently unethical about this pursuit. In fact, we think it provides great opportunities both for businesses and consumers alike. Even here at Faith Driven Consumer™ (FDC) we need to consider and take advantage of many of these opportunities to succeed as a business and make a positive impact for the Lord and for Faith Driven Consumers.

All of these mega corporations and the millions of dollars plus countless hours they spend to get you to make a certain decision is really just a testament to one really important fact: they need you. You, the consumer, are invaluable to them. The mom buying groceries for her family… The dad booking a beach vacation for the family… The grandparents purchasing life insurance… The college student buying books for the coming semester… Every one of these individuals and contexts have something in common. They all have leverage. We are fortunate enough to live in a society where we get to choose from a variety of products and services. And, what everyone above has in common is their freedom to choose which products they will buy and ultimately who they will support with their money.

When we talk about leveraging the marketplace we mean exactly this: making choices about what you buy and where you spend your money that have real and significant implications for the marketplace. Making these decisions affords you freedom as a consumer as well as an opportunity to shape the marketplace. The marketplace, in turn, greatly influences the culture we live in and have a stake in as Christians. Faith Driven Consumers have the privilege of making a difference by simply living our lives and buying the kinds of items and services we already use. But every privilege has a corresponding responsibility, and that is to steward this opportunity in a way that is compatible with our values, ethics and beliefs as Faith Driven Consumers.

While this is a weighty responsibility, the good news is that you don’t have to navigate the vast world of commerce and make these decisions alone. This opportunity to leverage the marketplace stands at the center of FDC’s vision and mission. We want to assist you in your best efforts to steward your finances and use your wallet in ways that are compatible with your faith and make a difference in your community. We’re here to provide you with an opportunity to become informed in accessible and convenient ways and enable you to Purchase with Purpose™. You’ve been leveraging the marketplace for as long as you’ve been buying things, and you might not have even known it. We’re here to inform and remind you of the significance of this opportunity. But mostly, we at FDC are here to help you leverage the marketplace and maximize the effects of those efforts. And if you’ll allow us to help you with this responsibility, we’ll promise to help you save money in the process. Together, we can leverage the marketplace and shape it into a place that welcomes and celebrates Faith Driven Consumers as a vital and cherished community.