The Christian Wallet: Spending, Giving, and Living with a Conscience

Slaughter (Upside Living in a Downsize Economy), lead pastor of Ginghamsburg Church in Ohio, puts forth a comprehensive analysis of faithful and unfaithful relationships with money. Within three sections—“How We Live,” “How We Spend,” and “How We Work”—chapters cover such varied topics as our “Culture of Consumerism,” “Generosity,” “Responsible Investing,” and “Choosing Our Neighbors.” Each chapter includes questions for reflection and a boxed section devoted to how an individual or family can uphold the highlighted values. For example, “Taxes and the Common Good” closes with a profile of Tony Hall, a devout Christian who lives out his faith in government service. “What we do with our money matters to God,” Slaughter says, and he offers familiar advice on budgeting and reducing debt, he addresses the concern that charity “can sometimes do more harm than good,” he explores the benefits of churches partnering with nonprofits and government, and he urges Christians to respond to the call to be “investors in God’s economic priorities.” A cringe-worthy section on Christians’ reputation as miserly tippers urges generosity “in every day life.” Helpful resources, compelling research, and motivating stories make this a practical, thought-provoking, and often entertaining book. (Jan.)