Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
Menu
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
Menu
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial
Menu
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial

Christian economist releases “There’s No Free Lunch”

  • November 6, 2021
  • Tracy Riggs
  • Financial, Latest News, Media Review
(TAB Media photo)

Christian economist releases “There’s No Free Lunch”

David Bahnsen has a long list of roles and accomplishments.

But the certified financial planner; founder, managing partner and chief investment officer of The Bahnsen Group, a private wealth management firm; one of Barron’s top 1,200 advisors; Forbes top 250 advisors; and Financial Times top 300 advisors in America, simply describes himself as “a Christian economist and financial advisor.”

His latest book, “There’s No Free Lunch,” examines 250 bite-sized connections between a market economy and human, God-given creativity.

“I think there are a lot of people that have opinions about economics sort of intuitively. There are a lot of people who have faith in the Christian worldview,” Bahnsen explained. “But I don’t think there are a lot of people that connect those things together intentionally. 

“And I want them to,” he said. “I want them to understand how the Christian worldview is very aligned with the notion of a free economy, and to provide a biblical understanding of how those things work.”

Defending free enterprise

While young Christians might feel that free markets are for greedy individuals, equating them with corruption, Bahnsen believes free enterprise should be defended.

“I don’t so much believe that a lot of young people love socialism as much as they hate capitalism,” he said. “I’m hoping my book can help provide a better way of thinking about it that will scratch those emotional and spiritual itches to see a better way.”  

Bahnsen noted a popular quote: “If a person is not a liberal when he is 20, he has no heart; if he is not a conservative when he is 40, he has no head.” But Bahnsen is adamant that liberalism does not relate to how much heart a person has.

“We need to reassert the heart as the driving force of why we believe in freedom, of why we believe in opportunities in society,” he urged. “That’s the argument I make in the book, that ultimately God made the world and made us all with dignity.”

Finance and economics are not evil

Growing up as a “PK” (preacher’s kid), Bahnsen said his father had a major influence on his worldview. 

“[My father] died very young, and I did not get to spend my adult years with him. But throughout my young adult years, he was my hero, my best friend and my biggest influence. My desire to incorporate Christian thinking into what I did professionally and vocationally entirely came from him,” Bahnsen said.

This mindset led to one of his main beliefs — that finance and economics are not evil and that God created them. 

“I think God made the world with potential. He created all the raw materials, the natural resources — but then He said to mankind, ‘I made you special. I made you with dignity. Go out and bring the potential out of this creation.’ That’s what we’ve been doing for thousands of years,” Bahnsen noted.

“There’s No Free Lunch” is not an exhaustive textbook on economy. Instead, it includes 250 quotes from master economists, along with a one-paragraph commentary from Bahnsen concerning economic principles.

“Writing [the book] definitely reinforced for me how much incredible wisdom there is in the last few hundred years of Christian economists,” he said. “In a lot of ways, the book is not intending to say anything new, but is intending to re-say things that have already been said but that we’ve gotten away from.”

“There’s No Free Lunch” is available at retailers such as Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes and Noble.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Your Voice: ‘We are not alone in cycles of life’
    Your Voice: ‘We are not alone in cycles of life’
    August 15, 2022/
    0 Comments
  • Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for August 21
    Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for August 21
    August 15, 2022/
    0 Comments
  • Latest details on federal investigation of SBC
    Latest details on federal investigation of SBC
    August 15, 2022/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.
  • Amplify

Related Posts

Your Voice: ‘We are not alone in cycles of life’

Just as we go through seasons in nature, we also go through seasons in our lives. There are seasons when going to school is our

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for August 21

Forgive Your Neighbor Matthew 18:21–35 Someone once said the three most difficult things to say are, “I am sorry,” “I forgive you” and “Worcestershire sauce.”

Latest details on federal investigation of SBC

Members of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee will hear more details today related to the Aug. 12 announcement of a federal investigation into the

Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for August 21

GOD HEARS 2 Kings 19:10–19, 32–34 The Taunt (10–13) Here in Alabama, we take our sports rivalries seriously, and trash talk is something of an

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
Menu
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
Menu
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
Menu
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
Menu
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209

Copyright © 2022 TAB Media Group

  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Menu
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
Menu
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
Menu
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel