Can Christians Give More Effectively? J.D. Bauman on Faith, Charity, and the Ethics of Impact

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] if having good intentions alone isn’t enough? In this episode, we sit down with J.D. Bauman, Executive Director of Christians for Impact and author of All the Lives You Can Change, to explore a challenging question: are Christians stewarding their money, time, and influence in the most effective ways possible?J.D. breaks down the growing movement around “effective altruism” and why he believes Christians should think more critically about where they donate, how churches spend money, and whether our giving habits are shaped more by emotion than actual impact. We discuss everything from short-term mission trips and church budgets to global poverty, PEPFAR, political responsibility, and the difficult tradeoffs that come with trying to do the most good possible.The conversation gets deeply personal as Josh wrestles in real time with what this framework means for pastors, families, and ordinary people trying to balance generosity with real-world responsibilities. This is one of those episodes that may leave you uncomfortable in the best possible way.Links Mentioned in EpisodeAll the Lives You Can Change — https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780802885135Christians for Impact — https://www.christiansforimpact.orgGiveWell — https://www.givewell.orgPEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) — https://www.state.gov/pepfar/Guest BioJ.D. Bauman is the Executive Director of Christians for Impact, a nonprofit that helps Christians apply evidence, reason, and vocational discernment to major global challenges. He is a leading voice at the intersection of Christian ethics and the effective altruism movement and works to help believers maximize their impact through their careers, charitable giving, and public engagement. He is also the co-author of All the Lives You Can Change. Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: [email protected] Wright, Political Host: [email protected] Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast