BOOK REVIEW: WHAT THE BIBLE ACTUALLY SAYS ABOUT MONEY A Comprehensive Study Revealing the Truth on Debt and Wealth (by Ryan Mix 2016) — Faith and Finances Ministry

Book Reviewed by Patrick Blair on November 5, 2018

First Impression Versus Lasting Impression: The title promised an insightful, in-depth study into debt and wealth.  Instead, the book is a shallow, reactionary proof text about how to ignore the meaning of Scriptures about money.

The Book in a Word: SELF-JUSTIFYING.

Summary: The author, Ryan Mix, grew up in churches that cast a “black cloud” over the topic of making money.  He proceeds to go over common misconceptions about Scriptures related to money with the assistance of an unnamed bible scholar.  It is more-or-less a prosperity gospel book with a defensive twist.  Although it tells you that God can make you rich, it spends much more time combating the guilt produced by reading Scriptures about money.  Just like the pastors he accuses of being out-of-touch, the author comes across as an out-of-touch person living in a rich person bubble.

What I Liked the Most: On page 4, the author criticizes churches for having all sorts of ministries and outreaches, but nothing for the rich.  I agree that most churches don’t do a good job meeting the needs their wealthy members.  However, I strongly suspect that my vision for a ministry like that is very different than the author’s.

What I liked the least: is how the author attempts to remove all meaning from the many Scriptures about money.  Rather than trying to find the meaning of the verses using biblical context and applying them to everyday life, he applies vague and unconvincing logic to justify his own lifestyle and business practices.  Worst of all, he writes in a condescending tone frequently talking about how “rich people” think differently.

Recommended for: no one.

Not Recommended for: anyone.

Faith-finances.com Website Categories Covered: Biblical Concepts, Book Reviews

Reading Level: Basic to Intermediate … Advanced … Scholarly.

Interesting Concept: Although I won’t cite anything here, I will say that the book makes many valid points about how money Scriptures are misunderstood.

Memorable Quotes: “Maybe this is why the topic of money feels so avoided in church – because it actually is!” (p. 9).  “Spoiler alert – there are some things that I discovered, and are contained in this book, that you never have learned in church and could revolutionize the way you think about the Bible and money.” (p. 15).  “My wife and I were enjoying a wonderful vacation in Jamaica when I got a call asking me … .”  (p. 17).  After concluding that Jesus’ undergarment he wore at the Cross was valuable, the author writes, “[Jesus] enjoyed modern luxuries and probably looked pretty good doing it.  The takeaway here is that having money and fancy things okay.”  (p. 45).  While I don’t disagree that Jesus enjoyed some luxuries, the whole underwear argument is very tacky and overblown.  I’m pretty sure Jesus’ underwear doesn’t generally sanctify materialism.  “This is how a rich person would solve the problem of having a too many bills and not enough pie: Bake a bigger pie.”  (p. 149).

Spiritual Content: The book cites many Scriptures but uses them to engage in a shallow eisegesis.  In my opinion, the author is not correctly handling the “word of truth.”  (2 Timothy 2:15).  In all fairness, I probably have had a very different church experience than the author, which colors my opinion.  Also, I’m not criticizing the author’s personal life or saying that he is personally doing anything wrong.  I just don’t like the book.

Book Citation: Mix, Ryan. What The Bible Actually Says About Money: A Comprehensive Study Revealing the Truth on Debt and Wealth. Rossling Publishers, 2016.

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