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Faith Integration Essay ############ Liberty University BUSI 710: Advanced Business Research Methods

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Faith Integration Essay It often seems as if a Christian world view is in direct confrontation with modern finance. If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury (Exodus 22:25). This itself seems to be in direct conflict with the structure of the secular financial system that we are involuntarily thrusted into. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10). The secular world idolizes the pursuit of money, centralizes it to one’s life ultimately worshiping money making it one’s god. As Christians we understand the importance of money but do not idolize the pursuit of money. The field of my research focuses on finance from a Christian world view exploring elements that allow us to be good stewards of money so that it can be used in accordance with the bible to serve the Lord. I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go (Isaiah 48:17). The bibles teach us to invest; to make sound investment decision according to a Christian world view allocating our money in accordance with our faith and in line with the teaching of Christ. This is not a new concept, faith-based investing has been a consistent stable of Christian investors. Gray (2009) disproves the notion faith-based investing underperforms; during the recession faith-based investment funds outperformed the market. One of the implications of my research is determining the quality of venture backed IPO in determination if investing in companies when they become public, offers investors suitable long-term returns searching for a positive or negative correlation between private market value and returns. IPO process often serves as the first chance newly public firms to engage in price discovery, gage price signals and investor demand for a stock (Aggarwal etc., 2009). The quality of an

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investment includes both being in line with a Christian world view but also the value of the underlining asset and any future revenue streams.

Faith Integration in Research We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 4:2). Paul emphasizes the importance of honesty and transparency which can be applied to a Christian worldview to analyze the world as well as the research component. Private markets lack transparency presenting a challenge when analyzing data and reviewing possible investment thesis due to the limited availability of transaction data as well as company financials. Research in this field seeks to decipher this data and facilitate in transparency and understanding. The concept of transparency extends into the research process itself as it requires transparency of how the study was conducted as well as data gathered. A Christian world view to research requires transparency into the process not seeking to alter or omit data to support one conclusion over another but provide all relevant factors into any conclusions drawn. Often financial research can show contrasting results even though they are seeking to measure the same variable surrounding a research question. Designing the research study to conduct research in this field requires a quantitative analysis of statistical data to determine correlation between the data points seeking to see if a relationship between investor returns and private market valuations of venture backed businesses exist. This can be best done with analysis of descriptive statistics to determine the type of correlation with the data points and analysis of any linear relationship in the data. This study also requires multiple regression analysis to adequately interpret the data to determine if it answers

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the research questions of the study. Factor analysis as defined by the text book is “an approach to making sense of large number or correlations between variables” (Robson & McCartan, 2016). This is what the study seeks to determine among the data that is collected. Although qualitative research analysis provides an insight into the topic being researched it does not provide the depth and insight that quantitative analysis offers to determine correlation in data analysis. Thorne (2000) distinguishes a quantitative data from qualitative data as quantitative research applies the scientific method do build a complete understanding of the data relying on inductive reasoning to get meaning from the data. It is this difference in inductive and deductive reasoning in which Thorne (2000) sates distinguishes the difference between quantitative and qualitative research. “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom and apply thine heart to understanding” (Proverbs 2:2). The bible preaches for us to pursue knowledge; research in this topic seeks to develop wisdom and knowledge that can be applied to a Christian world view to assist in our developments as Christians.

Conclusion All work we do is with the purpose of glorifying God through the talents and abilities that he has blessed us with. This research study focuses on the field of finance looks to apply a Christian world view to adequately asses correlation in the data to interpret the relationship of long-term returns to private market valuation of Venture backed companies. This seeks to analyze the quality of IPO companies determining if they are overvalued in the private markets prior to listing on public markets. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money (Matthew 6:24). The bible teaches us not to idolize money we can not serve two master. It does teach

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through good stewardship of money we can use it to serve the Lord. In consideration of the bibles teaching the research process seeks to identify if this asset class fits that mandate allowing that goal to be achieved.

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Aggarwal, R., Bhagat, S., & Rangan, S. (2009). The impact of fundamentals on IPO valuation. Financial Management. Vol. 38 Iss. 2. Financial Management Association. Retrieved fromhttps://gogalecom.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&u=vic_liberty&id=GALE|A 202802331&v=2.1 &it=r&sid=summon. Gray, H. (2009). Make your money do more: Theological Schools use Socially Responsible to put Money where Mission is. In Trust. Retrieved from https://web-a-ebscohostcom.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=21&sid=af94cefa-1010-43039ed1-253091f0f9de%40sessionmgr4007. Robson, C., & McCartan, K. (2016). Real World Research 4th Ed. Glasgow, United Kingdom. Wiley. Thorne, S. (2000). Data Analysis in Qualitative Research. Retrieved from https://ebn.bmj.com/content/3/3/68....