The Guilt Factor: Overcoming Shame About Making Money in Ministry

Picture this: You're at a church gathering, and someone asks what you do for work. You mention your business or side hustle, and immediately feel the need to justify it. "Well, I'm really called to ministry, but I just do this to pay the bills..." Sound familiar?

If you've ever felt guilty about making money while in ministry, you're not alone. It's one of the biggest barriers I see holding back tentmaking pastors and Christian leaders. But here's the thing - this guilt isn't coming from God.

Where Does This Shame Come From?

Most of this guilt stems from a misunderstanding that's been passed down through church culture for generations. Somewhere along the way, we bought into the lie that there's a hierarchy of callings - with "full-time ministry" at the top and everything else as a necessary evil.

We've created a false dichotomy between "sacred" and "secular" work. But look at the biblical tentmakers we talked about in our last newsletter. Paul didn't apologize for making tents. He did it when he needed to and other times he was funded by others. It didn't seem that Lydia felt guilty about her purple cloth business. Aquila and Priscilla integrated their tentmaking with their ministry so seamlessly that their workshop became a church planting hub.

The early church didn't see business and ministry as competing forces - they saw them as complementary tools for kingdom advancement.

What Scripture Actually Says

Here's what's fascinating: Jesus never condemned wealth or business success. He condemned money as our master but never as our servant.

Look at Joseph of Arimathea - a wealthy businessman who used his resources to provide Jesus with a proper burial. Or consider the women who financially supported Jesus' ministry "out of their own means." These weren't people apologizing for their success; they were strategic kingdom investors.

The verse that gets misquoted most? "Money is the root of all kinds of evil." But that's not what it says. It's the love of money that's problematic (1 Timothy 6:10). Money itself is neutral - it's a tool that amplifies whatever's already in your heart.

The Real Cost of Ministry Guilt

This shame isn't just emotionally draining - it's practically destructive. When pastors and Christian leaders feel guilty about finance, they often:

• Undercharge for their tentmaking services and expertise
• Avoid pursuing scalable business opportunities
• Stay stuck in survival mode instead of thriving
• Miss opportunities to fund or extend kingdom work effectively
• Burn out trying to do ministry on empty tanks
• Grow in resentment (either them or their spouse) because they really don't have enough income but can't see a way out
• Feel trapped and powerless in the hands of others who don't understand the strain they are under
• Quit ministry all together!

I've seen too many gifted leaders limit their impact because they couldn't shake the guilt around making money. Meanwhile, their financial stress actually hindered their ministry effectiveness.

Reframing the Narrative

You're not second class because you have to provide for your family through other means. You're not compromising your calling - you're fulfilling it through multiple streams.

God doesn't just call people to ministry; He calls them to stewardship. And sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is build a sustainable business that funds your ministry for decades rather than burning out in two years.

Your business skills aren't separate from your spiritual gifts - they're part of how God has equipped you for kingdom impact. The marketplace isn't a distraction from your calling; it's often the very platform God wants to use.

Moving Forward Without Guilt

Here's how to start overcoming this shame:

Develop a biblical theology of work. Study how God uses business people throughout scripture. Spoiler alert: it's a lot.

Set boundaries with well-meaning critics. Not everyone will understand your dual calling, and that's okay. You don't need their permission to follow God's leading.

Connect with other tentmaking leaders. Isolation feeds guilt. Community feeds confidence.

Focus on fruit, not opinions. When your business enables greater ministry impact, let the results speak for themselves.

This is exactly why Chris and I are hosting "The 5-Step Tentmaking Blueprint" webinar. We'll address the theological foundation that settles the "is this really God's will?" question once and for all, plus give you practical strategies for building scalable income without the guilt.

Your Calling Isn't a Compromise

Remember: your tentmaking calling isn't Plan B. It's not a compromise or a necessary evil. It's a strategic kingdom investment opportunity that puts you in the same tradition as Paul, Lydia, Aquila, Priscilla, and countless other biblical heroes.

The guilt you feel? It's not from God. The calling to use your business skills for kingdom impact? That absolutely is.

It's time to stop apologizing for how God has gifted you and start stewarding those gifts with confidence.

Ready to fully embrace your tentmaking calling without guilt? Join us for "The 5-Step Tentmaking Blueprint" webinar where we'll help you build the theological foundation and practical strategies you need to thrive.

Grace and peace,
Simon