Reflecting on What it Means to be a "Tentmaker"

I've always heard that Paul was a tentmaker and to be honest, up until recently that meant very little to me.

Yet, as I have read through the Book of Acts these past two weeks I have found myself reflecting on this some more.

In Acts 18 Paul arrives in Corinth and stays with a couple named Aquila and Priscilla. This couple are tentmakers like Paul, and we read that Paul stayed and worked with them. This would not have been uncommon for Paul, as most Jewish men were trained in a specific trade when they were young. Yet as this narrative continues to unfold we learn that Paul was in the synagogue on every Sabbath proclaiming the good news of Jesus.

Paul did not come to Corinth to make tents. He came to Corinth to announce the resurrection of Jesus and to invite others into this movement. He just so happened to be a tentmaker. Paul made tents so that he could be in the synagogue carrying out his true calling.

Almost two years ago our income was reduced a bit, and I picked up a part-time gig cleaning windows. What we didn't know at the time is that we would soon enter into a season of life dependence on this job would increase, as we transitioned to a church planting intern role. I think that I find myself reflecting on Paul's trade more because I can resonate with him now. There is a sense of solidarity. I did not move to Aurora to clean windows; I moved to Aurora to announce the resurrection of Jesus and I just happen to be a window-cleaner. I wash windows to help pay the bills, which enables us to be God's agents of transformation and hope in this community.

The economic climate in which we find ourselves may very well lead to a decrease in well-funded ready made church planting opportunities and will cause us to rethink how we can creatively and innovatively reach people with the good news. I am thankful for the bucket and squeegee that God has placed in my hands and the endless opportunities to advance God's kingdom here on this planet that are attached.

So what about you? Are you just a tentmaker, or are you an agent of resurrection who just happens to be a tentmaker?