Part 1: When Business Leaves a Bad Taste
Why Christians Need to Talk About MLMs
There’s a certain pit-in-the-stomach feeling I get when a friend tells me they’ve joined a new business opportunity… and I find out it’s an MLM. I smile. I nod. I try to be supportive. But inwardly? I’m wrestling.
Because I know this friend is sincere. She’s motivated. She wants more for her family. And she really believes this path could be a way to help others, too.
So why does it feel so off?
For years, I didn’t have words for it. I didn’t want to be judgmental. I didn’t want to assume bad motives. And I certainly didn’t want to touch it with “a theological lens”—I mean, the Bible doesn’t say anything about multi-level marketing… right?
But recently, I’ve started asking deeper questions. Not just about MLMs, but about the values that drive them. About how they affect relationships, what kind of beliefs they promote, and how they fit—or don’t fit—with the kingdom of God.
And honestly? I think it’s past time we as Christians start talking about this.
To My Friends Who Are in an MLM
If you’re reading this because you are in an MLM—or maybe you were, and you’re trying to figure out why it felt harder than it should have—please know this: I’m so glad you’re here.
You probably joined because you genuinely believe in the products. Maybe you’ve experienced personal benefits. Maybe you saw it as a flexible, family-friendly way to create income. Or maybe you hoped it could become a new chapter of purpose and possibility.
But if you’ve sensed that people seem distant… if it feels like you’re hitting a wall with some of your closest relationships… if you’ve wondered why this business, which you care about, seems to carry so much tension—this blog is for you.
This series isn’t written against you. It’s written for you.
It’s meant to help name some of the unspoken things beneath the surface. To lovingly explain why people may react with discomfort. And maybe even help you put words to some of the unease you’ve felt too.
I want you to know—this Blog series isn’t an attack on you, your character, or your work ethic. There are a hundred ways this topic could feel personal, and if something stings along the way, I promise that’s not my intent!
I’m am completely convinced that if you are doing business in an MLM you’re already a strong and thoughtful woman, capable of wrestling through the hard stuff without taking it as a personal jab.
My hope is that this gives you space to process honestly—with grace, not guilt, while revealing to you what you may honestly be wondering about.
What is an MLM?
As you may or may not already know, MLM stands for multi-level marketing. It’s a business model where people sell products (often health, beauty, or wellness) and earn money not just from their own sales, but from recruiting others under them who sell things—who then recruit others under them…. And so on.
The idea is that anyone can “build a team,” earn commissions from their downline, and eventually rise up to that elusive “financial freedom” everyone’s talking about.
But here’s the catch:
MLMs are not just about selling products. They’re about selling the opportunity to sell the opportunity.
That changes everything.
This isn’t about being anti-business. I love ethical entrepreneurship. I believe in women using their gifts to build beautiful things. And I fully support creating streams of income that honor God and serve others.
But MLMs often blur the lines—between
friend and customer
encouragement and manipulation
testimony and sales pitch
hustle and holiness.
And when we don’t name those blurred lines, we run the risk of baptizing business practices could be quietly harming the very people we’re are trying to love well.
What This Series Will Explore
I’m not here to shame anyone. If you’ve been in an MLM, or if you’ve found genuine success in one, I see you. There’s no judgment here. But I do want to open up a deeper, more honest conversation—one rooted in Scripture, discernment, and care for both truth and people.
Over the next few posts, we’ll gently explore five key areas where MLMs cause tension in Christian discernment:
Relational Leverage – how trust gets monetized
Spiritualized Hustle – the overlap with Prosperity Gospel thinking
Economic Injustice – how the structure often rewards a few and exploits the many
Common Defenses – five popular arguments used to justify MLMs
Discerning the Invitation – how to evaluate opportunities with wisdom and love
If you’ve ever felt that tension… the discomfort… the guilt of saying no… or the pressure to spiritualize your hustle—this series is for you.
Because God cares about our finances and our friendships.
He cares about our goals and our motives.
He cares about the systems we participate in, not just the outcomes we hope for.
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever felt pressured to support a friend’s business out of guilt rather than genuine interest?
Have you ever been part of a business model that didn’t sit right with your spirit?
What does it mean to “honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10) in your financial decisions?
Coming Up Next:
In Part 2, we’ll unpack some of the most common defenses of MLMs—both inside and outside the church—and explore what Scripture says (and doesn’t say) about business, success, and blessing. If you’ve ever felt confused or conflicted, this next post will help bring clarity.
