Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 4
Dan intentionally started businesses so the church would be seen as “working people” rather than living on “missionary dole welfare”; what heart motives (good and bad) might drive a desire to be perceived a certain way, and where is the line between removing unnecessary offense and trying to manage an image?
Another way to ask: What good and bad reasons might make someone want the church to look like “working people” instead of living on support? How do you tell the difference between avoiding needless offense and trying to control your image?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript suggests a good motive is to remove barriers and build trust by sharing ordinary life with neighbors, but a danger would be letting fear of people’s opinions control the mission. The line seems to be whether the choice serves genuine relationship and integrity, or whether it becomes mere image-management to win approval.
- Dan says they started businesses to “generate our own income… be self-supporting,” and also “so we can interact with the local people.”
- He wanted them to be seen as “working people” and “not just living like missionaries on… welfare from the states.”
- He emphasizes earning “trust and respect” by “live among the people… day-to-day.”
- He also models willingness to not chase approval: they kept Christian books in the store even after counsel that locals “won’t like that.”
- His general warning about people-pleasing: trying to please everyone is a “dead-end road.”