Do We Have A Vision Problem?

I just returned from a productive weekend at our annual Diaconate Retreat.  This is the third consecutive year the Deacons at First Baptist have chosen to get away for a time of reflection, team building, and renewal.  The topic for this year's retreat focused on spiritual leadership and team building.  One of the recurring themes that continuously surfaced during the retreat was vision.  Several references were made to the verse in Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision the people perish."  A verse, in my opinion, which has been misused and misinterpreted.   Let me explain.

The Hebrew word translated vision is chazon.  The word literally means revelation, and in this context is a reference to God's revelation, namely the Torah.  The writer is saying, "Where God's Revelation (Word, Torah) is lacking, the people stumble and fall."  The emphasis is God's Word, God's Revelation, God's Vision!  As a spiritual leader it is not my job to create a vision, my job is to articulate God's Vision for the Church.  The picture being painted by the wisdom writer is not a people withering away because their leader has failed to cast a vision, rather it is the picture of a people who are stumbling and falling because they have failed to follow God's Vision or Revelation.

What is God's Vision for the Church?  I think Jesus articulated that Vision in Matthew 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."  If I understand the New Testament, God's Vision for the church is to make disciples.  As a Pastor or Spiritual Leader I can have a vision, but my vision may differ from God's Vision.  My vision may be to grow a large church, to build a fabulous facility, or to increase the church budget.  But if God's Vision is replaced by my vision, as attractive as my vision may be, then the church ceases to be the Church.

We (including me) have done a poor job articulating God's Vision.  Our silence, or at best fuzziness on the subject, has left the door wide open for those who would cast an alternative.  Our lack of clarity has lead to confusion and shallow expressions of faith.   So it is time for change.  What the Church needs is not so much visionaries, but faithful men and women who are willing to listen as God speaks and follow as He directs.

Blessings,
Jimmy