Guest editorial: ‘Anything less than God’s vision is inadequate’

Seeing Jesus is a powerful image in the New Testament.

For example, Matthew 25:37-40 says: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you, or thirsty, and give you something to drink? And when did we see you a stranger, and invite you in, or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ George BullardThe King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.’”

Following Jesus requires not only vision with our eyes, but also vision with our full senses. It is not just literally seeing an object. It is seeing an opportunity. It is not just about your eyesight. It is also about your experience. 

Your church needs vision, or it may not be able to see and fully experience Jesus.

Every congregation needs vision. It is not optional. Why? Because vision will empower the forward progress of your congregation and allow you to see the Jesus potential in people. Without vision, many congregations tread water, seeking to avoid drowning. Many congregations are blind to the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick and imprisoned.

God’s vision

Your church may need vision, but for up to 80 percent of all congregations, it is an unmet need. It eludes them. They make programmatic or financial success their vision, not realizing these are not the substance of a vision from God.

Some congregations believe vision is being healthy, which partially is true. Some congregations believe vision is having a successful program that attracts young adult families, which partially is true.

Some congregations believe vision is about growing numerically, which at times is a side benefit of a clear, empowering vision. Some congregations believe vision is about becoming missional, which is a great characteristic of many congregations with vision.

At the risk of being accused of spiritualizing this issue—as if that were a bad thing—every congregation needs God’s vision. Every pastor needs God’s vision. Anything less than God’s vision is inadequate.

Not the same as the pastors’ vision

Notice I did not say your pastor needs vision, although this also is true. Pastors need vision for their life and ministry. Pastors need the empowerment of vision in their lives. A pastor’s vision—even for the congregation—and the vision congregations need are not always the same thing. God’s vision for your congregation is always the best vision.

Some years ago, I spoke to ministry leaders in a regional denominational organization. The executive director came to me at the end and said, “How do congregations develop vision?”

Many congregations cannot figure out vision. They know they need one, but they do not know how to get there. They believe there is a simple formula that will produce vision. That generally is not the case.

Perhaps vision is part of God’s grace gift to us and not a series of steps or deeds that produce vision. This would mean vision is not something we can earn or an exercise we complete. It is a grace gift of God we discern.

Too many times, congregations see vision as organizational. That is unfortunate, because congregations are an organism and not an organization. They see the pithy mottos some businesses have. Or they see the well-developed professional visions cast by large congregations or large Christian ministry organizations.

Then they say, “We need one of those!” My response is, “Yes and maybe.”

Questions for your congregation:

• Is it possible your congregation actually understands the need for vision but is trying too hard to acquire vision? Perhaps a better approach is seeing Jesus in the interactions of the congregation and in the faces of the people to whom God is sending you.

• Has your congregation brought secular organizational success perspectives into the church by seeing vision as the success of programs and the fulfillment of your budget goal? Certainly these can be positive vital signs, but are they truly a vision from God for a spiritual organism?

• Does your congregation want to avoid its responsibility to be captivated by God’s vision by saying it is the pastor’s responsibility to provide vision? Do you want your pastor to go up on a mountain or into the Holy of Holies and come down or out with vision?

George Bullard is president of The Columbia Partnership, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance’s North American Baptist Fellowship and senior editor of TCP Books. Contact him at [email protected] or (803) 622-0923. His column was distributed by Baptist News Global.