Vision — Is it Overrated?
No doubt about it, you even consider church planting today and you will be immediately assaulted by this word—VISION.
Some act as though it is the panacea for all things having to do with church planting. Others will tell you that it is somewhat important but by no means the most important thing.
I land somewhere in between. Perhaps more toward the side that holds it up like the holy grail.
One thing is for sure. Out of the thousands of church plants now taking place every year across this nation, a big difference between those that succeed for the Lord and those that inevitable fail has to do with this thing called vision. But what an overused term! Today there are almost as many books written about vision as there are about church planting. But you know what’s scary? Ask the typical pastor to define the vision God has given him for his church and you get a vacant stare. Backing up a pace or two, you might try asking something a bit simpler, like, how’ bout simply defining vision. At that point I have watched pastors transform into deer staring straight into the headlights of an oncoming Ford Bronco. With Bubba at the wheel, their time is short–and they don’t even know it! The best we can hope for is that it will be swift and painless, but it seldom is.
Neither is planting a church with absolutely no vision.
Planting a church is a whole lot more like giving birth to a child or passing a kidney stone the size of a child, then dropping a small seed into the ground, sprinkling a bit of water on it and returning every so often just to check the progress—at least as far as the pain is concerned. I know, I have a purple plum tree in the front yard that I accidentally sprayed with weed killer. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. The color purple was the first to go. Needless to say, there will never be any plumbs. But do I care? My wife thinks I do because it’s still out there in the front yard dead as can be. She thinks I’m having trouble letting go. Truth is, I just keep forgetting it’s out there. When I do remember, I often recall how much more there is to growing healthy plants and trees than simply sticking them in the ground. Think she’ll let me keep it for an object lesson?
This blog is a little bit about planting, a little bit about growing and a lot about health—but not just the planting, growing and over all health of a church (that’s just one small piece of the puzzle), but rather, the birthing of a baby Christian, the growing of a young believer, and the health of a mature Christ follower. You see, I know about what I write because God has had to shoot the wad on me. If you’re not familiar with that term, just imagine a father who feels like he’s already using discipline techniques usually reserved for college years on his 7 year old!
I’ve heard it said that today’s A.D.D., inquisitive, trouble-making, stubborn child will be tomorrows leader, genius, or success story. The good news is, if that theory pans out than I will be Winston Churchill, Peter Drucker and Albert Einstein all rolled into one! The bad news is…its just another theory.
I also know what I write about because of my own journey as a church planter. I am one of the thousands out there who has ventured forth on an honored, privileged mission from God to plant a church in postmodern
Now, I would describe myself as visionary (albeit hard-headed), hard worker, passionate type individual, who has learned almost every lesson to this point via the 2X4 method. It’s a straightforward procedure involving a three foot long board, an individual with a target x’d out on their forehead (right between the eyes) and a patient God Who’s tried everything else first. The bad news is that it’s a very arduous educational approach, but the good news is that it usually takes just one hard whack and you’re on to the next lesson—previous lesson logged and learned! I used to get mad at God when I saw the board coming (even madder when I felt the impact) but now I just wait patiently for it and savor the wisdom I know will follow.
One of the lessons I learned was the importance of getting the dream, passion, vision, mission (whatever we’re currently calling it) from God—and returning to Him daily for the newest set of marching orders. If you don’t follow this part than you will end up being just another church planter who thought being a pastor would be ‘kinda cool.’ Perhaps you looked at Bill Hybels (albeit 30 plus years into the thing) and thought to yourself, “Shoot, if he can do it, I can do it better! Church planting here I come!”
Now you know there’s more to it.
A lot more.
And vision’s a big part of it.
That’s why I’m going to talk about that first—in three parts. One down.
Two to go.
For more on this, go here.