So, I was at a church function tonight, discussing the vision of the church. Most of the things said were good news and exciting undertakings for the church, however, something was said that caught my attention:
“Different churches have different visions.”
Nothing was said after this, so I assumed it was a ‘truth’ within the community. Something convicted me about this statement though. After being discipled in the Word, I have come to a conclusion about The Church as a whole.
Shouldn’t every church have the same vision?
Shouldn’t every church have the vision to save the lost?
Shouldn’t every church have the vision for the future?
Shouldn’t every church be baptising?
Shouldn’t every church be discipling?
Shouldn’t every church be actively involved in the community?
Looking at what Matthew 28 tells us:
“16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I am CONVINCED that YES, the church should share the same vision!
Should not the churches in the community and the world share the same vision?
Should not they be united by ONE God?
Should not they be ministering to the unsaved?
Should not they be baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Should they not be discipling, not only the youth but those also of age?
The answer is YES, they SHOULD be sharing the same vision. They SHOULD be united by ONE God. They SHOULD be ministering to the unsaved. They SHOULD be baptising. They SHOULD be discipling.
If WE the church are not united under one God and one vision, how do WE expect the lost to be found, the blind to see, and the deaf to hear? How do WE as a church expect to ultimately be totally obedient to God’s plan for us?
Something to think about this week: Are we as The Church sharing the same vision?
Peter, James and John had a VISION of the transfigured Christ (Matthew 17:0); others of the apostles were excluded. Peter had a VISION of animals in a sheet from heaven (Acts 10:16); others in the house were excluded. Paul had a VISION of a Macedonian man (Acts 16:9-10); others of the mission team were excluded.
But all believers have had the same call to repentance from sin and faith in Christ; and all believers have had the same commission to preach the gospel.
“I had a dream…” (or vision, or epiphany, or whatever you call it) as used today calls attention to our individuality, our uniqueness; and this way of describing our ministry opens the door to all kinds of foolishness. “I have a commandment…” expresses our unity in one Lord Jesus and His one faith, and our being one body in one Spirit.
If we would stop this business of trying to be different from one another so that we can attract more “customers”, if we would be content to be alike in Christ, then we would present a unified gospel message with power and spirit that cannot be denied.
When the world began to speak of “mission statements” for businesses, they took the lead of the church. When the church began to speak of “vision casting” for ministries, they took the lead of the world. Shame on us.
Vision is the ability to see. Church “visions” usually blind us to Christ’s commandment to engage in simple, gospel work.
To answer your question: no, all of our individual churches do NOT share the same vision; and it seems that too few are interested in obeying Christ’s commission.