Comments on: “Vision is overrated”

By: Chuck Warnock

Chuck Warnock — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:27:46 +0000

Several months ago I wrote a post, Vision: An Overblown Concept. The link is here — http://chuckwarnockblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/21/vision-an-overblown-concept/

Interesting comments all around. -Chuck

By: Peter T

Peter T — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:30:42 +0000

Christ had vision – he knew where he wanted to guide the human family in His earthly ministry. He knew the potential that man can rise to and led them there. Without a vision of what fallen mankind can become, there was no leading to get us there. This is speaking of a divine attribute in somewhat of a secular mindset, which can ultimately be defeating (“my thoughts are higher than your thoughts… my ways.. your ways, etc.).

That vision, seeing a future state of potential that can be achieved, is core to leadership. Christ saw the sin from the sinner, and lifted people out of their personal gutters to a new state of existence.

As children of God, his example is before us to follow. From a secular standpoint, if we don’t know where we are going, then any path will get us there, because we have no direction. How many of us wandered without vision before our conversion?

Leaders of religious and secular organizations need to have a vision of the future state, build creative tension and then enable the actions to reduce the tension and achieve future vision state.

By: Bradley

Bradley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:37:10 +0000

Joseph,

Your definition fits with mine perfectly. I think we are thinking the same thing but articulating it differently.

I also think that when speaking about vision in the context of ecclesiastical leadership (as in this post), vision can include not just what God calls us individually to do, but can include what a leader senses God specifically calling him to lead his people to do (and thus, also seems to include a corporate element). Therefore, I think your definition could be improved like this: Vision is what God calls a Christian or group of Christians to do specifically.

Here also, in your definition, vision seems to refer to the content of God’s specific will more than the subjects insight into it. Usually when we say that ecclesiastical leaders need to have vision, we seem to be referring to their *ability to perceive* such a specific will of God more than the *content* of that calling which they perceive. Does it not seem that way to you also?

For example, a definition for vision should, I think, be able to fit comfortably in this blank: “Mr. Ecclesiastical Leader, in order to lead his people well, needs to have _________.”

In your definition it would read: “Mr. Ecclesiastical Leader, in order to lead his people, needs to have what God calls him to do specifically.” It seems that this could be improved by adding the simple word “insight [into]” (e.g. “needs to have insight into what God calls him [or a group of Christians] to do specifically.”

But, then, what do you mean by “specifically”? Do you not mean the implementation of what you call “mission” in our own ecclesiastical context? (which mission has reference to things that don’t change, that are taught in scripture?)

Isn’t vision, then, insight into implementing biblical values/teachings in concrete ways over the long haul (whether that be for a person or a group of persons)?

Bradley
.-= Bradley´s last blog ..The God Debates: An Alternative to Doug Wilson’s Debate with Christopher Hitchens =-.

By: Joseph

Joseph — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:53:35 +0000

I define the word ‘vision’ as what God calls each of us specifically to do. For example, it is a very general statement to say that pastors and church leaders are called to ‘reach their community’. I consider that our ‘mission’. Our ‘vision’ is how we specifically feel God is calling us to accomplish our mission.

One pastor’s vision may be for their church to reach their community through service. Another pastor’s vision might be for their church to reach their community through media (broadcast sermons, web presence, etc.)

By: Bradley

Bradley — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:27:21 +0000

Or rather, those who have “vision” have an ability to foresee how they will implement biblical values in their own ecclesial context over a relatively long period of time. Vision can change, however, so it’s not permanent. This is because context can change, and vision is implementing biblical values within one’s own ecclesial context.

Bradley
.-= Bradley´s last blog ..When St. Ambrose Rebuked an Emperor =-.

By: Bradley

Bradley — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:25:10 +0000

Yes. … But if someone said “I have a vision to leave my wife and marry a hooker,” we would say that this is not exactly what we mean by “vision” in the ecclesial context. So, vision can’t just be “what do I do next?” but has to be related to visioning the future according to biblical values. That’s why I say vision is “implementing biblical values in a concrete way over the long haul.”

Also … if you had a precise idea about what you wanted to do with your next day (go down to the skateboard park and witness for Christ), this also, in my opinion, would not constitute what we mean by “vision,” which is more of an overall long term strategy in the church. Thus, vision is implementing biblical values in concrete ways over the long haul.

Bradley
.-= Bradley´s last blog ..When St. Ambrose Rebuked an Emperor =-.

By: Francis

Francis — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:41:30 +0000

I think ” vision” is asking yourslef ” what do I do next?” ” How do i find a new way to evangelize?” God does not take the fun out of evangelism. God has given us greative mins to find new wys of spreading the same gospel. That is what “Vision” means to me. If my church was going door to door, I may have a vision of a TV or radio program to take the gospel to more people. Maybe i have a ” vision” to build a bigger building, or add a special section that would serve an unserved population.
What Vision does not mean tome, is God saying something to someone which cannot be varified.