The Advantage of a Shared Vision

Perhaps the most powerful adhesive in any relationship, whether that relationship involves two, twenty, or two-hundred people, is summed up in what some would say is a cold term used by analytical consultants. The term is Shared Vision.

In Proverbs 29:18, a father explains to his son that, "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law." In other words, if there is going to be joy and peace in the living we do, vision has a role to play.

When I was in the position of counseling couples before marriage, one of the exercises that I insisted upon was for the engaged couple to describe their home life in five years. What would it feel like when a guest came to the house? Would that guest be welcomed? Would there be tension in the home? Would it be relaxed? What smells would there be? Answers to these kinds of questions precipitated interesting discussions. How you are going to make your vision happen was a strategic question. But you can't ask "how" until you answer "what." During these conversations, priorities and values were considered, revisited and challenged. The product of these discussions was a developing shared vision for the couple's relationship and for their family.

There is another value to this exercise. As the father of Proverbs indicates, there is a delight in shared vision. My experience tells me that Shared Vision brings purpose in community, peace in relationships, and builds trust as time goes on. A genuinely shared vision insists upon articulating values and priorities and finally calls for action.

While there is much in this to offer married couples this dynamic is no less important for congregations who are pursing the missio dei (mission of God). Vision, in this context, is not some mystical immediate revelation from God. To say it plainly, Shared Vision is simply everyone being on "the same page" when it comes to where the community is headed and agreeing, generally speaking, on what is important.

In fact, here are some bullet points and statements concerning Shared Vision:

• Shared vision is not an idea. It is a driving force in people's hearts.
• At its most basic, shared vision asks the question "What do we want to create?"
• Accompanying Shared Vision is a sense of commonality, purpose, and cohesion to diverse activities that one can find in any congregation.
• A Shared Vision realizes a commitment to one another in the congregation.
• A Shared Vision is not imposed by an individual or a committee. One does not comply with the vision if it is to be shared. One is committed to the vision.
• Commitment implies sacrifice by members in order to realize the Vision.

Extrinsic v. Intrinsic Vision
One last thing to mention at this point is in the question, "What drives the Vision?" There are two options One is extrinsic and the other is intrinsic.

A vision that is extrinsic means that it comes from the outside. In other words, it is most often related to the context, in this case, of the local congregation. An extrinsic vision is competitive by nature. A local congregation wants to be bigger and better than the other congregations in town. Such competition, however, ultimately ends up becoming a defensive position where creativity declines, risk is discouraged, and security is valued. The congregation ends up protecting their "number one" position, if they ever arrived at that position in the first place. A vision predicated upon "defeating the competition" will, in the long run, weaken the congregation or the institution.

There is another kind of vision. It is called intrinsic. This means that the vision reflects the essential nature of the congregation. This kind of vision, issued from a Christ-centered congregation, embraces the call to faith, the giftedness by the Holy Spirit, and the unity of the body of Christ. It also agrees with Paul when he wrote to the Galatians and said, Galatians 2:20 20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me."

"Christ in me" is who we are in our Baptism and in our confession. Who we are now lifts us up to the mission of Christ, namely "to seek and save" those who are lost.

In the context of this truth, there is created a climate, a style, and a spirit that seeks to honor Christ and His call in everything that is done. How can there not be joy when we share together the vision and the mission of God?

Developing a Shared Vision takes time and it is not easy to do. But it is worth the investment of a congregation, no matter how small or large. The result will include clarity of call and resting in purpose.

Witness Opportunities

In 1987 I was extended a call to another community. I was a pastor in a remote part of Texas at the time. The question I was asked was, "Why would you not take this call to another place?" My response was, "60% of the population where I live does not know Christ." Over the last twenty plus years, that number has changed -- for the worse. Today, in Texas, the number of people that are in worship on an average Sunday morning is seventeen out of one-hundred.

When a small congregation, for example in Borger, Texas, looks at the context of their ministry and sees seventy other congregations of various shapes and forms, that congregation can easily be discouraged. Having said that, the reality is, fewer people are attending worship than ever before across the country. There is an opportunity.

For Lutheran congregations, the members of which live by the powerful message of the theology of the cross, (a message that addresses sin, hurt, frustration, failure, loss, and hopelessness) there is a tremendous opportunity to witness the work of Jesus for all people.

The door is wide open for God's people to witness. This is particularly the case with the uncertainty and fear that exists in our country today. The message of hope that comes from legislators in various states, courts and national forums is a hope that will evaporate and will never address the human condition in a satisfactory way. In addition to this, the Gospel is not, at its root, behavior modification initiated by human attitude and effort.

On the other hand, the message of hope that comes from the cross of Jesus Christ is eternal, complete, certain; and it is a gift embraced by faith alone.

That is our message -- and it changes lives beyond the grave. That message is unique to what the world says. The cross of Christ and the empty tomb stand alone as Truth. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, ". . . I will build My church . . . " And He would work through you to do so. In that same Gospel Jesus said, just prior to His ascension, "Go, (and as you are going, wherever you go) make disciples of all nations. . ."

Our Christian message of faith and hope is the message that will transform people, communities, indeed the world because it alone can transform hearts.

If you are interested in witnessing and becoming involved in mission opportunities look at the side bar on West Texas Currents. Also, take a look at what one West Texas Congregation is doing, go to the Church Door. For more information you may also email me at steven.misch@gmail.com