An Epidemic of Visions

An Epidemic of Visions
By: Andrew Austin


The idea is great. Even the purpose can be looked upon as a wonderful attempt to unite a body of believers behind a common goal and interest. The idea of “vision meetings” has swept across our country as the epidemic worsens. The epidemic is deadly and if not cured can bring about the death of the local church and the souls that we are commissioned to reach. The epidemic is a lack of vision.

Churches gather for one night or even weekends to discuss the bodies’ dreams and visions. Staff, Deacons, and Leadership spend weeks and months planning and praying over strategies and plans as they seek to unite a church behind a purpose and solid vision for the future.

Church after church has found itself in this situation. Losing its visions and dreams, the church flounders resulting in a decrease in attendance, baptisms, and giving. The joy and excitement that once characterized the church is gone. Effectiveness in ministry declines. Why has this epidemic struck now and with such intensity? What good will come out of what has swept the churches of America?

I am not sure we can fully bring out an answer to the question of why the epidemic has struck now and at such a rapid speed. I believe we can find some light in the idea that churches in America often base their programming and ideas on others churches as we trying to compete for membership and to have the most “attractive” programming around. We are often greater followers of other churches and organizations than we are of Christ and the scriptures upon which these programs are based.

The complexity and busyness of church programming, the sinful nature of man, and the general disunity of the body, are a few other possible reasons for such a massive wave of meetings. While all of these reasons play into the epidemic, it is possible that God has begun to change the vision of churches to meet the demands and cultural changes of the world that we are to minister to in 2009.

Is it possible that the visions that we set five years ago are no longer relevant to our ever changing world? No one can deny that the world has changed in the last ten years, yet alone the last fifteen or twenty years. The change in culture as well as the world’s outlook on the local church and God has forced the local church to reexamine its visions, dreams, goals, and evangelical efforts as it plays catch up with the culture. If the church does not change, the world will leave it behind in a whirlwind of smoke and fire. If our goal is not to reach the world, then it is time to shut the doors of the church, make some renovations, and reopen as the local country club with membership dues starting at $50.

The last question, what good will these meetings do, can possibly be the trickiest to answer. No matter what happens in the local church there is always a risk that someone is not going to like it. The risk is always there, but it must be faced in order for any church to move in any direction. Still, what good will come out of these meetings? Will goals and visions be set yet not be accomplished due to lack of funding and an increase in opposition, or will the goals and visions be met in a triumphant manner with a body unified behind winning souls? I fear that the former is more likely. I fear that we (the church of America) will find ourselves back here in the same situation year after year.

I believe that the cure to the epidemic will come about within the local church as churches take a serious look at what God calls the church to be in Acts. Each church must examine its self. We must take a look at our abilities, talents, and needs within our congregation. We must also take time to look outward into our communities. We must see the needs, both physical and spiritual, and meet these needs in a timely and effective fashion. Churches must focus on the wounded, broken, and hurting and not on the church building, more money, and how we can improve our country club atmosphere while all the time lying to ourselves that we are a hospital for the wounded and a rescue shelter for the hurting. Our visions, dreams, and goals should be to live our lives in a radical way as we love God and love people. It should be to radically love people in a modern, relevant, and fresh way. I believe only then will our visions, dreams, and goals of new church buildings, improved programming, increased giving, and enhanced ministry ever be truly accomplished in a manner that brings glory to God.