|
About Visioning There is a difference between eating a plain piece of bread and eating a piece of bread with cheese on it. There is an even bigger difference between eating a plain piece of bread and eating one with chicken salad on it. There is a major difference between eating a plain piece of bread and eating one with lobster salad on it. A person or a congregation with a vision or several visions is like eating a piece of bread with lobster salad on it. Cheese just won't get it-like having a good program. Not even chicken salad can make it-like having a wonderful worship experience. Even the bread is good but not like bread with lobster salad. I cannot imagine Jesus without a vision. Equally, I cannot imagine a congregation or individual for that matter without a vision or sharing in one articulated by someone else. Vision begins to take shape in Jesus' life at his baptism. Some would go back to his birth and the angels' voices to the shepherds. Especially, at baptism it is recognized that Jesus' vision is formed in the mind of God as the Spirit descends in recognition of Jesus' Son-ship. Jesus knew who he was from baptism and wrestled with his vision for months, even in the Garden of Gethsemane. Visions are specific and concrete. "Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." One of the disciples rebuked him and Jesus replied, "For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." (Mark 8: 31 & 33b) He stated his vision openly. Visions are urgent. Not some day but soon. The disciples had to be brought on board. But first they must know what Jesus knew. They were moving through the villages of Caesarea Philippi and Jesus was asking his disciples about their knowledge of him. "Who do you say that I am?" (Mark 8:29) Peter seems to get it, "You are the Messiah." (Mark 8:29b) This chapter concludes with Jesus stating the requirements for his followers. From that time on the followers of Jesus have had to ask themselves who Jesus is and who they are before they can receive God's vision for them. Visions are of God. This is not grist for the mill of a "think tank." Gather the best minds together and present the conditions or rules under which they are to work and allow them to hammer out a vision. Visions are not necessarily rational. They are not issue driven. Visions from God are to lead us to service. Visions come to those of humility, to those who pay attention and are willing to listen and receive. Philippians 2:5-8 states it well; "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited…emptied himself…taking the form of a slave…humble himself…became obedient to the point of death…" Give God some time and room to be with us and to speak. No room. No time. No humility. No vision. This is just a small piece of the meaning of vision. We all eat bread. Put some lobster salad on it. It's a lot better. .................................Bob Rierson
|
|
Home
| Who Are the Moravians? |