Vision Statement

I’ve worked in corporate America for many years. Nearly every company has a vision statement or mission statement that is created by leadership to define the company direction to its employees and customers. I’ve always thought they were pretty silly. One company actually sent us to a week long orientation course that taught us the mission statement along with signs to help us remember it. The vision and mission statements embody the character of the company. I can see some benefit. Most of the companies I’ve worked for have been fortune 500 companies; Deloitte Services, LLC, HCA, Dollar General, NBC. Companies of this size need to be able to maximize the efforts of their employees by getting them on the same page…getting them to pull in the same direction.

The same is true for the church. Solomon said, “without a vision the people perish.” What is our vision? Are we pulling in the same direction? What are the signs that help us recall the vision when things are not as clear? Who’s providing the vision we have?

Vision - We exist to spread a passion for the love of God in all things for the joy and unity of all people through Jesus Christ. (Modified line from a book I read by John Piper.) To fulfill this vision we need to do the following:

• Take the passion we have for God to reign over all things and share it with others. Make sure that we are allowing him to reign in us as we share.
• Promote unity in the Spirit in the bond of peace until we all come into the unity of the faith.
• The life that we live should be lived with joy. Joy only comes from a life that is not focused on us, but on God and others. Sacrificial love will prevent us from becoming too focused on ourselves. Our mansions in heaven do not have mirrored walls. Despite what the culture tells us it’s not all about us.
• Christians are supposed to be nice. Sometimes being nice keeps us from sharing our faith with those who may disagree. The nice thing, the loving thing to do would be to tell others that Jesus is the only “way” to the Father. All other ways, that is, religions, materialism, self indulgence will not lead to joy and happiness. Jesus Christ and the crucified life that he lived will.
• Reconcile ourselves to anyone who will reconcile. (Through Jesus Christ)
  
  Sign – The cross of Jesus is the sign that helps us remember the vision. Thoughts about the cross:
• The cross is the crowning act of the sacrificial life that Jesus lived. Had he not lived the sacrificial life the cross would be meaningless. If Jesus would have been self-indulgent the cross would not draw anyone.
• Jesus asked us to take up our cross and follow him.
• Those who stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion have followed him.
  
  In a world without leadership and vision we need to fulfill our vision and sacrificially give our lives for the cause of God. The God of heaven has set up a kingdom and he’s looking for citizens to join him in it. Let’s allow him to have his will in our lives. Let’s glorify him through the ordinary (work, love, friendship, community). The light of his glory, displayed through ordinary men and women will draw all people to him.