What is vision?

How do we obtain it? How do we implement it?

To answer these questions, let’s look at three leadership styles often found in Christian circles: pioneers, managers, and janitors. This list is not exhaustive. Some individuals may be a mixture.

Pioneers: Creating new paths 

They have a vision for something new. This person is a trailblazer, taking risks to go where no one has gone before or do something new. He has enthusiasm, drive, and creativity. He is unaffected by criticism and impatient with those who take a more cautious approach.

Though pioneers are great for getting things going, they usually make poor administrators. They generally lack patience for the minutia of administration. They tend to lose interest in projects once initiated, preferring to go on to something else.

Managers: Turning vision into reality

They follow in the footsteps of a pioneer, carrying forward the vision that the pioneer has established. He puts order into the vision. Though he also owns the vision, he may be dissatisfied with the implementation. He sees the means to accomplish the goal more clearly.

Janitors: Maintaining the status quo

These are conservative types who desire to institutionalize the vision and maintain results as they are. In a church setting, these people tend to lack vision for anything new. We use the term “janitor” because they primarily care about keeping everything clean and safe. If the congregation is morally clean, with sound doctrine and committed to the status quo, they are content.

They spend time dealing with disciplinary cases, discontented people, or those with profound problems. Leadership development is not their focus. They perceive themselves as spiritual leaders because they have success dealing with these types of problems. It is questionable if they may be called leaders at all.

They tend to resist new projects because they have no compelling goals of their own. Their focus is keeping everyone happy. If spiritual janitors take primary leadership, the church will likely not grow numerically.

The essential ingredients of vision

Vision is an attainable dream. It involves two aspects:

A dream worth pursuing

A workable plan

This means a goal of significant value that is difficult to attain and requires a long-term investment of time and personnel.

Both must exist for it to qualify as a vision. A plan without a dream lacks the momentum to attract the leaders necessary to make it work. A dream without a plan is merely visionary and never gets off the ground.

Historical examples of vision

The Protestant Reformation was the result of the vision of several men like Luther, Calvin, and Knox. It was a goal of immense value, costing many lives over three generations. The religious freedom and prosperity many countries enjoy today is the direct result of that vision.

In the political domain, the Latin American revolution under Simon Bolivar was the result of a vision. Bolivar dreamed of the liberation of an entire continent. The vision was costly and required a lifetime investment of resources. A continent was worth it.

A vision need not be as ambitious as these examples. Every successful church or organization began with a person who had the vision to see it happen.

The danger of mere visionaries

Listening to a visionary may be entertaining, but so are novels. Eloquence does not equal vision.

Some articulate, intelligent people can be eloquent about what needs doing. They may be more adept at analyzing the deficiencies of others than creating workable plans. Though they appear knowledgeable and confident, one never quite grasps exactly what they are saying. It is like catching smoke. Politicians are often this way. These people are visionaries at best, but they are not leaders. . . windbags to be ignored.

A dream and a plan is not quite enough

Some may have a dream and a plan but still lack leadership. A third element must be present: the personal drive and commitment to implement it. Without this, they will only be trying to persuade others to do the work.

A dream and a plan without drive is like a sports car with a driver who refuses to turn the key.

Characteristics of an effective vision

Keep the vision simple

The vision should take only a few seconds to explain. Otherwise, it is too complex. People need to understand the vision to support it. Any promotional literature should project the vision in its first line or two.

Slogans and acronyms help people grasp the idea.

Difficult but not impossible

If it were easy, someone would have already done it. If the goal is attainable and desirable, but has not been done, it is because either people think it is impossible or lack the drive to attempt it.

To accomplish a vision, it takes a person who can distinguish between impossible and difficult. A Christian leader differs from a Christian worker by their ability to take what others see as impossible and develop a plan to achieve it.

Characteristics of a godly vision

Advancing the kingdom of God

How does your vision advance the Kingdom of God and produce holy people? Remember, God’s goal is to create a holy people for His Kingdom and glorify His name this way. Anything we do must fit into this goal, or our idea did not come from God. Some have built their own empires as monuments to themselves in the name of God’s Kingdom.

Others have a strong psychological need to affirm their self-worth. Beware of motives.

The importance of a personal call from God

Just because it is a good idea does not necessarily mean it is God’s call for us to accomplish it. David had a great idea for building a temple to honor God. Nathan the prophet told him God was pleased with the idea, but Solomon was the one called to do it.

Summary: Developing a biblical vision

Although the Bible teaches only one philosophy of Christian leadership, leadership styles may differ, depending on temperaments and circumstances. Some are pioneers, others managers or maintenance people.

A leader is partly characterized by having the initial vision. A vision is an attainable and valuable dream that comes from God.

From this article we learn:

• Some leaders are pioneers, others are managers, and others are maintenance people.
• A vision is an attainable dream of lasting impact, difficult to accomplish and requiring significant resource investment.
• A vision must be accompanied by a plan; otherwise, it is merely a vision that leads nowhere.
• A vision must be clear enough for people to understand and support.
• The vision normally comes through a personal walk with God, like any other calling.
• A genuine vision must advance God’s Kingdom for His glory, not merely our own personal satisfaction.

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