Myths that Mar Vision by George Barna

The confusion that arises when mission is mistaken for vision is the myth that most frequently comes to mind when discussing this topic. In many cases, the two terms are interchangeable in the minds of church leaders. Other myths arise over authorship of a vision statement. To follow such myths in the visionary search can cause great injury to a church.

Several years ago, for example, a church embarked upon the process of determining its vision for ministry. The church waited and waited for the minister to produce the vision statement. Unfortunately, two things occurred. First, the minister abdicated his leadership role to lay leaders in the church, which meant that he was not really leading the church. Second, because the process was handled by a committee, the statement was consensual and vague.

After nearly two years, a mission rather than a vision statement was drafted, and even though a diligent effort was made to share it with the congregation, the mission statement failed to motivate the people.

The results were disappointing to church leaders who thought they had developed a vision statement but who had broken three of the principles involved in the process. The church continued to lose membership, the financial status of the church continued to weaken and what once was a strong community outreach ministry deteriorated because people who were on fire for ministry were uncertain about the direction in which the church was heading. Many of those leaders migrated to other churches, and the entire congregation experienced turmoil stemming from its misdirected attempts to develop a vision statement.

We could easily spend the next hundred pages dismissing the myriad of myths that have emerged in relation to the meaning, the development and the implementation of God's vision for ministry. Let's briefly examine 20 of the more widely accepted of these myths.

MYTH 1

Vision should be the result of a consensus among the church's key leaders regarding future activity by the church.

REALITY

Vision is not the result of consensus; it should result in consensus.

In a church, it is important that people own the vision for ministry, not that they create it. The creative function of church members relates to ministry plans — that is, strategies and tactics-that are a consequence of the vision. Grasping God's vision for the church's ministry is not a committee process.

MYTH 2

Vision and mission are synonymous.

REALITY

While vision relates to specific actions, mission relates to general approaches to action.

When we speak about vision for ministry, we are alluding to a futurebased, detailed, unique perspective on the church's calling. When we address mission for ministry, we are speaking of a broad-based definition of the reason for existence that undergirds everything the church does and stands for. While vision relates to specific actions, mission relates to general approaches to action.

Every church should have a mission statement and a vision statement. The two are inextricably related but are clearly distinct. Mission precedes vision, but without vision, it is empty and incomplete.

MYTH 3

Some leaders are visionaries, some aren't.

REALITY

By definition, all leaders are visionaries.

We have to make a distinction between someone who holds the position of leader and an individual who behaves as a leader. Many churches are led by individuals who hold a leadership post or title. What truly identifies people as leaders, though, is not their title but their mind-set and actions. Similarly, a common characteristic of all true leaders is that they have vision. A godly leader is one who operates from a base of God's vision for his or her ministry.

MYTH 4

The purpose of vision is to estimate future realities and then to operate effectively within those parameters.

REALITY

The purpose of vision is to create the future.

The objective is not to acquiesce to a preordained future but to create the future. The vision is the means to define the parameters within which the future will emerge. Realize that the future is not something that just happens; it is a reality that is created by those strong enough to exert control over their environment. The future is not a done deal waiting for response. The future belongs to God and through Him to those who are driven to shape it.

MYTH 5

Strategy and vision are often confused. In reality, vision is conceptual; strategy is practical and detailed.

REALITY

Vision is conceptual, but it also is practical and detailed.

This perspective on vision is a classic myth: It is part truth and part fabrication. In fact, the words "vision" and "strategy" are frequently used interchangeably, but they are not interchangeable. Vision is conceptual, but it also is practical and detailed. The detail inherent within strategy is a reflection of a strong vision, one that encompasses a detailed view of what will be in the days ahead. Strategy may be detailed in nature, but it also must be general enough to permit the development of specific tactics that will lead to the implementation of the vision through strategic and tactical imperatives.

MYTH 6

Real vision protects the church from risk.

REALITY

Risk is a natural and unavoidable outgrowth of vision.

The myth that real vision protects the church from risk is a comforting thought but is absolutely antithetical to the true nature of vision. Even God's vision for ministry places the church at risk. Because vision relates to change in the creation of the future, risk is a natural and unavoidable outgrowth of vision. However, when a church operates on the basis of God's vision for ministry, it can be assured that He will not put it in a position of unwarranted risk. The visionary leader is one who is a change agent. In the process of pushing the church forward, the leader insists on aggressive effort; remaining stationary is tantamount to losing ground. Without risk, no progress can be made.

MYTH 7

The goal of vision for church ministry is numerical growth.

REALITY

The absolute goal of vision for ministry is to glorify God.

While many people believe that numerical growth is the ultimate goal of vision, such expansion is an artifact of the process, not its focal point.

The absolute goal of vision for ministry is to glorify God. It is more important to have a church of committed followers of Christ than to have a church swelled with numbers of social Christians, nominal Christians or Christians who demonstrate no evidence of growth in their relationship with God. If the vision is truly from God, it is one that will push the church forward toward ends that satisfy Him rather than meet standards that result in hosannas from the world.

MYTH 8

As long as the senior pastor has a sense of vision, it doesn't matter whether the people really know or understand it. They will be swept along by the force of the vision, regardless.

REALITY

Vision has no force, power or impact unless it spreads from the visionary to the visionless.

A mark of a great leader is the ability not only to capture the vision, but also to articulate it and to cause people to embrace it fully. Because vision concerns action, it is imperative that the vision be cast in such a way that people understand and can respond to it. Vision is not to be jealously guarded, a perspective to be protected. For the vision to have impact, it must be a shared vision.

MYTH 9

The best way to capture vision for ministry is to copy the vision articulated by another respected leader.

REALITY

The leader who takes a "me too" approach in defining vision is neither operating on the power of God's leading nor demonstrating a capacity for authentic leadership.

In the same way that one manufacturer cannot mimic the plans and strategies of its competitors and hope to remain viable, a leader cannot find a niche and make a lasting impact by simply copying the vision of other leaders. Every leader has different gifts, talents and resources, and a unique calling. What works for one leader in his or her particular circumstances is not likely to work for another leader who is immersed in an entirely different set of circumstances. Naturally, two leaders in vastly differing circumstances may have the same mission in ministry; however, God is not likely to commit them to the same vision. God is creative and powerful enough to develop a unique and significant vision for every ministry in place today.

MYTH 10

Because of the breadth and challenge that is reflected by God's vision for ministry, vision is likely to make the laity fearful, skeptical and anxious.

REALITY

Vision, when properly articulated, does not make people afraid or doubtful.

Ineffective communication of true vision is often the reason why it fails to attract people to the ministry or renders them powerless for fear of failure. Vision, when properly articulated, has just the opposite effect on people: It increases their confidence, satisfactorily addresses existing concerns and instills a feeling of excitement and anticipation. Contrary to many people's assumptions, a congregation of believers is more likely to become galvanized by a significant and purposeful challenge than to be threatened or divided by it.

MYTH 11

It is reasonable to expect most of the Christian churches in a community to have the same vision for ministry.

REALITY

It would be absolutely unreasonable for churches to have the same visions for ministry within the same marketplace.

What often happens is that a number of churches serving the same geographic area will share a common mission. Most of the churches, not comprehending the distinction between vision and mission, expect their mission statement to do double duty, serving as the vision and mission. Unfortunately, this approach does not work. Those churches are simply attempting to carry out a mission without God's vision.

It would be unreasonable for churches to have the same visions for ministry within the same marketplace. Why? Because God is not redundant, nor does He need to assign the same task to a number of different congregations in the hope that between them the job might be accomplished. It seems reasonable to believe that He allows so many churches to reside in an area because He has a unique plan for each one; the plan is not for those bodies to be competitive but to be complementary in ministry. Each church has been called into existence to reach a different group of people and to have a unique influence on the culture in which it ministers.

MYTH 12

If it is truly God's vision for ministry, capturing that vision will be a simple, quick process.

REALITY

God's vision is not constrained by time.

In some cases, capturing God's vision for ministry requires the kind of intensive wrestling with God that characterized Jacob's wrestling match with God (see Gen. 32:22-32). In other situations, grasping the vision is more closely reflected by Paul's description of the long-distance race, which requires consistency and endurance over a prolonged period (see Phil. 3:13-14).

In certain cases, because of the constant brewing of God's vision in the heart of the leader, when that individual finally concentrates on clarifying and articulating the vision, it comes quickly. But there seems to be a consistent span of time during which God imparts His vision to people or during which visionary leaders are able to grasp that vision. The fact that a vision for ministry is determined in a short burst of energy is no more a sign that it is complete or from God than the assumption that one who has spent months seeking that vision has finally gleaned it. God's vision is not constrained by time; it is determined by our receptiveness and level of preparation to receive His insight.

MYTH 13

To develop vision, a pastor could identify several visionary business leaders and follow the same steps they had taken.

REALITY

Church leaders cannot blindly follow the path charted by people who operate on the basis of a different worldview.

Sadly, it seems true that you would more likely find visionary leaders in the business community than among the ranks of church leaders. However, there is some danger in following the paths charted by secular leaders when it comes to developing vision. First, business leaders seek to satisfy a different bottom-line objective (i.e., financial profits, not saved souls). Second, business leaders rely upon a different source for their guidance and insight (i.e., self, not God). While much understanding can be gained from studying the procedures and perspectives of visionary corporate leaders, church leaders should not blindly follow the path charted by people who operate on the basis of a different worldview or set of goals.

MYTH 14

Because vision is imparted by God to the pastor, other people have no role in the development of vision, only in its implementation.

REALITY

Other godly individuals are needed as a sounding board to evaluate the vision at various points in its development.

While God imparts the vision to the leader, He works through a variety of people and circumstances to enlarge the scope and perspective of the leader. People play a critical role in the development of vision, although it is not a committee-based activity. Other godly individuals are needed as a sounding board (e.g., counselors) to evaluate the vision at various points in its development. Other people can be instrumental in providing the pastor with important information to be used in gaining a context for understanding how God wants the church to move forward. The pastor is the point person and central figure in the process, but capturing God's vision for ministry is certainly not a solitary process.

MYTH 15

The best way to communicate vision is to develop a catchy slogan that people will remember.

REALITY

Too much emphasis upon a slogan can be detrimental.

A slogan is one means of effectively communicating the essence of the vision so that people have a shorthand way of recalling it. However, it is important not to confuse a slogan that encapsulates the heart of the vision with the actual vision itself. In many cases, slogans prove to be more harmful than useful because they trivialize the vision. Rather than capture the totality of the vision-in all its fullness, with all its nuancessome people focus solely upon the content communicated through the slogan and thus limit the potential of the ministry.

MYTH 16

Sometimes God's vision for the future of a struggling congregation simply calls for the church to stabilize by maintaining its current position rather than to pursue growth aggressively.

REALITY

Encouraging people to pledge themselves to survival is an admission of defeat.

A declaration that admonishes people to hold the line as a means of facilitating effective ministry is not a vision statement but a death warrant. Vision is a creative, ongoing progress. It emphasizes aggressive futuristic thinking and action.

MYTH 17

If it takes too long to develop, the result probably is not true vision.

REALITY

God may take more pleasure in our attempt to know His mind than in our eventual ability to capture that insight.

God does not place timetables on how quickly He expects us to capture His vision. In fact, He may be more pleased with our attempt to know His mind than in our eventual ability to capture that insight. The key is that we develop a lifestyle characterized by the vision-capturing process — that is, a life in which He is preeminent, in which our desires are to know and please Him and our activities center around our relationship with Him. While time is of the essence because we do not know how long we have to reach a dying, sinful world with the gospel, we also know that He delights in the time we spend talking with Him and serving Him. Our only guarantee in the vision-development process is that He will impart His vision for our ministry to us. The guarantee does not come with a schedule attached.

MYTH 18

It is reasonable to expect a denomination to dictate the vision for ministry to each of its member churches, leaving the development of strategy and implementation up to the church's creative process.

REALITY

If a vision for individual churches is mandated from the denominational level, it assumes that the pastor of a church is not a leader but simply a manager.

This myth is a wholly unreasonable approach to capturing God's vision for ministry. The leader of a given denomination must possess God's vision for the ministry of the denomination. However, that vision will likely differ in significant ways from the grassroots realities of the vision for any given congregation. If a denomination were to mandate a vision for each church, this assumes that the pastor of a church is not truly a leader but simply a manager. It also assumes that God has somehow determined that each church in the denomination is facing identical societal circumstances and has equivalent material and human resources. God is certainly capable of doing that, but to my knowledge, such conditions have never actually existed. It is reasonable to expect a denomination to identify a broadly accepted statement of mission for ministry.

MYTH 19

A church's vision needs to be re-created every couple of years.

REALITY

Vision usually outlasts the visionary.

Interestingly, when God imparts His vision for a church's ministry, the vision often outlasts the visionary. In other words, His vision is long lasting; it is not something that will change frequently. If a church were to change its vision every two or three years, the result would be constant chaos. As soon as the congregation reached a point at which people and systems were in place to make things happen in response to the vision, it would be time to turn things upside down again. Understand that the strategy and tactics related to the vision will change regularly, but the vision itself is not likely to shift much, if at all, over time.

MYTH 20

If a pastor simply loves the Lord and does the things described in the Bible as the qualities of a good leader — teaching, preaching, praying, modeling forgiveness and love and so forth — the church will grow, vision or no vision.

REALITY

Effective leaders must be visionaries.

The qualities outlined in passages such as 1 Timothy 3 and in Paul's epistle to Titus are absolutely necessary qualities for leaders. And so is God's vision for ministry. While the Bible never directly refers to this insight with the terminology we are using, it is packed with references and inferences to the necessity of operating on the basis of such insight. Consider, for example, the foundation for the words and actions in passages such as Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5-6; 24:5-6 and 29:18; John 16:13-14; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 12:1; Ephesians 5:17 and 6:6; and Colossians 1:9-10.

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George Barna is the directing leader of the Barna Research Group and a best-selling author.

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From The Power of Vision, © 2003 by George Barna. Published by Regal Books, www.regalbooks.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.