When Visions Make A Difference
- Don Roe
- Oct 19, 2008
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
During the past year your Church Council has been reflecting on our church’s ministry. Over the past year some of you participated on one or both of the “church visioning retreats” which were led by Rev. Darrell McGowan, Senior Pastor at First Christian Church. What visions of Fullerton First United Methodist Church do we hold now? First, I would like to identify some of the visions which have been expressed; and then, I wish to reflect on the vows that we take when we join the church. In doing that, I would like to ask if there is any connection between the hopes for our church which have been expressed and the vows many of us have taken in uniting with the church. Are our visions for Fullerton First United Methodist Church in reality possibilities for which we are willing to assume some responsibility? Are these visions responsibilities which we are prepared to act? Visions and vows, are there any connections between the two?
It might be helpful to put this matter of visions and vows in a biblical perspective. In the Bible there are numerous instances in which someone experienced a vision of some sort, a vision of what might be. In the Bible, the lifting of the vision is almost invariably accompanied by a call to responsible action. It is also accompanied by the taking on a pledge of good faith. Isaiah’s vision of the holy and redeeming God is followed by a question: “Whom shall I send and who go for us?” Then Isaiah’s answer follows: “Here am I, send me.” Jesus lifted the wonderful vision of the Kingdom of God and he made that vision the center of his whole ministry. The reign of God is present in the hearts and the relationships of human beings. Then he called his followers to respond to that vision. He says, “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who doeth the will of my Father.”
Paul told of his experience on the Damacus Road, calling him to a changed life. He said, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” Certainly Paul was not disobedient. In response to that calling vision on the Damascus Road he lifted in his preaching the vision of a new life. He talked about the new being and new creation when he wrote, “He that is in Christ is a new creation.” Paul went on to link that vision of the new creation with this beautiful affirmation; “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gives us the ministry of reconciliation.” He also affirmed, “We are ambassadors for Christ. God is making his appeal through us.” Paul believed that a true vision is something to be acted on. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews called early Christians to stand forthrightly for their faith in the face of threatened persecution. He lifted the vision of a long line of persons who had endured all sorts of persecutions for their faith; and then, the author said: “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and run with perseverance the race that is set before us. Looking to Jesus the pioneer and the perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross.” Visions and vows, visions and
commitments – that is the biblical perspective.
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