At first hearing, the idea seems to have legs, if not stand on them. People without a vision, presumably in the form of a "vision statement" crafted by "visionary leadership," will be without purpose and fail to achieve their goals. But that’s not what this proverb means or ever meant. Hebrew poetry rhymes with meaning in addition to sound. The parallel thought in this proverb is “but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” “Vision” is in parallel with “law” or better “Torah,” the teaching of God. This, of course, is never quoted, but hey, when you're proof texting, who cares about context?
The proverbial thought is this: A people with no prophetic vision do not keep Torah and so perish miserably. This has nothing to do with vision statements or visionary leaders; it has to do with repentance, faith, and the Word of God. The passage can only be co-opted from the King James. The other translations all agree that “vision” means “prophetic vision,” i.e. a Word of God given to by inspiration to a prophet to speak to the people, calling them to keep Torah.
Where there is no prophecy the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. (RSV)And for those of you who didn’t fall asleep in Hebrew class, here it is straight up:
Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. (ESV)
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. (NIV)
Any pastor or church leader with a “vision” had better be speaking the Word of God and calling people to repentance and faith, or else he is a false prophet and should be ignored. We’ll leave the stoning to death part to the old covenant.
9 comments:
Well done, good and faithful servant. What a great "vision" you've had! ;-) Is this "vision thing" still as prominent as it was, say, in the '80s & '90s? It seemed to me that this "no vision" visioning had sort of waned in recent years in favor of setting ourselves afire...er, I mean "ablaze." :-)
The differences between translations come in pretty handy for our visionaries. Purpose Driven Prooftexters are not only able to rip a verse from its immediate context and then narrow in on one word, they also have a plethora of translations to choose their quotations from.
Rick Warren uses several translations in his Purpose Driven Life to get just the right nuance he is looking for when he rips a verse out of context to use as a prooftext.
Our PPPers might use 'vision' from the KJV now, and few lines later rip some other word out of context from the ESV, NIV, or Message.
Wow--that makes learning those original languages awfully important. Something can get lost in the translation--often times it's God's Word that gets lost in the translation for the cause that one wants to tout.
Should read "PDP"
"Is this "vision thing" still as prominent as it was, say, in the '80s & '90s?"
In my hearing, it has simply become a commonplace among us, even without the intent of sounding this way. For example: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=622
Well said, I have issues with the whole idea of churches having vision, or even mission, statements too. The whole idea smacks of corporate ideas of expansion and self-importance - and that is precisely what I am wanting to get away from on Sunday morning.
This isn’t a direct response to your post but more a response to hoffster’s comment.
We recently had a group of "change agents" within our congregation who drafted a new mission statement, vision statement, and core values which were church growth oriented. This same group also developed and distributed a church survey to our member’s that was slanted towards contemporary “worship” (which our church does not practice) and attempted to water down our catechetical instruction via our Youth Board.
Thanks to various Issues Etc. programs on the church growth movement, how doctrine and practice related to one another, and the purpose driven life/church, a core group of Elders was able to identify what this group was attempting to do and educate the others. [I would be remiss not to mention that our Senior Pastor also clearly saw what the ultimate plan of the “change agents” was.]
Since the committee recommending the mission, vision and core values reported to the Board of Elders, we (the Elders) were able to turn this around and actually put on paper what I hope you view as a confessional Lutheran response to the challenge of drafting mission statements, vision statements and core values for a church.
The following was the final product approved by our Voter’s Assembly last year:
Mission Statement: “To be Faithful in our proclamation of the Gospel, to the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, and to the administration of the Sacraments.”
Vision Statement: “Reaching and keeping souls for Christ, through the power of the Gospel.”
Core Values
1. Christ-Centered, Cross-Focused:
The Cross is our Theology - we make our journey as baptized children of God who have already been united to Christ the crucified in whom we live and serve in His Church
2. Confessional:
Demonstrating our confession of Christ through all our individual and congregational activities.
3. Sacramental:
Affirming that faithful Word and Sacrament ministry always celebrates our forgiveness, life and salvation in Christ.
4. Faithful Disciples:
Trusting that our Lord will deepen our faith, heighten our desire to participate and make disciples through the message of the Gospel.
5. Compassionate:
Embodying our desire to care for and serve one another and all people (family, congregation, community, country, all nations) in the love and compassion of our Lord.
6. Liturgical Worship:
Acknowledging that the liturgy confesses the faith of the scripture in a form which engages the heart, mind, body, and soul.
From my perspective mission statements, vision statements, and core values can also work to our (confessional/orthodox Lutheran) advantage. I would be interested in any thoughts you may have?
Jeremiah talks about the visions of the false prophets in chapter 23:
Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. (verse 16, etc.)
Lord save us from the visions of mens hearts.
I would avoid the use of this language even, and especially, in the confessional cause. The only "agent of change" is the Triune God who works metanoia through the Word.
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