a beautiful mess

what initially began as a simple response to an interview request has become a nearly week-long journey through various websites, conversations, prayer, and both the first and new covenants/testaments.

as part of a second-round interview process with a local church i was asked to provide a few things: my philosophy of (vocational) ministry, a few mp3′s of conversations/talks, and my vision statement.

i have just revisited my philosophy of vocational ministry – in the form of moonshine, nonetheless! i can burn some mp3′s no problem. but a formal sort of vision “statement” would be new ground to break. not that i haven’t had a “vision” per se. but i have never formulated said vision into a living, breathing, statement of sorts.

and so began a prayer-induced, somewhat critical look into this thing called, ‘a vision statement.’

long story short. i did what any justin heap would do:  i waded in to the deep etymology of vision. of course, it resulted in things like chazown (hebrew), horasis (greek), google goggles (not really, but still, a VERY cool google labs mobile development app) and a general search of where/how this word is used throughout the scriptures.

next was to hit up some of my web-connected local churches i follow and review their vision statements.

and then i just listened…it’s a lot like standing at an overpass on I-40E: a lot of motion, sounds and colors all fighting for your attention: but one thing remains constant: the road beneath. and if one were to look a bit more intensely, one might find what has been there all along: a grey canvas with cracks, grooves, and (dis)coloration: a canvas existing beneath the chaos in perfect quietness, receiving the traffic with a grace all it’s own.

my experience was kind of like that. and what follows is that canvas of constant, with it’s cracks, no doubt – but it’s at least something honest and concrete to begin with – and hopefully – to live with: something that can withstand the traffic of life, so to speak.

first what i came to understand/see: a vision, as understood against the story of scripture, is a specific dream or hope for a specific people, tribe, land, etc. it’s not a goal. it’s not a motto. it’s not even actually a statement, per se. it’s a divine picture.

then what i noticed: a lot of local churches confuse vision with mission. or vision with doctrine. or vision with a slogan. or all of the above. again, it’s not so much a picture for their community and city as much as it is a goal to be achieved or a bullet point to check off – very little conveyance of a dream or a hope or a picture at all – and in some cases, not even really about their community.

but then i saw/heard: a vision “statement” if there is to be one, should exist as an organic response to this question: TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE for this people/community?

selah.

(i wonder if too many people looking to take up the joyous burden of vocational ministry don’t consider this question with the respect it’s due: is it possible that GOD has not given you a vision for/of this people and this community at this time in history? you shouldn’t have to force that vision. it’s a divine picture, which implies that it didn’t come from you! haha.)

so i prayed and ate that question. with a certain amount of tip-toeing into the question, because i recognized that GOD may not have a divine picture to give me for this certain local church. but i was willing to ask the question. (i think we must be willing to ask that question, and even continue asking that question throughout our journey as leaders in the local church.)

but i did see a divine picture, born, yes, out of my research and life experiences, but also given life by the city in which i live, the gospel which i preach, the parables of yeshua specifically, and the last few days of prayer…so, after a few drafts of putting it into words, this is the word-picture, the:

i saw wounded healers and generous thieves serving and loving their neighbors well; where we are literally becoming GOD’s will being done on earth as we are forgiving completely, living vulnerably, and seeking to ruin every one and every thing for anyone other than YHWH. behold, even the very skyline of !@#$%^&* is becoming new!

and finally, i heard a follow up question: in a succinct and incredibly distilled phrase, how does that picture/vision become a reality? and again, these words took shape:

by following hard after and falling madly in love with yeshua.