As we step into the year 2011,
one question we need to ask is "Where are we heading?"
In order to answer the question, we need to have a clear sense of direction.
Unfortunately too often we are moving forward through life
unsure of how to respond to the changing situations in world around us.
The problem often is that we have no clear direction of where we are going.
We lack a defined destination. We lack vision.
What do we see as we move into another new year?
As a church where are we going?
Someone said, "In terms of vision and direction
there are 3 different types of churches":
1.
The Under-taking Church – Looking Back The undertaking church is one that is always looking backwards. All that people ever talk about are the "good old days". They miss what is happening today because they are always looking back to yesterday.
Decisions in this kind of church are based on what has worked in the past – if it was good enough for them in days of old then it is good enough for them now. While you can learn from the past, you can't live there. You have to live and adapt to where you are or you will perish. Too many churches today are spending their time and resources lamenting the past when they should be adapting to the future. What has worked in the past may not work in the present because the audience has changed. A church that tries to walk looking backward is bound to fall.
2.
The Care-taking Church - Looking Present
The care-taking church is always concerned with pressing issues. It is so busy and there are so many needs that its focus is on immediate issues. It seems to always be in maintenance mode, just trying to keep its head above the water. Decisions in this kind of church are based on immediate assets. The number one questions is always "do we have the money now to support this"?
A care-taking church is realistic and comfortable. As long as the services are good and the needs are met and the people are happy then all is well. If it isn't broken then don't fix it. The problem is that they walk by sight and not faith.
3.
The Risk-taking church – Looking Future
The risk taking church is always looking forward. They believe that the best is yet to come. They invest all they have today so that they can be all that God wants them to be tomorrow. Risk taking churches seek to be cutting edge. They want to see how God is moving and to use all available resources to make Christ known.
One of the reasons that we don't take risks is fear of failure. However failure is just a part of life and is often a prerequisite to success.
What destroys perspective is our tendency to measure ministry on too small a scale. We lose the wide-angle view because we're riveted on the close-up.
Jesus was a risk taker. He entrusted the salvation of the world to 11 weak and frightened men. Through God's power and vision they changed the world. Instead of looking at the past or trusting in the present they saw God's future church and boldly went forward to make it happen.
For us at CLC, we aspire to be a risk taking church; stepping out into our community to make an impact for Christ. As our theme this year reminds us, we are "Blessed to Be a Blessing".
God is shaking the kingdoms of the earth and the Kingdom of Heaven is forcefully advancing. Don't miss what God is doing – join Him.
Please remember: A vision without a task is a dream; a task without a vision is drudgery; a vision and a task is the hope of the world.
