Casting Vision

The term “vision casting” has been with us for many years. I’ve read, as I’m sure you have, articles or books on what it is and how to do it. But today I received, at least for me, a new revelation on the matter.

Most of what I have read centers on the communicating of the vision by the person or group that has the vision. “Being able to cast vision” is one of the top priorities listed by many congregations in search of a new pastor or ministry leader. The communication of the vision is important but I believe the other side of this coin is just as, or even more, important. You may see my revelation as a simple play on words, but hear me through on this.

One of the most important parts of any endeavor is having the right people in the right places to accomplish the task. It is no less important when it comes to the building of the church. Last week I pulled out a jig saw puzzle from one of the cabinets I was rooting through. I am not especially fond of jig saw puzzles but I felt the nudging of the Holy Spirit to set it out on our kitchen table. The puzzle in question was one of a mission style church somewhere in Arizona. Quite a pretty picture, indeed.
   

As I separated the pieces and spread them out, I went for the easy pieces first; the border. I spent several hours looking, moving, and trying to piece together pieces that looked like they would fit correctly with one another. I thought I had it but the puzzle border was lopsided. I looked and found two more pieces with straight edges but couldn’t see where they went. In going over the border again, I saw where I had two pieces that looked like they fit together perfectly. But as I examined it closer I saw it was close, but not a match. So I moved the border, inserted the missing pieces, and all was well. Immediately after this I lost all interest in the puzzle and put it away. The foundation had been laid and my work was complete.

The Holy Spirit reminded me of this today as He spoke to me about casting vision. A television show, movie, play, and yes, even the church, has to be casted correctly. Have you ever said to yourself, “She was the perfect actress for that part.”? God has a perfect part for every member of the body of Christ. I believe it the responsibility of fivefold ministry not only to communicate the vision, but place the pieces together where they fit under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  This is more than a plug and play mentality where any warm body will do when a need arises. It takes time brooding over the board and allowing God to direct the moves and fitting pieces together. Paul talks about this in Ephesians 4.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

(Ephesians 4:11-16 KJV)

The phrase “perfecting of the saints” has several meanings. Properly fitting a ship for the waters it is likely to sail in is one, and the setting of a bone back in place is another. It means equipping, but for what waters. It means placement, but for what venue?

In our churches on Sunday morning everything seems to fit. Our programs are all in place. The greeting committee is at the door. The obligatory coffee and cookies, freshly baked on Saturday night, are set out in artistic display. The worship team has their six song set perfected and ready. The pastor has his 23 minute, three point sermon complete and is ready for the weekly feeding.  Although none of this is bad, I think we know the puzzle is lopsided but we don’t know why. And we aren’t looking for the missing pieces.

May I suggest that the fivefold ministry is the border of the puzzle. All the pieces are there, but the apostle and prophet are set outside while the church settles for a lopsided border. That is not to say that the pastor, teacher, and evangelist are not doing their duty. But the border is not complete. Our churches vary from a onefold to a threefold ministry, but seldom are all five pieces fitted together in unity. How can we expect the puzzle to come together into the beautiful picture it was meant to be with a lopsided border?

The border, although not the whole puzzle, is vital. Its purpose is not to be a restraint or a confining of the other pieces. If executed with proper motives and care, the border is a pattern that allows for all the pieces to work together in harmony, every piece supplying to the whole and not just on Sunday mornings.

Do you know that the church should have more ministry going on between Monday and Saturday than it does on Sundays? Men and women outside the walls of the church building and outside the time restraints of a weekly meeting doing the work of the ministry as they go about their daily lives is what the church is all about. Men and women disciple making one or two others over coffee can be more insightful than the big name teacher in a full auditorium.  People living their faith during a family or community Bar-B-Que can be more effective than a planned evangelistic crusade. Gathering the brokenhearted and outcasts together to participate in positive relationship is a greater pastoral duty than presenting the Sunday message. Feeding a neighbor that needs food speaks a lot more than warm cookies and coffee. And true fivefold ministry will tell you as much.

  Vision casting does have to do with communicating the vision, but even more so with helping the saints discover what their parts are in this drama we call the Christian life.