Nathan James Norman
  • Blog
  • Writer
  • Pastor
  • Bookshelf
  • Links
  • Contact

Nathan James Norman

Husband. Father. Pastor.
Storyteller. Reader. Comic Fan.
Slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Orchard Church

Why I Am Not A Vision-Casting Pastor

2/27/2015

4 Comments

 
Picture
I'm not certain when I first came across the doctrine that the pastor of a church must cast vision to his congregation. It may have been in a book I was assigned during seminary. I certainly heard it from a number of pastors I served under. Whenever it was, though, I just accepted it.

It made sense. And successful mega-church pastors said it was important.

They even quoted the Bible to show how it was necessary:
Where there is no vision, the people perish (Pro 29:18a KJV).

Now, I've never been a wonderful "vision caster" to begin with. So, I've never really done much "vision casting" during my fifteen years of ministry (eight years as a pastor). I wish it was because I was super-discerning, but it's not.

I just thought this was an area of growth for me. And then I came across the now infamous Steven Furtick coloring book from Elevation Church.
Picture
Picture
Once in a while it takes someone pushing the heterodox-envelope just enough to snap me awake. And this did it. 

This "church is built on the vision God gave Pastor Steve"! Not so! The church is built on the Lord Jesus Christ. The church is built on the proclamation of the Gospel.
The moment I read this coloring book everything became clear. No matter how good the vision of the pastor, it is far short of the vision already given to the church by our Lord and Master.

The church already has a vision. It's called The Great Commission:
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)

So, what about all those verses about people perishing from lack of vision?
Well, this is a gross abuse of the text. The verse is ripped out of context. It doesn't mean the pastor should give the people his vision. Here's what the whole proverb says in the KJV:
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Pro 29:18 KJV)

A rudimentary understanding of the Hebrew language illuminates this text even more. But without that, a simple survey of other good translations show us what God the Holy Spirit was communicating when he inspired this:
HCSB -Without revelation people run wild, but one who listens to instruction will be happy.

NASB - Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
ESV - Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

This text isn't talking about a pastor or leader casting vision. It's talking about people lacking the prophetic Word of God. Without God's revelation (the Word of God) sin goes unchecked. This is a proverb about the need to hear and understand God's Revelation - The Bible.

Proverbs 29:18a (only the first half) is often conflated with Hosea:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6a HCSB). But once again, the whole verse bears out what God the Holy Spirit was actually communicating: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons. (Hos 4:6 HCSB)

It is about knowing God. And how do we know God? Through his Divine Law. Through his Revelation. Through the Word of God. Through the Bible.

In both of these maligned verses the people are lacking knowledge of God's Law/God's Word. It is destroying them.

So, it's ironic that visionary leaders use these texts to justify gathering people around their vision, which will ultimately hurt the congregation. Because no matter how good the "vision" of the leader is, the Revelation of God (the Bible) is infinitely better.

As a young pastor I spend time in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. I want to better understand what my role as a pastor is. Paul doesn't talk about vision-casting. He talks about being a herald. One who proclaims the message of the Gospel (no innovation needed!):

  • Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and descended from David. This is according to my gospel. (2 Tim 2:8 HCSB)
  • I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. (2 Tim 4:1-2 HCSB)
  • Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the “knowledge” that falsely bears that name. By professing it, some people have deviated from the faith. Grace be with all of you. (1 Tim 6:20-21 HCSB)

Now, I think the local church needs to strategize how they can best fulfill the great commission. But this isn't vision-casting. The vision is always, always, always The Great Commission.

I'm a messenger. A herald. A preacher.
It's my job to proclaim what is written, correctly.

I'm not a vision-caster.
4 Comments

Review: A Commentary on Exodus

2/13/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Summary: Dr. Duane A. Garrett analyzes the entirety of the book of Exodus in the latest volume of the Kregel Exegetical Library.

Review: While I consider myself a theologian, whenever I approach a commentary I first ask "How helpful will this be for sermon preparation?" I have shelves filled with massive tomes of theological data on books of the Bible. Unfortunately, though, scholarly information does not always translate into helpfulness during the daily task of preparing a sermon. Conversely, some commentaries focus so much on the application that they offer little insight to the original meaning of the text.
    A cursory look at Garrett's A Commentary on Exodus initially led me to think this would be a commentary filled with technical data that was so extensive it would be too unwieldy to use as a weekly sermon aid.
    After I began reading it, though, I'm glad to report my first impression was wrong. The introduction in the commentary is incredibly detailed. This is, of course, helpful for scholars, but not for my purposes as a pastor. In the introduction I received more data and understanding on the overall history and development of Egypt and her dynasties. Garrett gave readers an extended look at the dating options for the book. And while these topics are interesting, they can become exhausting.
    Fortunately, the commentary itself is incredibly helpful. The data is laid out in a logical order, which allows the reader to spend time (or skip over) areas of interest. For example, Garrett opens the sections with a translation of the text, complete with extensive footnotes. I can see certain texts might cause me to spend time in those translations. Most often, though, I will skip over them and head to other areas.
    I like Garrett's exegesis style. his sentences are concise, but filled with information. He packs quite a bit of data into a small space. He also rightly exegesis the meaning of the text to the original audience, but then will help New Testament believers understand how this text informs (and transforms) their walk with Christ.
    Dr. Garrett also inserts appropriate excursuses throughout the commentary. I particularly enjoyed the excursus on why the ten plagues were not each a direct attack on specific, individual Egyptian gods (but were collectively an attack on all of Egypt's gods). His handling of the "hardening of Pharaoh's heart" difficulty was also very informing.
    When the time comes to preach through Exodus, I am looking forward to utilizing this wonderful tool.

Rating: 5/5 (I loved it)

Find it at Kregel here.
Find it at Amazon here.


Picture
Cesar Romero likes it!
Note: I received a physical copy of this book for free in exchange for an unbiased review.
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Adoption
    Art
    Axiom
    Beowulf
    Christmas
    Comics
    Drabble
    Flash Fiction
    Foster Care
    Humor
    Infertility
    Interviews
    Memes
    Music
    Politics
    Practical
    Preaching
    Reviews
    Speculative
    Theology
    Tragedy
    Trinity Watch
    Untold Podcast
    Video
    Writing

    Blog Roll

    Albert Mohler
    Breakpoint
    Christian Humanist
    Christian Geek Central
    Critical Press Media
    David N. Alderman
    Doug Geivett

    Good Book Blog
    Living With Cogan
    Open Biola
    Project Rooftop
    Reasonable Faith
    Running Slowly w/ Kids
    Spirit Blade Underground
    Strangers and Aliens
    The Table Podcast
    This Old Farmhouse

    Archives

    August 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012