robsingleton.net

24 March 2007

Dueling Visions

It sounds like an old western, but I assure you, it’s more like a modern day slasher film.

My last post generated a little bit of heated discussion (very little — heated. A lot of good, actually) and whenever that happens I take an honest second look at my post and see of there may be something legitimate in there that can cause misunderstanding or if it’s just the nay-sayers practicing their unique gifts of discouragement and disunification.

Most of the time it’s the gift practitioners — nearly always, actually. So, I normally practice the ancient art of deletism — a very effective and thorough, problem solving skill.

Occasionally, however, there ends up being some value tucked deep within even the nastiest, most sarcastic of comments. Fortunately I speak fluent sarcasteeze and usually make the right call regarding anonymous snipers.

But, occasionally, I’m just not sure.

So, when in doubt…

One person wrote that I apparently thought I was the only person God could speak to when I refereed to “owning the vision of Southbrook Church.”

Should I?

I mean, the comment was kind of a ‘no brainer, right?

Few rational thinking people would really make the leap from me being serious about staying true to the vision God gave me for His church at Southbrook, to, I am the only one God speaks to, EVER about ANYTHING.

Few indeed.

By few, I mean ONE.

But, them’s serious charges, so, in the immortal words of Bugs Bunny, “I’ll probably hate myself in the morning for this,” but here goes.

Leadership Principles we learn from Moses: (for more on this check out posts referring to the “Unleash” conference at Newspring Church).

1. Moses simply listened and obeyed.

“Leadership is as easy as listening to God.”

“Time with God is the most important thing I do. Period.”

“In Scripture, God never gave the vision to a committee. Your pastor is accountable to God.” (Heb. 13:17)

“A personnel committee in a church? That’s of Satan.” (<— supposed to be a joke…sort of.)

2. Moses didn’t compromise the vision.

“Powerful people in your church will always try to alter your vision.”

“As a pastor, I can’t please everyone. I’d rather offend the people in the church seats than offend God (who gave us our vision). “

“We always talk about closing the ‘back door’ of a church. If the church is a body…then you need a back door. Maybe the problem with many churches today is that they’re constipated.”

“God will test every senior pastor with people who have money. What will be revealed is whether the pastor is a prostitute or a prophet.”

3. Moses didn’t try to do it all. (Numbers 11:14-17)

“Surround yourself with godly people.

“The best place to find people to staff your church is with the people already in your church–they own the vision.” personal note: unless, of course, Tony Morgan is available (I guess there are exceptions to every rule).

4. Moses was willing to attempt the impossible.

“One of our biggest mistakes: we want a vision that’s safe.”

“What are you asking God for that’s big?”

“If it’s God’s will, it’s God’s bill.” (God isn’t limited by a lack of $$$). “Don’t use lack of money or resources as an excuse.” Deut. 6:10-12

“Ask God for big things!” This means not asking for stuff that are my big things…he’s talking about the things God lays on your heart.

There you have it. That’s what I mean when I say that I own the vision.

You can’t have dueling visions.

Eventually one will win out.

At Southbrook, it’s God’s

And He gave that vision to me.

I own it.

I will fight for it.

And I will win.

Pretty clear?

Cool.

Next post I’ll talk about the fact that NO VISION can be fulfilled through just one person. God uses a team.

A team that’s unified.

Around the vision.

that I own.

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4 Comments currently posted.

Heather Hoag says:

“God will test every senior pastor with people who have money. What will be revealed is whether the pastor is a prostitute or a prophet.”
wow…that is a scarey thought. Glad i am not a sr pastor.
Own the vision, boy! Just remember to tell me what it is from time to time…oh wait..you already do that.
Keep running after God, Rob. I’ll try to keep up.

B.A. says:

Rob, Keep right on preaching it. The ones who have an issue with the senior pastor being the sole source of vision are the ones who want to be the heads of the committees. Rick Warren talks about a successful business man who came to him and said “I want to be the head of the elder board. Rick told him, I’m sorry we don’t do that. The man chose to go down the road to a little church where he could have his position. Many of the naysayers would rather be a big fish in a small pond than one of the movers where God is moving.

When I first became an intern pastor my senior pastor at the time would always tell us , “If it is important to you to have the title of Pastor, then you are doing it for the wrong reason.” In other words, if you aren’t willing to do the work of God from the pews without the title, then you aren’t doing it for God. This is true at all levels of the ministry, leadership in ministry doesn’t mean stadning up on the stage, it means being the first one to charge into battle at the front of God’s Army. Be the one who gives willingly to the point of scrifice of their time, resources, knowledge, talents, and skills. And remeber the glory is in Heaven.

I do not admire you for the attacks you must withstand from all sides. You know full the vision and mission God has planted for this ministry and you do an awesome job of keeping the ministry moving. You aren’t the warm fuzzy pastor that some prefer, you are a leader. You have surrounded yourself with others who are sold out on your vision and aren’t afraid to tell those who want to pursue their own vision taht they might fit in abetter at another ministry that is more in line with their personal vision.

I can’t imagine trying to keep all the “churched” people we have happy while trying to motivate them to fulfill the vision to spread the Good news. Music is a prime example. If you push to be too contemporary and relevant then the “worshippers” get angry. Too many forget that true Worship is not the act of standing around singing the songs from 91.9FM, it is serving God, giving of yourself in ministry to the point of sacrifice. We strive to be relevent in the lives of believers and unbelievers alike, but the Sunday service is NOT to “feed” the believer. It is the door to our church for the unbeliever.

Always keep the vision foremost. Pursue wholeheartedly the calling God has placed on your life. Proclaim the Vision and we will follow.

anonymous says:

i was doing a little math the other day because much dissention has come from the discussion of money. lets all think back to the series on giving last fall. lets remember how eager we were to obey. so…. back to my math. if we have 2000 income earners (heads of household, or 2 working parents, or whatever, but 2000 of them) that call southbrook home….. lets assume the average salary is $35,000 (probably a safe assumption based on where we live) and everyone (gasp) tithes for one weekend… the total would be $96,923….. raise the assumed average salary to $50,000 and the tithe becomes $138,461…. this would relieve alot of pressure from our leaders having to run start- up offerings, capital campaigns, etc. a little bit of sacrafice (thats a euphamism for obeidience) on our part week in and week out and we can watch 300 people being baptized at once this time next year. lets be a family on this one…..