The Power Of Vision Attached To A Cause

By Brian Houston

As a movement, vision inspires us, but the Cause moves us forward. When a group of people get behind a vision- be it the vision of a church, a movement, or a business enterprise- that vision brings impetus and life. Just over 12 months ago at the AOG National Conference the executive and I had the opportunity to set fresh vision before the pastors and leaders of our movement. It is extremely encouraging for me to see your willingness and commitment to running toward a common goal, driven by an eternal Cause.
 

The Cause: the reason for our vision

I love hanging around great visionaries because they challenge and inspire me. It is rather like iron sharpening iron, stirring up creativity and innovative ideas. There’s been a lot written and spoken about in terms of vision, destiny and dreams, but it is on the foundation of a cause that vision is birthed.

While it is essential to have vision and to be people of vision, a cause is much more powerful. A continual unfolding revelation of the Cause of Christ will empower any vision and give it purpose. The Bible leaves no ambiguity when it comes to the consequences of not having an unfolding vision. One translation of Proverbs 29:18 puts it this way, “where there is no progressive revelation, the people perish or die.” The same principle of cause and effect applies in our churches, and subsequently, our movement.

When you direct your motivation, thinking, talent, or relationships towards the Cause, you will have a greater effect. The beauty of this is that from it flows vision. You don’t have to contrive or strain to develop vision because it’s founded on the Cause of Christ, which in turn provides all the vision and direction we need.

A vision can be personal, but a cause is bigger than any one person.

People can talk about their vision with excitement and enthusiasm that motivates others, but the reality is that a cause is greater than any one individual or person. I have my personal vision, and our church has its own vision statement, but the Cause of Christ is bigger than one person or one church.

Naturally I am delighted when people understand and catch the vision of our church, but I am aware that it is far more powerful when people get switched on to the Cause of Christ. It is the Cause that will impact and change their lives forever. If our church has the Cause in their spirit, they will automatically partner in our corporate vision, and will live lives overflowing with personal vision.

All the denominations and ministries throughout the world that exalt Jesus Christ exist for the Cause of the King and the Kingdom. I love the diversity within the landscape of the Church, because there is room for different vision and mission statements, but the Cause embraces them all.
 

A vision is something you possess, but a cause possesses you

Jesus was captivated and consumed by the Cause. It affected and directed every aspect of His life. It wasn’t something He possessed, but the Cause possessed Him.

As a teenager in New Zealand, I felt God calling me to spend my life serving Him and building His Church. For the last 35 years, that’s exactly what I have spent my life doing. His Cause fuels my vision and my life. Similarly, many of you have felt the same call and responded by giving your all to doing His will, and consequently the Cause takes hold of you and begins to influence everything you do.
 

You wouldn’t die for a vision, but you will die for a cause

In the days following the demise of the Soviet Union, the attention of the world media was drawn to the little town of Grozny, where a small group of Chechneyan rebels made a stand against the might of the Russian army. They weren’t fighting for a vision; they were fighting to the death for their cause. Similarly, suicide bombers have chosen to give their lives for the sake of their cause. People won’t die for someone else’s vision, but many choose to die for a cause, no matter how violent or misguided it can be. Jesus predicted His death on the cross, saying, “But for this cause, I come to this hour” (John 12:27). It wasn’t vision that gave Jesus the will to die on a cross, rather He gave His life for the Cause.

You may have a fantastic vision for your life, and there may be those who get excited about it, but it’s unlikely they would be willing to die for it. As a church leader, I know that the Cause is far more powerful in the hearts of a congregation than commitment to a vision. It amazes me how willingly those who have a revelation of the King and the Kingdom will lay down their lives for the sake of the Cause.
 

A vision has options, but a cause leaves you with no choice

When Jesus foretold His death to His disciples, He knew there was no other way: “Now my soul is troubled and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour.” [John 12:27]. Similarly, the Apostle Paul spoke about how the love of God compelled him forward, in other words, it left him with no other choice. When your life is gripped by a cause, the options disappear.

If we are simply serving the vision instead of the Cause, there is always an option to opt out or change direction, particularly if the going gets tough or you become discouraged. You can choose to run with a vision, or you can choose to abandon it.

As a pastor of a church, I don’t have a ‘normal’ weekend the way other people do. Hillsong Church has a city-wide network of connect groups, two major worship centres and (at the time of writing this) 13 extension services around Sydney which are all part of the one entity. Our two worship centres are separated by a 35-minute drive and currently we hold six Friday night youth meetings, and 11 weekend church services. Obviously, the leisure of reading the Sunday newspapers over a cappuccino at a beachside café, or the smell of a freshly mown lawn is not a part of my usual Sunday routine, but I never feel like I’m missing out, because I’m doing what I was born to do. As a teenager I realised that to pursue God’s call on my life would mean that Sundays would never be my own. Above anything else, I love serving God and ministering the Word. It is the Cause of Christ that compels me.
 

A vision can be ignored, but you cannot ignore a cause

At some stage, you may have had a Schweppes soft drink to quench your thirst, but you probably didn’t give much thought to the vision of the company. When Bobbie and I were first married, I worked as a sales representative for Schweppes in Auckland, whilst simultaneously volunteering as the youth leader in my local church. When I started in sales, they gave me a huge manual which contained information about the company, its founder, and its mission statement. I was expected to read it and know their vision. I gave my best in the year I worked there (and I appreciated the company car and salary) but I must confess that I already had a vision for my life, and that involved the Cause of Christ.

You may drive through a city and pass many large corporations and businesses. It is likely that most of them will have a mission statement. You may recognise their name or their logo, but it is unlikely you would spend much time thinking about their vision.

The point is that you can ignore someone else’s vision, but you cannot ignore a cause. No matter what you think about terrorist organisations, you cannot pretend they don’t exist. The fact is that they are motivated by a cause, albeit one that you and I (and most of the world’s population) would disagree with, yet it cannot be ignored.

If the Cause of Christ takes hold of your life or your church, those around you will not be able to ignore it either.
 

© Brian Houston 2006 & © Bobbie Houston 2006
Brian’s book 'For This I Was Born' is available here