Dreams and Visions

It would be a wonderful thing if rebuilding the church of today was as simple as putting one stone upon another as was the case centuries ago when a voice came from a crucifix watching over the ruins told St. Francis to rebuild the church.  The average church member or preacher would quickly declare the church is in good order.  Its buildings are not in ruins, but in pristine condition.  There seems to be nothing to rebuild.  What needs rebuilding or restoring is not seen so clearly.    

At its core the church is a spiritual community centered on Jesus.  This is the truth to which we give lip service, but the practical reality is that the core has shifted from one that is spiritual to one that is physical, from one that is invisible to one that is visible, from a mustard seed mentality of ministry to one that applauds bigger, and from the Biblical source of authority to one that speaks to the common sense values of the secular culture.    

It will be difficult to rebuild what too many think needs no rebuilding.  The great danger in any rebuild of the church is that the builders will simply pick up the old stones, clean them up, and set them in place once again which will only result in something of which Jesus spoke when He talked about new wine being put in old wine skins.  Thinking and planning inside the shadows of the past will likely only take us to what is behind us.  Perhaps, it is truly a time for the young men to step forward with their visions and the old men to share their dreams.  (Acts 2:17)