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By April J. Buchanan | Religion Columnist

It’s near the end of the year. It’s almost that time. The time for “vision casting” and for you to get on board with whatever the pastor claims God gave him as a vision for that local church. Whether it is stated directly or implicitly, if you don’t get on board with the vision then you are disobeying God.

So, are you now being led by the Word of God or man’s vain imaginations for which he claims God gave him and you therefore must obey? How can you question it? He said God gave him that vision. How can you test it? You are supposed to simply believe him and obey the vision. After all, doesn’t scripture say that where there is no vision the people perish? That doesn’t mean what they claim it means.

Many are burdened by bad theology. In the beginning it may stir much excitement and anticipation. You feel special and like God is really with you. You’re not like “those dead churches” that exposit scripture. No;  you’re special. God gives your pastor new words and new visions just for you. It’s not long before reality sets in and many, even the pastors, forget the vision. On to something new.

At some point, God’s children will weary of the false visions and the false claims of God speaking outside of scripture that lead many astray. They will want to hear God and they will seek out those who preach the Word. Once exposed to the faithful exposition of the Word, they will never be able to go back.

Where people are starving for sound doctrine, you will often find pastors excusing their failure to faithfully exposit scripture, all while they lead many after their false visions and claims of extra-biblical revelation.

Many cannot grow because they are not hearing God’s Word.

“If we are to grow as individual believers and as churches, we must sit under the Word. … Things that are truly alive, grow.” ~ Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

You are not wrong to want and expect to hear God’s Word faithfully exposited; that desire is given you by God who is at work in you!

Be careful of churches that get you connected and invested in building their idea of church that is contrary to the Word of God. What are they building? What kind of growth is it? By what means?

Christ is building His church and He has spoken to us all through His Word! That is the prophetic “vision”; that is the prophetic word more sure. You need not fear those who lead you after their visions and away from God’s Word.

We don’t need an extra-biblical vision for the year, or our own personal word for the year. We have the prophetic word more sure!

Grace and Peace

Soli Deo Gloria