In this troubled world, where does God want us to focus? Peter Sammons considers.
Bare faced rebellion
In this decidedly post-Christian culture, what should be the priorities – indeed the vision – for modern Christians? 2020 Vision emerged in 2016 at the Foundations Anglia Conference. Seven key focal points are suggested, which will become increasingly important in the years ahead: Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29: 18). If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for the battle? (1 Corinthians 14: 8).
If you want to see the 2020 Vision document in full, it is freely downloadable here: http://www.christian-publications-int.com/images/PDF/20-20%20Vision%203.0_2025_Print.pdf
There is in prospect a time yet to come, but possibly now imminent, when the “church” (howsoever defined) will be in outright and bare- faced rebellion against the Holy Spirit.
No doubt some individual Christians are presently in rebellion, simply in their laziness and worldliness rather than in pursuit of their Lord. It may not be so much that they are going out and deliberately committing ‘the seven deadly sins’, as it were. More likely, they are simply so engrossed in this world and so comfortable with it, that they allow their first love to die. Their faith and relationship with Jesus grows cold, and withers. Change may be imperceptible at first, but one day there comes a time when they acknowledge they are no longer believers.
Biblically we are reminded of householders who failed to see the thief coming (Matthew 24: 43), of wedding guests unprepared for their invitation (Matthew 22:8), and yet again of foolish maidens with insufficient oil in their lamps, and so missing the wedding feast (Matthew 25:12). How can Christians avoid these snares? Just what sort of believer are you, or am I? This is a question that each one of us needs to ask ourselves continually. Keep asking!
Detox
For the Christian, three key challenges have recently emerged:
- syncretism (melding with other religions)
- sexual purity (adoption of the world’s standards)
- euthanasia (so-called ‘mercy killings’)
In these three areas the broad institutional “church” issues no clear vision, nor unmistakable trumpet call. Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29: 18). If the trumpeter does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for the battle? (1 Corinthians 14: 8). As the mainstream institutional churches become indistinguishable from the World, should individual believers seek communion with Jesus outside of that institutional context?
The individual believer may have some uncomfortable choices to make in the years ahead. One way to prepare for what lies ahead may be to consciously ‘detox’ from Greek thinking and to try to emulate more closely the Hebraic mindset of our Lord. See the various books of Steve Maltz (Saffron Planet Publishing) in this regard.
2020 Vision
2020 Vision is a helpful lifeline setting out what a true Christian needs to do to prepare themselves to survive either within, or if necessary outside of, an increasingly debased and rebellious ‘institutional church’. Individual believers, then, need to challenge and to prepare themselves if they are to survive the storms ahead. 2020 Vision is a good place to start. It is suggested that this is adopted as a faithful believer’s personal Christian motif in the years ahead.
2020 Vision is freely downloadable here: http://www.christian-publications-int.com/images/PDF/20-20%20Vision%203.0_2025_Print.pdf
Seven clear strands within this vision should, taken together, help strengthen us and is offered as a helpful “contract” that the believer can enter into with – – – – themselves! The Holy Spirit will help you in this if you ask Him (so please do!).
Your local church sadly may not help you in this, so at the end of the day this must be your decision and your responsibility; that is why 2020 Vision can be described as a contract with yourself. Of course no believer has to do this alone, and indeed it would be best if you are able to connect with other concerned believers so you can uphold each other in prayer and in fellowship.
Please turn now to the 2020 Vision document. By all means print it as a document. You might want to keep it in the back of your Bible. Prayerfully and seriously consider these seven core focal points, praying through what they mean to you. They are summarised here:
| Vision # | Vision Description | Key text |
| 1 | disciples of Jesus listening intently to the Shepherd’s voice | John 10: 27 |
| 2 | disciples of Jesus attuned to the scandalous nature of the Gospel message – and sharing it joyously | 1 Corinthians 1: 23 |
| 3 | disciples of Jesus seeking to understand end-time realities whilst witnessing to a real-time world | Acts 1: 7 – 8 |
| 4 | disciples of Jesus at ease with the reality of “one new man” – believing Jew and believing Gentile united in Christ | Ephesians 2: 15 |
| 5 | disciples of Jesus being filled, and re-filled, with Holy Spirit | Romans 8: 9 – 13 |
| 6 | disciples of Jesus praying and working tirelessly for our persecuted brothers and sisters | John 15: 18 – 21 |
| 7 | disciples of Jesus committed to prayer and to the study of the Bible | 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18 |
Explanatory comments and further texts should help you to pray through this, in the 2020 Vision document itself.
Bottom line
What is the bottom line in all this? What precisely is being suggested via 2020 Vision? The vision statement is set out in terms of what a faithful believer will be doing as part of their worship of God in the years ahead. These then will become the hallmarks of a believer who loves their Lord and wants to draw ever closer to Him. This will certainly change ourselves – as individuals – for the better. Indirectly it will change the ‘remnant church’ for the better, as well. But most important, it will refresh our wonder at the gospel message and equip us to share it more clearly and more courageously with the world at large. And we know, don’t we, that this world is in increasingly desperate need.
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Peter Sammons is author of “Last Days and End Times – Making the Connection”, available here: https://christian-publications-int.com/Last_Days_and_End%20Times.html
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