Know the Mission

Last updated on: June 25, 2014 at 10:52 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

Know the Mission 2014-06-25T22:52:44-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

You work in a place, but you might not know the mission of the place where you work. Most have mission statements, but those generally are trumpeted on placards and websites, but languish unheeded in decision making meetings. Good mission statements in theory do not matter if ignored in practice.

But if you work in a place and know the mission, see it guiding decision making and funding, and believe in that mission, then dedication will cover a multitude of mistakes the organization might make. I have never seen a team fail that put the right people in charge of the right mission with the power to get the job done.

Much of the blame for failure to heed the mission or praise for doing so falls on the leader of the organization. If a leader has one job, then that job is to crystalize the mission and pass it on to the rest of the folks. People will do what it takes for a noble cause, that cannot be bought for money or position.

How can you tell what matters to your leader? You must watch his or her life over time and this is a very good reason to avoid hasty promotion: a youngling might think she wants something, but her life has not yet integrated her desires with her actions. In a crisis, the leader will go to basic beliefs and if those do not match what the organization says, then the what the organizations says does not matter, it will be led in a different direction. Do the core motivations, the emphasis of the leader’s life, match the vision of the organization? A leader must, as Socrates urges, “know himself” and know what he really thinks in order to match his aspirations to the right organization.

Recently, my boss, President Robert Sloan of HBU, gave a sermon that summarized “his big picture.” I have seen his work over the years, before I came here and for the last two years. This is a man, to the extent any man does, who “knows himself.” His mature vision guides our University (under our Board and the Ten Pillars vision) and it is a godly vision that if adopted will be keep us from perishing.

We are called to follow Christ, but godly leaders can teach us how best to do it. If a college is looking for a higher education than they have offered before now, then look for a leader that emphasizes these five areas.

First, the godly leader will believe Scripture is indispensable and authoritative for Christian living and thinking. The godly leader is transformed by an authority outside of himself before leading us to a cause greater than himself. The godly leader knows this: he does not need self-esteem or building up, but redemption.

Second, the godly leader knows that Scripture is a long story, unified with complexity. God is the center of the story and His creation was marred by human sin. We lost our jobs as “gentle care keepers of the created order” and found ourselves in need of salvation. From Abraham, through Israel, in the line of King David there came one faithful Israelite: Jesus Christ. And now we are at the end of the long story, in the last days, where soon creation and humanity will be set free and glorified. While no utopia is possible this side of the City of God, the City of God is surely coming and we can be subjects of King Jesus in that City. If a man is a Christian, then he is being healed to tell the story, to share from his hospital bed the good news that Paradise is coming.

I am on a team that believes: The Church has a work. I am not called to wait patiently for death to set me free, but to be the spiritual house of God now. I am called to be holy, part of the People of God. As a stewards of the gospel, the oracle of God has now been entrust to us: we have a new life to live! President Sloan puts it this way: “We are the Easter lily in the barn yard.” We the forerunners of the Kingdom that is now, but not yet fully revealed.

This Church unites us. In submission to Christ, there is no Jew or Greek, no male or female, no slave or freeman. We are called to bless all the nations of the Earth and invite them to a great feast.

I serve in a place that is sure that: The Work of the Spirit, the life giving Spirit, is present wherever the Gospel is preached. This Gospel is the “power of God” and is present wherever the Gospel is preached. We need not fear the Spirit, despite the excesses of some in His Name, because He always brings us to the more excellent way: the Way of Love. The focus will never be on our giftedness, even when the good gift is from God, but on Love.

My boss knows that to be Christian: We must be a people of Love. We cannot love God without loving our neighbor, hatred subverts the plan of God. “We must love, we must forgive one another,” Sloan explains. This love conquers even memory, which can be the enemy of forgiveness. We do not ignore injustice, we rebuke it, but also are not captivated by memories of that injustice. We must not be angry or bitter and live in forgiveness. Active love is often seen in hospitality, sharing a meal together, as a foretaste of the great meal in the City of God: a party without end. Maranatha!

President Sloan sums up our calling by citing I Thessalonians 3: 11: 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

And so I know where we are going as a University and what we are called to do. My job is to apply, God helping me. Now ask yourself if you wish to become part of such a team? Perhaps you belong at HBU. More likely, you can adopt this vision, this Gospel calling, to your own situation.

Try watching the whole message here.

On Education

Previous Post

June 5, 2014

The Weed Agency: A Review

Next Post

June 30, 2014 Hobby Lobby: Why Traditionalist Will Win Long Term

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as _______, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.

Select your answer to see how you score.

An Offering Sacrificial Lambs Clay Vessels Living Sacrifices

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »