No focus—the people perish!
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “the act of concentrating interest or activity on something.” The MacMillan Dictionary defines it as “the particular attention paid to something.” Webster’s Dictionary defines it as a “state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding.” Have you guessed what I’m describing?
It’s the definition of the word Focus.
The Bible says: “Where there is no focus, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). Hmmm… not quite. The word we’re looking for is really “vision”, not “focus”, and this verse is not actually talking about the importance of a church, or association of churches, having a Vision Statement. The ESV translation actually hits closer to the mark, saying: “Where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint.” “Vision” here is referring to special revelation. The principle is that apart from following God’s Word, society will quickly dissolve into moral chaos.
However, I think it’s also accurate to say that whenever the Church does not focus on what God says is true and right, then its effectiveness in mission perishes.