Where there is no Revelation...

I recall seeing an old, black and white comedy featuring Abbott and Costello doing their famous “Who’s on First” skit. Lou Costello asked Abbott to teach him the names of the player’s on his favorite baseball team, but they couldn’t get passed the first-baseman named “Who”. Whenever Abbott declared that “Who” was on first base, Costello thought he was asking a question… (I guess you had to be there).

Costello was totally lost! Unfortunately, Costello isn’t the only one confused. When Solomon wrote Proverbs 29:18 he was describing an effect much similar to what Costello experienced. Solomon insightfully tells us that people lose their missional direction when they lose touch with Revelation from God. By default, we become disconnected from the foundational moorings that anchor us to the truth of God’s Word and the particulars of our calling. Without a revelation from God, people tend to lose sight of God-given boundaries and values, wandering into places they do not belong and casting off all restraint!

One thing needs to be clear, just like Costello, the people Solomon refers to didn’t have a problem hearing the message, their problem was understanding it. Revelation was more than the Law itself; it refers to the meaning of scripture—the Spirit of the Law. Without a clear grasp of what Abbott was saying—nothing on the field made sense to Costello. I am convinced that hearing from God will answer the ultimate questions of “Who’s on First” by revealing our place in contemporary society. The world we live in makes sense only through careful study of scripture and through a theology that is living and applicable to new and changing situations. A healthy dose of scripture and theology helps to make our ears attentive, first to God, then to the needs of the people we’re called to reach.

I was recently reminded of the tragic results of giving people what they want rather than what they need, it is a recipe for disaster. In order to establish God-ordained boundaries, our preaching and teaching must be biblical. We need a steady diet of God’s Word! Ministers and leaders often run the risk of creating a culture without borders when doctrine is absent. Victory Outreach must have a clear, well defined identity, rooted in scripture and backed up by an informed urban theology. People don’t need gimmicks and “feel-good” messages; people need the gospel! God forbid that pastors and leaders play the game of politics, catering to public sentiment and telling people what they want to hear, rather than offering vision, guidance and truth to those entrusted to their care. Political leaders strive to survive, but biblical leaders strive to thrive.

Jesus commands us to teach people to obey everything he has commanded us (Matt. 28: 20). This is a radically different approach than the “feel good” gospel that is so popular today. This is the pathway to thriving, not just surviving. According to Solomon, the prescription for a well connected and thriving ministry is found in response to a Revelation from God.

Kevin Young
Victory Education and Training Institute