“When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do safe things, that faithfulness is holding the fort, that playing it safe is safe, that there is any greater privilege than sacrifice, that radical is anything but normal? Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous. Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It’s storming the gates of hell. The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan. The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Christ isn’t radical, it’s normal. It’s time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. It’s time to go all in and all out for the All in All.”
All In — Mark Batterson, Pastor National Community Church, Wash DC.
The term “VUCA” is actually an acronym developed by the U.S. Army War College in the mid-80’s to describe the international environment developing after the Cold War. Drawing on the very credible leadership theories of practitioners such as Warren Bennis, the terms volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity were developed to describe these evolving conditions. As you review the definitions of these words below, it becomes readily apparent that we live in a “VUCA” environment today.
Around 2002 the term VUCA began to take root in other disciplines such as corporate warfare, strategic leadership studies, graduate school curricula, etc. A cursory check on the internet will reveal numerous articles about VUCA from a variety of disciplines and human activity. I recommend that, for a better understanding, you review a couple of these at your leisure.
The efficacy of having a “VUCA” mind-set is all-the-more apparent as we move forward from pandemia and into economic uncertainty and geo-political volatility. As Christian men, we must be prepared to lead and guide others to effectively deal with cultural volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
Leaders can employ what I call “VUCA-2”. To Volatility, the leader must respond with Vision and Virtue Clarity of Vision for the future/demonstrate the moral quality of Virtue; to Uncertainty, respond with Understanding and Unction, understanding of the times and seasons / Responding with Unction, anointing, and spiritual fervor; to Complexity, respond with Courage and Commitment. Courage to face and deal with the issues / Commitment to the Cross of Christ; to Ambiguity, respond with Adaptability and Action. Adaptability in dealing with the challenge of fast-paced changes / Action to resist the advances of evil and the comforts of safety and the risk averse mentality.
Leaders must consistently be alert and identify and out-maneuver this quad-of-adversaries. Do This: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8-9a; “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7; and “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
Barney Barnes, 02-07-22, Promise Keeper’s National Ambassador for the Military and Prisons