Wilder seems to think that Dallas created the VIM model (Vision-Intention-Means) as a way of describing the best way to approach spiritual formation. But what Wilder doesn’t seem to understand is that VIM is actually a basic philosophical description of how anything worthwhile gets done. We first need a compelling vision (V) of what is possible; from that vision we make real decisions as we intend (I) to engage in a process that will bring that vision to pass; and finally, we need to employ the appropriate means (M) by which we will realize that vision. Every new endeavor of substance goes through this process, sacred or secular.
Wilder seems to miss this entirely. He says for example, “When Dallas speaks of vision (V), he is not giving a vision but rather naming an active element in transformation” (p.146). Apparently, we are supposed to believe here that a world-class philosopher does not understand vision, or how vision leads us to new possibilities. Yet anyone who reads Dallas’ works with an open mind can see that every page casts a vision for a more abundant life with God! And it is an extremely compelling vision at that!
Wilder misses all that and goes on to define “vision” as something that is worked out in the slow-track of the brain (left hemisphere). He tries to offer evidence for this by noting how people often chase after “vision statements” in ways that lead to self-effort and create burnout — as if that was what Dallas was talking about. And this is supposed to convince us that Dallas started in the wrong place and we need to fix that.
He suggests instead that this left-brain vision should be placed at the end of our process, not the beginning, so that we can review our methodology to see if it’s working. In truth, what Wilder is talking about here is hindsight. Well, hindsight is great, but it’s not vision, and it’s not what Dallas wrote about when he used the word, Vision.
Perhaps Wilder would like to challenge Jesus as well, given that He put great emphasis on the importance of Vision: “Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness” (Lk.11:34). Everything about how we navigate life depends heavily on what lenses we use to look at the unseen realm and ultimate reality. And one of the main reasons why much of the Western Church is floundering is because it is using a poor set of lenses. That is why Dallas talked so much about making sure we have the vision that Jesus set before us.
VIM is an incredibly dense description of how we accomplish anything meaningful in life. If our vision is good, we may be blessed to see good come of our intention and means. If our vision is cloudy or evil, we can expect to produce a great deal of rotten fruit. To begin without giving careful thought to our vision is to take a blind leap or follow our gut instincts.
Wilder himself is casting his own vision of how things work; that is why he wrote this book. How Wilder can cast a vision and write a book about it, but say that Dallas’ vision is not really a vision reveals a rather significant blind spot in Wilder’s own comprehension of this whole matter. The truth is, you cannot begin without vision (even if that vision is something as simple as, “We have no idea where we are going, but maybe we can figure this out via trial and error.”).
Updated 8-9-22.