Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law (Proverbs 29:18).

I remember a different translation of this verse becoming very popular in the United States during the 1990s.  It was in conjunction with the rise in popularity of mega-churches led by CEO-style pastors serving as figureheads and visionaries.  They said, "Without vision, the people perish."  The visionary leader was, presumably, essential for rallying people to a bigger cause, a greater good -- and without it the people would languish and, yes, perish.

Then the translation of that phrase from the Proverbs turned out to be less clear-cut as originally thought.

I, for one, am glad for the NIV's translation of Proverbs 29:18:  "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint."  This is not because I have anything against mega-churches or CEO-style visionary pastors (as a matter of fact, I genuinely believe that God has used -- and is using -- these styles of ministry in incredible ways).  I'm just not one of them.  My personal style of leadership and ministry tends to rely more on individual- or small-group-interactions -- more on the belief in the power and potential of the Average Joe.  My personal experience has been that God works most powerfully when ordinary people come into contact with the God of the Universe and find themselves filled with the Holy Spirit, supernaturally-empowered for extraordinary activity in the world (like we read about in the book of Acts).  So this is where it's so cool to see that there's room for this philosophy of life and leadership in Proverbs 29:18 as well.

See, the way I read this verse hinges heavily on the concept of revelation.  Individual interaction with God -- a personal sense of revelation, if you will -- is essential for the life of faith.  In the end, faith doesn't get very far when it's motivated solely by tradition, or by rule-keeping legalism, or by logic.  No, it has to start with revelation.  But where this is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.  They cannot keep up with the charade of faith or religion if there is no internal conviction.

Fortunately, we have a God who is ready and waiting to reveal himself to us -- to provide us with this critical catalyst of revelation.  He's is ready and waiting to reveal himself to us, if we earnestly seek him.  In the Book of Revelation (pun unintended!), chapter 3, verses 19 and 20, it says, "Be earnest and repent!  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."  So if you're looking for a sense of revelation, all you have to do is ask for it.  Just look for it.  The Bible is a great place to start.