Sanctioned by God

Have you noticed the increasing frequency with which advertisers seek to gain legitimacy by being the "Official _____ of Something"? The official camera of the Olympics, of the NFL, of Life; the official drink of NASCAR; the official candy bar of Wes Welker (Butterfingers)...on and on it goes. It must work or advertisers would have moved on by now. In fact, our society seems to search out endorsements more than ever. We check Yelp before we eat or Angie's List before we buy a service; we earn "certifications" from an ever-increasing number of boards. It's getting to the point where some folks have more letters trailing their name than they have name! Even our children are getting into the act. When I was young, baseball in the street was an everyday occurrence in neighborhoods across the land. "Car!"...Who didn't know that call and that it meant you needed to move to the side of the road so someone could pass. Sure, we played Little League ball, too, but that was only a couple times a week, counting practice...and that wasn't enough. But over the years, baseball, or any other sport played in the neighborhood streets, has just about disappeared...replaced by the Official Sport of Kids - Organized Activities.

As we have grown accustomed to endorsements, there seems to be a growing reluctance to do things that are unsanctioned. My wife works with a farm that rescues horses and teaches children farm and barn management in a faith-based atmosphere. Occasionally, they make requests for donations, usually building materials, to complete the various projects that are necessary on a farm. Although the program is not for profit, they have not jumped through all the hoops required to receive 501 c3 certification. Some donors are reluctant or refuse to donate without the certification; some citing tax purposes, other's citing a lack or trust (i.e., no "Seal of Approval").

I have found a similar response from some believers as it pertains to our Simple Church. Without a denominational affiliation, there seems to be a perception that our fellowship lacks a "Seal of Approval". Some liken it to a bible study...asking if we intend to attend a "real" church on Sunday mornings. I take no offense, really, because there's a certain part of me that understands exactly where they're coming from. The push-back comes both from the outside and from within myself as years of programming have their effect. But Father has reminded me that "For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them." (Matthew 18:20 NIV). Imagine that! Sanctioned by God! What higher "Seal of Approval" could we receive? Even more exciting is that we have that same sanctioning as we are lead by the Holy Spirit to do the things He has for us to do. Wait...what? I don't have to have the approval of the Men's Ministry at First Baptist to be a dad to the fatherless? I can just come in the name of Jesus and minister to inmates at the county lockup? Crazy!

As Ileen and I have moved along on our journey into Simple Church, we have realized that we have an amazing amount of freedom in Jesus. It is hard to actually wrap our heads around it sometimes; we find ourselves voluntarily returning to our "cell" as years of doing church the traditional way influence much of our thought processes about what's "right" or "wrong". Fortunately, the guilt we feel as we put church traditions behind us is more than replaced with joy and anticipation as we feel like we are truly on the "front lines"...receiving instructions directly from Father, being lead by his Spirit, engaging believers and the lost alike with more depth than we imagined possible.

How about that? Simple Church. An official church of God. Cool, huh?