Simplicity

I am a big fan of simplicity. I was studying the confrontations that Jesus had with the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day over what was lawful on the Sabbath (Mark 2 and 3). The Jewish leaders had made the fourth commandment like our IRS tax code. It's so big and complex that virtually everyone was breaking it either by commission or omission. They developed 40 minus one prohibitions for the Sabbath. This included such actions as tying knots, walking, smoothing and reaping. You would have had to consult the priest to see if it was okay to tie your shoes, put your hair up or rub some suntan lotion on your body at the pool. If you had the gift of healing you couldn't use it unless somebody was about to die. I don't think God meant for following Him to be this complicated.

This is the problem in most organizations and churches. The more they grow the more complex as they get bigger and older. They develop more policies. They get more rules. Complexity grows like kudzu and chokes the life out of it.

That's why I like what I call "the glory principle." It's simple. Whatever you do just do it for the glory of God. If it doesn't glorify God then don't do it. Jesus said it this way in Mark 3:4, "Which is lawful (right/just) on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" That is simple enough.