I was just posting on Facebook and some of those "friend requests" popped up.

As I was clicking through the requests and confirming them, Holy Spirit illuminated a parabolic juxtaposition. He more or less appealed to my heart.

First, I received a request (names changed to protect the innocent and exaggerated for humor and impact) from a man calling himself "Apostle John Smyth, PhD, MDiv."  He was wearing a thousand dollar suit and an icon of the entire earth was imposed on the photo at his right elbow.  Could this have been Atlas himself?  Dunno. 

OK.  It is altogether possible that I am judging and if so Holy Spirit take me to the woodshed of sweet conviction!

My heart response to this person was that I was a bit put off.  How can a schmoe like me be friends with one so titled and important?

How do we relate, The Apostle and I?  Can I approach him directly or is there a protocol? 

I am no good at relating via titles. 

But then up popped "Larry Joe So and So." 

And, my heart response was completely opposite to the one I had toward "The Apostle."

I wanted to KNOW Larry Joe.

In his photo Larry Joe looked like The Everyman.  He looked happy, relaxed, and real.  Real approachable. Larry Joe looks like the kind of guy who is an amazing father and husband--two roles that take a REAL Christ like man.  He had a broad smile and looked like he had an invitation to come over for a backyard Bar-B-Que on the tip of his tongue.  More importantly, there was nothing in his portrayal of himself that was off-putting, official, or intimidating.

Let me tell you---if Larry Joe e-mailed me a prophetic word---he would have my immediate attention.

Chances are very good that 'The Apostle' is as godly and good a man as Larry Joe.

But, and this has been a twinge in my spirit for some time now...  Why put up such walls with such lofty titles?

It all comes down to this for me:  Are we ourselves or are we our titles?

I was talking with an apostolic - functioning friend the other day (who incidentally has Never called himself an Apostle).  We ran through our combined Bible knowledge and tried to come up with an incident in scripture where Jesus introduced anyone---Paul, Peter, John--anyone---by Title.  IT DID NOT HAPPEN!

When Paul spoke of the five-fold ministry gifts I do not believe he was laying out a blueprint for the Christian Corporate ladder or the Pecking order of the Presbytery.  He was expressing that we are gifted with an anointing in the Body.

They are descriptors of the type of servant we are.

My official title--in case you are unaware---is...  "Kelly, Whom Jesus Loves."

If anyone out there has anything better...

Well, keep it.