Restrictive practices are part of the worldly infrastructure of business.  Although they claim to help to ensure 'quality', they may also carry a self-seeking motive - promoting the promoters (and those who play their professional game).  This may be a harsh caricature, but are all trade associations, professionals and educationalists totally devoid of self-interest?  Mixed motives are very hard to separate.  It was the disciples' problem too.

The Twelve may still have been suffering from wounded pride because they had recently been unable to cast out a demon (Mark 9:17-18).  Then they found somebody they did not know, driving out demons in the Name of Jesus: apparently successfully.  The trainee apostles’ instinct was to protect the 'Jesus brand' by rebuking the 'unlicensed minister': or were they protecting their own 'chosen' status?  They revealed their motives as they proudly told the Lord that they had forbidden the man to exorcise because he had not been formally appointed.  The disciples thought that had been their previous error.  But their problem was more their pride than the lack of specific authorisation (Mark 9:28-29).  They thought they could serve God on their own initiative, instead of subjecting themselves to His will in prayer.

Jesus did not agree with their harsh assessment of the exorcist; and they were rebuked.  The Lord knew the inner character of the unlicensed minister.  He was humble and trusting in Jesus.  He thought more of Jesus than himself.  He proclaimed Jesus and not himself.  Whereas, the trainee apostles were arguing among themselves as to who would be the greatest (Mark 9:33-35).  Then He taught about the validity of all genuine ministries (which would subsequently be 'licensed' by the Holy Trinity - 1 Corinthians 12:7-11) in which the Name and glory of Jesus is more important than the name or glory of the minister or church.  It was yet another humbling moment, but lovingly tempered by the promise of reward for all those who minister in humility, as Jesus did (Mark 10:42-45).

Many Christian 'ministries' and 'churches' are scattered around the world.  Which does God honour?  Those with true faith and Christ-centred service; despite various eccentricities (Philippians 1:18).  The Lord will reward those who belong to Him, when they serve with a humble heart.  While we rightly protect ministries against false teaching and practice, we are on a slippery slope if our pride uses theological correctness as a mask.  The motives behind what we do for the Lord are totally transparent to Him.   The Lord will sift the wheat from the chaff (Luke 3:17) - He knows those that are His (2 Timothy 2:19) - and He will reward accordingly.  But before that final Day, these verses are to alert us to the danger of proud self-service as we claim to serve the Lord.  They are a fresh reminder to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand, and not 'get out of hand' or take the 'upper hand': then He will lift us up when He chooses (1 Peter 5:6).