Paul & Barnabas: Dealing with Disagreement
Acts 15:36-41
In my last blog, we reviewed how the church dealt with disagreement through wise leadership. The truth is that as human beings, Christians may not always agree on the best methods, actions, and even personnel for doing ministry together. Sometimes our differences lead to division. That's one reason that we have so many different churches and denominations. We disagree on doctrines, worship styles, organizational systems, etc. As Christians when we disagree, we must not forget that our chief aim in life is to glorify God. There were disagreements in the early church, but they were dealt with and God was glorified.
A Doctrinal Disagreement
In Acts 15:1-21, documents a doctrinal disagreement in the early church over the issue of whether Jesus came as Messiah/Savior for all people or just for Jews. Christians who were formerly Pharisees believed one had to become a Jew first and then a Christian. Other Christians, such as Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, believed that Jesus came for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.
The early church had a meeting in Jerusalem to discuss this issue and concluded based on the evidence in God's word and in the work of his Spirit that Jesus came for everyone. The only request, which the church leaders sent out as a letter, was that non-Jewish converts to Christianity leave behind their association with and practices of pagan worship. "The people read [the letter] and were glad for its encouraging message" (Ac 15:31). The gospel message continued to be proclaimed and God was glorified as people came to faith.
A Personnel Disagreement
Two blogs back we looked at the life of Joseph, also known as Barnabas--son of encouragement. Barnabas and Paul had ministered together for a year in Antioch after Barnabas brought Paul there from Tarsus (cf. Acts 11:25-26). They grew close and were an effective ministry team as recognized by the Church at Antioch. Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the church at Antioch on a missions journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor (i.e., modern Turkey). They took with them John Mark, a young follower/eyewitness of Jesus and a cousin of Barnabas. They proclaimed the gospel in both Jewish synagogues and in the streets from one end of the Island of Cyprus to the other. When they prepared to leave Cyprus to sail for the mainland of Turkey, "John [Mark] left them to return to Jerusalem" (Ac 13:13). We are not sure if John Mark became homesick or left for some other reason, but Paul took note of his departure with disapproval. Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missions journey to Antioch and ". . . stayed there a long time with the disciples" (Ac 14:28). It was during this time that they journeyed to Jerusalem to participate in the conference over the doctrinal disagreement mentioned earlier. Sometime after their return to Antioch from Jerusalem, Paul proposed another missionary trip.
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches (Acts 15:36-41 NIV).
The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas was not over doctrine. It was a personnel matter based on a judgment call by Paul. Barnabas, the encourager, wanted to give John Mark a second chance at missions ministry. Paul did not think that John Mark was ready after the events on Cyprus. To their credit, neither Paul nor Barnabas let the conflict distract them from their respective efforts of spreading the gospel. Gospel missions teams doubled as Paul went out with Silas and Barnabas went out with John Mark. They went different directions with the same message of God's good news in Jesus Christ.
Lessons for Us
When we disagree over doctrine, we must understand the issue and seek guidance from God's word and Spirit. When we disagree over other non-doctrinal matters, we must agree to disagree and focus on glorifying God and not on the disagreement.
Many of us may be a bit drawn to Barnabas when we reflect upon the fact that we too occasionally have needed a second chance. Over the long haul, the decision of Barnabas may have proved best, at least for John Mark. Years later, Paul found the formerly useless Mark “useful,” as revealed in the apostle’s concluding epistle. “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministering” (2 Tim. 4:11). And in Colossians 4:10, Paul commended Mark to the Colossian church and asked them to "welcome him." The disagreement that led Paul and Barnabas to go separate ways in God's work did not destroy the love and respect they had for one another in the Lord. In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul affectionately mentioned Barnabas as being worthy of monetary support in his work of proclaiming the gospel (1 Cor. 9:6). We must not hold grudges over our differences, but must see the best in others and seek the best for them. When we hold grudges, we are putting the focus on self and not on glorifying God.
We will have disagreements, large and small. That is the nature of life and ministry together. We must deal with disagreements when they arise. We must look to God's word and Spirit to show the way and be willing to follow God in spite of our will/preferences. We can disagree agreeably as we keep our focus on glorifying God. We must not hold grudges but seek the best even for those with whom we disagree. What wonderful models and beautiful pictures God has painted for us in the life of the early church even as they faced the reality of disagreement. May we give glory to God in all things, even when we disagree with others.
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