Separate Ways

(Today's reading - Job 40-42; Acts 15: 22-41)

Yesterday, I told you about how the church remained unified. Today, we look at a time where brothers parted company. Interesting isn't it... same chapter, different results. The disagreement isn't doctrinal or even about a spiritual matter; rather the disagreement is over who to take along on a trip. Take a moment and read...

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15: 36-41)

I appreciate that the nature of the disagreement is fully exposed. It was a "sharp disagreement". It wasn't a little spat, it wasn't a mild disagreement; it was sharp. The words used by each man are not given, but the flavor is there for all to read. We were introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4 as a man who sold a field and gave the proceeds to the apostles to feed and care for the needy. He is called the son of encouragement. Later, when Saul (Paul) comes to Jerusalem to join the Christian movement, he is rejected... until Barnabas takes his side and tells his story. That is the kind of man Barnabas is... caring, kind, generous and trusting. It should not come as a surprise to anyone that he would want to give John Mark another chance to grow in the Lord.

Paul, on the other hand is all about the mission. Mark had abandoned them once before (Acts 13) and the mission is what is important. Why take along a man who had abandoned the mission? I understand both sides of this dispute. They are both right. Can that be? Yep. In the Lord's church, people can disagree on matters of opinion and both be right. Paul and Barnabas had different opinions of John Mark. I have heard people say that this was about God splitting them up to cover twice the territory... but I don't see that here. These two men had a disagreement and went on their way, apart. I don't read that they hated each other or that they wouldn't speak to each other. Both continued to work for the progress of the kingdom and I don't read that they went around talking about each other.

That's how a disagreement over opinion should be handled in the church... agree to disagree and move forward with the mission. Jesus commanded us to "love one another". That's how we are to disagree... love one another! I have failed at this several times in my life and I know I hurt others. For that, I am sorry. I intend to work to restore those relationships in as much as it depends on me. How about you? Any damaged relationships in your past? Let's all get busy and fix them.