Jump Start # 1343

Acts 15:39-40 “And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.”

  Luke, who wrote Acts, is detailing the travels of Paul, much like a journal. Paul and Barnabas had been traveling and preaching companions throughout the first missionary journey. Now they were ready to embark on a second trip. They were soon to set sail. Barnabas wanted to take Mark, his cousin. On the first journey Mark was with them, at least for part of the trip. He left them and returned home. Paul didn’t want that to happen again. He wanted someone who would be loyal and stay the course, even in difficult times. These were not vacation travels. They were working for the Lord. They were sent out by brethren. They experienced harsh opposition and unpleasant circumstances.

In detailing these events, Luke tells us of a huge disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. It was over Mark. Paul didn’t want him on the trip. Barnabas did. They disagreed. It ended with Paul choosing someone else and leaving. Barnabas took Mark and went a different direction. Paul and Barnabas would not travel together after this. This was a new page and a new direction for Paul. Luke tells us these things so the reader would not question, “What happened to Barnabas?” We know. We also know, on Paul’s last page of Biblical writings, 2 Timothy 4, he sends for Mark, with the statement that he is useful to him. Mark proved himself.

Disagreements, they happen. They happen at home. Mom and Dad disagree. Parents and teenagers disagree. It happens at work. The leaders have a plan and those that have to implement those plans do not believe it will work. There are disagreements. Politicians disagree. Sometimes, often times, progress is stalled because of the deadlock among rivals in the political arena. And now, from this page in Acts, we learn that there are disagreements among God’s people. Here the disagreement surrounded how they viewed another person, Mark. Barnabas wanted to give him another chance. Paul, obviously, didn’t trust him.

There is no indication that Paul and Barnabas’ disagreement led to sinful actions. Nothing in the text would lead us to conclude that one cussed the other out. There is nothing here that would make us think that one shoved the other or that they came to blows. Nothing leads us to think that they screamed and made awful threats toward each other. Nothing makes us think that they trashed each other’s character. Disagreements can be civil. It doesn’t happen very often, but they can. It is also interesting that neither seemed to use their position nor their past in this disagreement. Paul did not pull out the apostle card and force Barnabas to do something he did not believe in. Barnabas did not remind Paul that he had stood up for him in Jerusalem when the brethren didn’t trust him. Those things were not used.

People will disagree. We do not have to declare the start of a war when that happens. We look at this today, and wonder what each party should have done. Maybe Mark changed. Maybe Barnabas saw something that Paul did not. Maybe Paul should have backed down a bit. Or, since this was a mission funded by a congregation, Paul didn’t want to waste money on someone who wouldn’t stay the course. Maybe Barnabas failed to see the big picture. You and I can second guess this all day. We can even conclude which of the two we feel was right in the matter. That is not the intention of this passage. It is not for us to take sides. It is not for us to determine which one was right. This is a historical note that carries spiritual lessons.

Brethren will disagree. We disagree about simple things such as what color to paint the auditorium. We disagree about more important things such as the hiring of a preacher or the appointment of leaders. When our disagreements ignore Biblical principles then the discussion is over. We must follow the Bible. God directs how a church ought to worship, raise money, use the money and fellowship. Ignoring what the Bible says about those things, may and should lead to disagreements. When folks do not want to stand upon the word of God, there will be disagreements and often a separation between brethren. Those things continue to happen. There are those who are always wanting to change things. Some of the changes violate Bible patterns and principles. When that happens, the changers are in the wrong. That often does not stop them. They have an agenda and will push for it, even though it may disregard what the Bible teaches.

But then there are the disagreements that do not violate God’s pattern. There are differences of opinion. Some of these differences can affect the wellbeing and future of a congregation. Should a church go into debt to add on. Conservative minds will drag their feet on that. Others see the need and the great potential. One side believes it will strap the church financially for a long time. The other side sees room for more people and future. Disagreements. These can be very sharp. These can turn ugly. These can result in a separation, like Paul and Barnabas.

I’ve seen many of these disagreements among brethren. It is hard to see the other viewpoint when you are so convinced of your viewpoint. I have seen these disagreements turn mean and ugly and people got hurt because of this. I have seen some never fully recover from these disagreements. Years later, it remains a sore spot and it hard to discuss peaceable.

There is no easy solution other than remembering who we are and what we are trying to accomplish in the big picture. Hurting brethren over a building seems to miss what is most important. Remembering Christ. Remembering that we are to be in submission to one another. Remembering that it’s not my name above the doorway helps us to keep the right perspective. Are there times that brethren must part? Are there times when one must leave? If it is necessary for the sake of your soul and for the peace and unity of the group, one may have to. Now, how he leaves is as important as how he conducts himself in the disagreement. Being passionate about an issue is not reason to be unkind, unChrist like and mean. Likewise, if I feel that I must leave, don’t try to get others to leave with you. Don’t divide the church. Don’t make a mess of things. Don’t burn bridges that years later you wish you can travel across again.

Getting along is hard. It’s hard in a marriage. When God says the two shall become one, figuring out which one is part of the learning of marriage. Attitudes can make it or break it in a discussion and disagreement. Getting along with teenagers is hard. They often don’t want to listen and think that they know better than their parents. Getting along with brethren can be hard. Some want to be the in house detective who is always spying and telling on others. Some always say “no.” It’s the only word that they know. Some run around like chicken little, believing the sky is falling and the church will go bankrupt. Some act as if the church prints money in the basement and they don’t believe in budgets. Oh, the differences that can be found among us.

Paul and Barnabas. One thing that did happen from their disagreement, they continued to preach. Neither one quit. Neither one gave up. They went different directions and at the end of the day, more people were hearing the Gospel. Good came from the disagreement. God’s kingdom grew and was strengthened because now there were four instead of just two out there preaching. Good can happen. These are the things we must keep before us. You never read in your Bible Paul trashing Barnabas nor Barnabas throwing Paul under the bus. You don’t read that, because that didn’t happen. Their disagreement didn’t ruin their friendship.

Older folks must understand that younger people have powerful ideas. They think of things that we older folks never do. Change isn’t always wrong. Younger folks must listen to the voice of experience that age has learned. Older folks have battle scars. They have stories. Their insights and wisdom must be honored. Work together. Work as a team. Work for Christ. That’s the answer.

Paul and Barnabas. This story is placed in our Bibles for a reason. Let us learn those reasons and grow and become better because of that.

Roger