WELCOME Have you ever disagreed with someone? Is there ever disagreement in the workplace between employees or the boss and the employees? Have you and your spouse ever disagreed? Parents have you and your children ever disagreed? Not only is there disagreement in the home and in the work place, but in every place, you can think of! And yes, disagreements even happen in the church!
Disagreements are going to happen. It’s human nature to disagree with one another at times because were DIFFERENT PEOPLE! We are made out of the same stuff, dirt, but we are different people: We were raised different, have different backgrounds, different interests, different levels of spiritual maturity, different attitudes, PERSONALITIES and different ways of thinking.
So, because we are different this means we will not see eye-to-eye on everything in life! We will disagree!
Acts 15:37-38 Now Barnabas was DETERMINED to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul INSISTED that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. NKJV
We have here a sharp contention between two disciples of Jesus. The center of the disagreement: John Mark.
Acts 13:13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. MAP
John Mark had been tried in trying circumstances, and he failed; Why? The bible absolutely does not tell us. That’s why Paul, found it difficult to trust him again.
Barnabus was DETERMINED to take John Mark and he wasn’t giving in. Paul would not agree and INSISTED because he had deserted them that he could not go. (A)
They finally agree to disagree and separate from each other, Barnabas took John Mark, and sailed to Cyprus: Paul took Silas, and went into Syria. (WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO LEARN FROM THIS)
- Personality Clashes Will Arise Between Christians Who Share The Same Basic Theology.
Paul and Barnabas had just come from the Jerusalem Council, where the core issue of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone had been affirmed. Both men firmly agreed about this, but here their personalities clashed over a practical matter of ministry, whether to take Mark along on the second journey.
It is worth noting how much trouble can spring from or find its roots from unfaithfulness on someone’s part.
- Personality Clashes Will Arise Between Christians Who Are Both Godly And Committed To The Cause Of Christ.
Paul and Barnabas were not new believers. Both men had walked with God for years. They were both fully committed to doing the will of God, no matter what the cost. They had risked their lives together for the sake of Christ (15:26), and yet they clashed.
- Personality Clashes Will Arise Between Christians Who Have Served Together For Years In The Cause Of Christ.
Paul and Barnabas had a long history of serving together. It was Barnabas who had gone to Paul and listened to his testimony when every Apostle/Leader in Jerusalem was holding Paul at arm’s length.
It was Barnabas who went to Tarsus to look for Paul and brought him back to labor with him in the ministry at Antioch. These two men had been set apart by the Holy Spirit and commissioned together to go out on the first missionary journey.
This disagreement erupted out of Godly concern to revisit the churches that they had seen God establish on that first journey, to see how they were doing in the Lord. Both men had a heart for the well-being of the churches. And yet these two co-labors for many years in the cause of Christ, have a sharp disagreement.
They both had the same end goal, they just disagreed on how to achieve that goal. So, what we have here is: Christians who share the same theology, who are Spiritually mature, Godly and committed, who have served together for years. Yet, none of that erases the personality differences that can lead to strong disagreements.
Let us all learn a valuable lesson from this event. We are meant to be different from each other. God works through those differences to achieve his will in the lives of others. There are times when these differences will cause conflict among us.
Conflict is a necessary part of the learning process that we all will go through in our lives. Yet we must never allow conflict to defeat the will of God in our lives.
The question always comes up, “Who was right, who was wrong?” Since Luke, who was obviously close to Paul, did not blame Paul or Barnabas, I want to be careful here.
In understanding other parts of Scripture, I think I can say that both men were right, but also, both men were wrong. Paul was right in that he was a rugged pioneer, venturing bravely into enemy strongholds, and he didn’t need someone on his team who would run in the heat of the battle. He needed committed warriors who would not flinch in the face of hardship and adversity. Mark had not proven himself to be such a man.
Barnabas was right in that he saw the undeveloped potential in John Mark, and he wanted to extend God’s grace and encourage this young man in spite of his earlier failure in deserting the cause.
History proved Barnabus right, listen to what Paul told the Colossian church: Colossians 4:10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
In Pauls final imprisonment, Paul told Timothy this: 2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. So, Barnabas’ efforts to reclaim Mark for the cause of Christ paid off.
Whatever John Marks mistakes, I’m happy to report that he was eventually reconciled to Paul and became quite helpful in his ministry. There is a clear lesson here that both personal failure and fractured relationships are redeemable in Christian ministry.
God also used Mark to author the Book of Mark in order to ensure Peter’s words would not be lost. History tells us Mark founded the church in Alexandria.
Silas who the bible calls a leader among believers in Vs22 and a prophet in Vs32. Silas became an important part of Paul’s team in doing the work of the ministry. He’s was with Paul in Corinth as well as when Paul wrote 1 & 2 Thess.
Silas also wrote out one of Peter’s letters: 1 Peter 5:12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
Paul and Barnabas both loved God with all their hearts and were called according to God’s purpose. And because of that God worked all things together for their good. Romans 8:28 “All things work together for good, for those that love God and are called according to His purpose.” (How did it work for good?)
- A deserter was reclaimed and set on fire for the Kingdom: Mark.
- A new disciple and a great minister was born: Silas.
- Two mission teams instead of one were sent out. Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus, the native country of Barnabas. Paul and Silas went into Syria and Cilicia, the native country of Paul.
When we face a disagreement with another Christian, as we surely will, make every attempt to disengage your emotions and objectively think through the real nature of the difficulty.
Ask yourself: Is there a Godly character or quality that the Lord trying is to develop in me through this situation? Because there are times when God in His grace throws us together with people who grate against us in order to sandpaper our rough edges. (As iron sharpens iron) Prov. 27:17
Let’s face it. I don’t need to learn to deny myself, have patience, gentleness, and kindness when people see everything my way!
But I know this when there have been disagreements, God has often confronted me with my own selfishness and stubbornness. And I have learned when I submit to Him and don’t shut down or bail out of the difficult relationship, He will absolutely use it to develop those Christlike qualities in me.
Romans 12:18 I f possible live at peace with everyone
2 timothy 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone,
Mat. 5:24 if you are offering your gift at the altar
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