Can We All Just Get Along?
“Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 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. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” – Acts 15:36-41 NKJV
I love to see real life in the pages of Scripture. When we read the Bible with all its knowledge, it does me some good to see the humans God used in spite of their brokenness and issues.
Here Paul, writer of a majority of the New Testament, has an issue with Mark. Mark had abandoned Paul and Barnabas on an early mission trip, and Paul viewed it a desertion. Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance. I like Barnabas!
In this chapter, it causes them to split up and go in different directions. It’s not the end of the story, by any means. Eventually, Paul changed his mind about Mark, and it seems that Paul and Barnabas reconciled as well. But for a moment, the two decided it was best to go opposite directions.
I have a few simple thoughts on this:
It’s ok to disagree.
Honor doesn’t mean total agreement. I was asked recently about how to show honor even in disagreement, and my response was that honor and judgment can’t coexist. When I’m judging someone and their motives, then I can’t honor them at the same time. That being said, I can disagree and still honor. Those two are able to live together without one being compromised.
Paul was well within his rights to not want to take Mark on a journey. On the other hand, Barnabas graciously wanted to give Mark another chance. Neither was wrong, though I’m sure it was uncomfortable.
We can go our separate ways without offense.
A lot of times, fear of men is at the root of all our dysfunction. I’ve found wherever fear takes root in my life, faith tends to fade. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of opinion, fear of loneliness. These can all be debilitating fears.
Many times, we need something to motivate us past our fears. Ideally, that should be faith in God and the love of God. But more often than we’d like to admit, we use anger or offense instead. Read that again. What I’ve learned is this: either faith and love will move me beyond my fear, or I’ll rely on offense and anger to push through, but only one leads to peace.
Paul and Barnabas had a “sharp contention,” but it did not make them bitter. How do I know? Because they both were able to move forward and minister. Both of them were right, and neither of them was wrong. They just disagreed.
There are things that are right and things that are wrong; but when we try to make an issue of preferences, we have gone too far and are showing our immaturity.
God uses it even if it’s not ideal.
Now, I’m not trying to over-spiritualize things, but the truth is that before the disagreement, there was only one mission team. After the disagreement, there were two! God can use our humanness. He uses our mistakes, and He uses our missteps.
Eventually, the band would get back together; but before that, a lot of towns and cities would be ministered to, churches started, and God glorified.
In closing, I love that they were straight up with each other. They didn’t hold cards, didn’t play games, didn’t ghost the other. They said what needed to be said, disagreed, and moved on.
Resentment, offense, and bitterness grow best in a hard heart. Hope, love, and faith grow best in a tender heart. The condition of your heart will determine your harvest.
I know I ask it a lot and you’re probably tired of me saying it, but I’m only saying to you what I constantly hear God asking me. How is your heart?
A healthy heart can disagree. A healthy heart can separate without offense. A healthy heart can let God be God and keep me from trying to step in. A healthy heart is open to reconciliation.
How is your heart?
I love to see real life in the pages of Scripture. When we read the Bible with all its knowledge, it does me some good to see the humans God used in spite of their brokenness and issues.
Here Paul, writer of a majority of the New Testament, has an issue with Mark. Mark had abandoned Paul and Barnabas on an early mission trip, and Paul viewed it a desertion. Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance. I like Barnabas!
In this chapter, it causes them to split up and go in different directions. It’s not the end of the story, by any means. Eventually, Paul changed his mind about Mark, and it seems that Paul and Barnabas reconciled as well. But for a moment, the two decided it was best to go opposite directions.
I have a few simple thoughts on this:
It’s ok to disagree.
Honor doesn’t mean total agreement. I was asked recently about how to show honor even in disagreement, and my response was that honor and judgment can’t coexist. When I’m judging someone and their motives, then I can’t honor them at the same time. That being said, I can disagree and still honor. Those two are able to live together without one being compromised.
Paul was well within his rights to not want to take Mark on a journey. On the other hand, Barnabas graciously wanted to give Mark another chance. Neither was wrong, though I’m sure it was uncomfortable.
We can go our separate ways without offense.
A lot of times, fear of men is at the root of all our dysfunction. I’ve found wherever fear takes root in my life, faith tends to fade. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of opinion, fear of loneliness. These can all be debilitating fears.
Many times, we need something to motivate us past our fears. Ideally, that should be faith in God and the love of God. But more often than we’d like to admit, we use anger or offense instead. Read that again. What I’ve learned is this: either faith and love will move me beyond my fear, or I’ll rely on offense and anger to push through, but only one leads to peace.
Paul and Barnabas had a “sharp contention,” but it did not make them bitter. How do I know? Because they both were able to move forward and minister. Both of them were right, and neither of them was wrong. They just disagreed.
There are things that are right and things that are wrong; but when we try to make an issue of preferences, we have gone too far and are showing our immaturity.
God uses it even if it’s not ideal.
Now, I’m not trying to over-spiritualize things, but the truth is that before the disagreement, there was only one mission team. After the disagreement, there were two! God can use our humanness. He uses our mistakes, and He uses our missteps.
Eventually, the band would get back together; but before that, a lot of towns and cities would be ministered to, churches started, and God glorified.
In closing, I love that they were straight up with each other. They didn’t hold cards, didn’t play games, didn’t ghost the other. They said what needed to be said, disagreed, and moved on.
Resentment, offense, and bitterness grow best in a hard heart. Hope, love, and faith grow best in a tender heart. The condition of your heart will determine your harvest.
I know I ask it a lot and you’re probably tired of me saying it, but I’m only saying to you what I constantly hear God asking me. How is your heart?
A healthy heart can disagree. A healthy heart can separate without offense. A healthy heart can let God be God and keep me from trying to step in. A healthy heart is open to reconciliation.
How is your heart?
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