Acts 15:36-41

                                                                     Acts 15:36-41

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 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.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.

 

Not all conflict or difference of opinion must be solved.  The conflict studied in the previous posts had to do with central doctrinal issues and needed to be resolved.  However, the conflict cited in this passage is of a more personal and strategic nature where a difference of opinion is not doctrinal but is more of a wisdom issue.  The conflict seems to be left unresolved between the two parties; however, the work of the Lord and His mission is not stopped.  While this passage may not present ideals in conflict resolution, it can be instructive to us as well.

 

A DECISION TO REVISIT: Paul proposes to Barnabas that they revisit the cities where they had gone to see how they were doing and encourage them in the faith.  It was a logical plan that demonstrates the importance of continued discipleship and leadership training in the mission of taking the Gospel to the nations.  There are enemies of the Gospel that will try to destroy any progress made.  False doctrines and persecution are constant battles the church will face.  Paul and Barnabas, in cooperation with their sending church are preparing to make this visit when a disagreement breaks out between the two missionaries.  This is further proof that the Gospel is constantly under attack from all angles.  Attempts to derail the progress of the Gospel continue all around us.  We must be prepared for this and attentive to it so we do not become discouraged, distracted, or divided in our mission.

 

A DIVISION OF WORKERS: The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas was over whether to take John Mark with them again.  Since he had abandoned them on the first trip, Paul was not willing to take him again. It is highly likely that prior to leaving the young man had been a distraction to the missionary team by complaining or arguing.  He had been enough of a bother that Paul did not want to have him on the trip. Barnabas, on the other hand, saw the potential the young man had and wanted to continue investing in his life.  He understood the need for patience and that the maturation process takes time.  Paul had the courage to confront while Barnabas had the grace to encourage.  It was not an area of doctrinal conflict but a clash of personalities and strategy over staff.  These types of disagreements are not ideal in ministry, but we are likely to face them frequently.  It is almost a comfort to know that godly and mature men like Paul and Barnabas also struggled in these areas.

 

A DEPARTING TO MINISTRY: Perhaps one of the most important and impressive results of the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas was that the ministry moved forward.  Paul took Silas, who had come to Antioch to help resolve the doctrinal dispute, and Barnabas took John Mark so there were now two missionary teams being sent out from Antioch.  Too often when there are personality conflicts in the ministry, people end up getting offended and walking away from the church, ministry, and other people.  We must work hard to avoid conflict and resolve conflict when it arises.  We must work even harder to make sure that we don’t allow these personal issues to derail our commitment to or effectiveness in the ministry.  Paul eventually recognized John Mark’s growth and the two worked together again at the end of Paul’s ministry.  Ministry and life in a sinful world will have conflict, but the mission must not be abandoned when those conflicts arise.

 

APPLICATION: Understand that as long as we are on this earth, there will be conflict even between mature believers in the Lord.  As long as the conflicts are about personalities and differences of opinion on strategy, and not over key doctrinal questions; these conflicts may not be resolved.  When this happens, we must not allow our hearts to become bitter and we must never allow it to distract us from the mission God has given us.