DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE

PROCLAMATION

“Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached The Word of The Lord and see how they are doing.’  Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.  They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.  Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of The Lord.  He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”  Acts 15:36-41 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that when Barnabas and Paul left Antioch to begin their first Holy Spirit directed missionary journey, John Mark was with them as their helper. (Acts 13:1-5)  However, when they sailed to Perga in Pamphylia to continue their journey, Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 13:13)  The reason why Mark left them is not recorded, but it is clear that Paul felt that Mark had deserted them, and he did not want to take him on another journey.  The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over Mark was so sharp until they parted company and went on separate missionary journeys in different directions.  They did not split the church in Antioch where they were like “co-pastors”.  They both continued to do the work of The Lord but with different travelling companions for their second missionary journey.

 

APPLICATION

It is quite common for people to disagree.  Unfortunately, from time to time, believers will also disagree with one another.  This even includes the men of God.  Usually these disagreements are about something other than The Word of God.  The Christ-like way to handle such occasions is to disagree without being disagreeable.  Non-believers will judge all Christians by the behavior they see exhibited by believers.  Young and new believers can be negatively impacted by their observation of “heated” disagreements between believers.  It is not good for us to cause “young believers” to stumble because of what they see or hear from believers. (Matthew 18:6)  We should not tear the church apart because of our human differences and disagreements.  There is plenty of work for all of us to do in different venues.