After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. [Acts 15.36-41]
OK, so after a couple different Paul-bashing posts on this passage of Scripture, I guess it is only fair to rail on Barnabas a little too!
Today, I see something in the passage above that makes me pause on putting all the responsibility on Paul for he and Barnabas' split. What I saw was that the other believers "...entrusted him to the Lord's gracious care."
Now, one cannot make any firm conclusions from this text, however, it seemed the church validated Paul and Silas but no such validation is mentioned for Barnabas and John Mark.
Is this significant? Does it indicate the Barnabas and John Mark just launched off on their own without first seeking validation of the believers? It could.
The lesson for me is that arguments and splits are never good. However, when disagreements occur (and they will) perhaps the Body of Christ - the Church can help us out by validation. Maybe?
It remains necessary to read about the lives of these early believers keeping in mind that they are humans - keeping in mind that they each have their own personalities and as such are unique. At times, their uniqueness puts them at odds with others - even in the Body of Christ... But then, that "body" analogy kicks in, doesn't it?
Just like it took a couple instances of Paul getting shut down before finally getting the message to go to Macedonia, so, in our lives we may encounter "signs" or the leadership of the Holy Spirit to do something different that we may or may not at first comprehend! We may not understand the particular gifts we have and how they actually work with the other body parts even though it appears the parts have nothing in common.
Father, help me to see the life stories in the New Testament and not just focus on what I am supposed to do! Help me to see how the Body fits together - then and now - and find ever-increasing validation among the Body of Christ.
OK, so after a couple different Paul-bashing posts on this passage of Scripture, I guess it is only fair to rail on Barnabas a little too!
Today, I see something in the passage above that makes me pause on putting all the responsibility on Paul for he and Barnabas' split. What I saw was that the other believers "...entrusted him to the Lord's gracious care."
Now, one cannot make any firm conclusions from this text, however, it seemed the church validated Paul and Silas but no such validation is mentioned for Barnabas and John Mark.
Is this significant? Does it indicate the Barnabas and John Mark just launched off on their own without first seeking validation of the believers? It could.
The lesson for me is that arguments and splits are never good. However, when disagreements occur (and they will) perhaps the Body of Christ - the Church can help us out by validation. Maybe?
It remains necessary to read about the lives of these early believers keeping in mind that they are humans - keeping in mind that they each have their own personalities and as such are unique. At times, their uniqueness puts them at odds with others - even in the Body of Christ... But then, that "body" analogy kicks in, doesn't it?
Just like it took a couple instances of Paul getting shut down before finally getting the message to go to Macedonia, so, in our lives we may encounter "signs" or the leadership of the Holy Spirit to do something different that we may or may not at first comprehend! We may not understand the particular gifts we have and how they actually work with the other body parts even though it appears the parts have nothing in common.
Father, help me to see the life stories in the New Testament and not just focus on what I am supposed to do! Help me to see how the Body fits together - then and now - and find ever-increasing validation among the Body of Christ.
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