Each week, let’s reflect upon Sunday’s teaching through further exploration…
“Disagreements” (Scatter Sermon Series)
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. – Acts 15:37-39a
What if Paul and Barnabas had reacted differently to their disagreement? Instead of Barnabas taking Mark and sailing for Cyprus and Paul taking Silas through Syria and Cilicia (vs. 39b-40), what if this were the reaction:
As Barnabas walked away, Paul shouted after him, “Fine, have it your way! Go with Mark on the trip! I don’t need you anyway. ‘Son of Encouragement,’ my foot. Your name should be Dysaarestos!” [That’s Greek for “unpleasant.”] Then Paul slumped in the dirt pouting, arms crossed over his chest, and mumbling, “I guess I won’t take a trip to spread the gospel then. I’ll just be done with ministry work. That’ll show Barnabas and that worthless cousin of his!”
We may laugh and roll our eyes at the ridiculousness of that type of reaction, but it’s an all-too-common one today. I’ve heard stories of local churches splitting over disagreements, some of which focused on building décor and music preferences. I know handfuls of people who refuse to attend church ever again due to disagreements with others there. Just mentioning the word “church” to these people can evoke a visceral response – clenched jaw, fiercely-puckered lips, blazing eyes, heated faces, and a string of words loaded with venom. I can almost hear the applause and cheering from Satan and his demons when this happens. They just sit back and watch the fireworks, basking in their successful efforts to drive God’s people apart and sow seeds of disunity.
To be fair, there’s often much more to these disagreements than décor and music. Deep hurt from another who belongs to the Lord can shift the ground beneath you and pitch you forward into a dark, cavernous hole. You find it hard to draw your next breath at that point, let alone continue serving the Lord with fervor. Oh, how I’ve been there. But let us remember that it was no trivial matter that arose between Paul and Barnabas. The description in English is a “sharp disagreement.” We have an adjective to help us understand the intensity of the disagreement. In Greek, though, there is a single word for a “sharp disagreement.” It’s παροξυσμός and it also means irritation and exasperation.
While this led to Paul and Barnabas parting ways, it did not hinder the spread of the gospel. It actually multiplied that effect! D.J. told us Sunday that this instance led to two fruitful ministries instead of the previous single one. And eventually, years later, Paul even asked for Mark and described him as helpful in his ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).
I think we forget God can change hearts (“People grow, people change”). We don’t see it happen in our time, we continue to deal with the fallout, it seems hopeless and impossible to us that things will get better. And if it was up to us, resolving a disagreement would be impossible because we can’t change people’s hearts. We can’t even change our own; that’s the work of the Holy Spirit.
Are you experiencing a disagreement with a brother or sister in Christ? Has it hindered your service to the Lord? Has it led to bitterness instead of love? Realize that the same Holy Spirit is at work in both of you. Pray for your heart attitude as well as the other person’s. Allow God to work in each of you in His timing. And in the meantime, keep doing the good work to which God has called you (Ephesians 2:10). “Do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10), and live at peace with everyone “if it is possible, as far as it depends on you” (Romans 12:18).