Conflict!

When I was the worship coordinator for my college fellowship I remember getting into a disagreement with one of my worship leaders. While the nature of the argument isn’t really that important, I remember that we left the discussion with the understanding that he would no longer be serving in the worship ministry, not necessarily because of an issue of sin, but because he felt that was the direction God was leading him in. Similarly, Paul and Barnabas ran into a situation during
their time ministering together.

Read Acts 15:36-41

What happened between these two brothers? Paul and Barnabas had been serving together throughout Paul’s first missionary journey, but now as he was about to embark on his second missionary journey, these two co-ministers part ways. It is interesting that Luke does not feel it is important or necessary to include who was in the right or in the wrong, but the disagreement revolved around the participation of Mark in this missions trip. Apparently, because Mark had left them on their previous journey a little prematurely, Paul didn’t feel it was best to take Mark again. Maybe Paul felt Mark was not spiritually mature enough to handle the rigors of another journey, or he was worried he would not finish the trip a second time. Barnabas on the other hand, felt it was better to bring Mark. Maybe this Son of Encouragement (that’s what the name Barnabas means) felt it would be better to mentor Mark and keep an eye on him rather than leaving him behind. For whatever reasons, Paul and Barnabas disagreed so much that they parted ways, Paul taking Silas and Barnabas taking Mark.

So what can we glean from this story about two men in ministry disagreeing? I find it interesting how Paul and Barnabas may have viewed this situation differently. Both men could have been right in a sense. Paul was correct in maybe thinking that Mark was not ready to take on the challenge of being a missionary, and that Paul would not have the necessary time to devote to training him, as it would hinder him from his responsibility to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Barnabas on the other hand maybe felt Mark could use some guidance and mentoring, something he was well equipped to provide. Both men were right. Mark wasn’t ready AND he needed mentoring. Maybe we’re speculating on Paul and Barnabas’s exact feelings on the matter. But what I do know is that the Holy Spirit saw fit to allow them to separate. If the Holy Spirit hadn’t, Paul and Barnabas, two men who were very much filled with the Spirit would not have done that.

Another thing to note is that, despite their disagreement, God used it to bring about his purposes. Instead of one missionary pastor and his team traveling to various cities, there were now two pastors traveling to different cities preaching and living out the Gospel. Also, we see that Mark did not always remain so “useless” or “unprepared” to Paul. Paul continues to commend this same Mark in his later letters (Col 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11; Philemon 24) and this is most likely the Mark who wrote the Gospel according to Mark. Amazing how God’s purposes are reached through His people. Maybe splitting up from Paul to get some one on one mentoring with Barnabas might have been exactly what Mark needed. Spend some time praising God for the way he works in our lives. Ask for wisdom and maturity in any disagreements in ministry you might be having with other brothers and sisters.

Monday: Pray for your relationship with God
Lift up your complaints to God. Know that he hears them and cares for you.