Lessons from a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas
WHAT happens when sincere
believers with similar concerns for the faith have differences
in opinion? Has one heard "God's will" while the other
has not because he wants to pursue a different track? Is one right
and the other wrong?
An incident recorded in the book of Acts helps us to reflect on
these questions.
Acts 13 presents the first occasion when a church sent its members
on a mission to preach the Good News to a foreign community. After
a remarkable spread of the Good News, upon the return of Paul
and Barnabas, the church rejoiced over God's great work and blessings
through their ministry.
Then in Acts 15 we read of the beginnings of a second mission
to be undertaken by the same believers at Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas. However this time, the scriptures tell us of the eruption
of an acrimonious disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. So deep
was the disagreement that it led to the parting of ways between
them and with each taking on a separate mission.
Two mature Christians, with very
similar convictions, who previously worked well together and supported
each other, but who now could not see eye to eye on how to conduct
their next mission. They had differed over who they should take
with them on their mission journey. Barnabas wanted to take John
Mark, who had accompanied them on their earlier trip but Paul
was adamant not to have John Mark because John had left them prematurely
on that trip. So, Paul travelled with Silas and Barnabas travelled
with Mark on their separate mission journeys.
The book of Acts goes on to tell
us that Paul had a successful mission that entered into the new
areas of Greece and Macedonia in Europe. So, obviously God had
blessed his ministry.
There is no record of the journey that Barnabas and Mark made.
Should we conclude that Paul was right and Barnabas was wrong
in their disagreement because of the results? Was Paul guided
by the Holy Spirit while Barnabas was not?
However,
scripture indicates that Paul's estimation of Barnabas remained
undiminished after their dispute as Paul referred to Barnabas
as an outstanding apostle. There are also suggestions in scripture
that Paul and Barnabas may even have worked together again on
other activities, despite the dissolution of their initial collaboration.
Furthermore, Paul's view of Mark changed with time. When writing
to the believers in Colossae, Paul vouched for Mark as a fellow
worker, a person who was a source of comfort to him personally
and urged the Christians to welcome Mark and to listen to him.
Towards the end of Paul's life, when he was in prison, Paul called
for Mark to be brought to him because Mark was "useful"
to him in the ministry.
Should we conclude that Paul was wrong and misguided about Mark
and that Barnabas was right in wanting to bring Mark along or
even that Paul was guided by his own concerns rather than by the
Holy Spirit?
It is impossible to conclude who was right and who was wrong.
Perhaps they were both right or they were both wrong. What we
can confirm though, is that Paul and Barnabas were leaders who
were as human as anyone else. They fought and so parted company
with each other.
However, there was something about the attitude and action of
Paul and Barnabas that enabled them to continue to have ministries
that thrived despite the differences and conflicts they had.
Barnabas' attitude to his conflict with Paul is instructive. We
recall that Barnabas had brought Paul to meet the leaders in Jerusalem
and had vouched for him when no one trusted Paul. It was also
Barnabas who introduced Paul to the church at Antioch. One may
even point to Barnabas as the one who had groomed and nurtured
Paul.
But there is no record of Barnabas using this history against
Paul or accusing Paul of being ungrateful after all Barnabas had
done for him.
Neither are there records of Paul exposing Barnabas' mistake in
insisting that Gentile Christians follow Jewish traditions. Instead,
they stuck to the issue at hand and did not cloud it with other
historical conflicts or hurts. Additionally, neither Paul nor
Barnabas treated their disagreement as a question of right or
wrong.
We do not read of any account where Paul pointed to how successful
his ministry was and said, about his disagreement with Barnabas,
"I knew I was right all along."
Paul and Barnabas had a "clean
fight" or an open and honest disagreement. They displayed
a maturity in their differences that won them the commendation
of the church and encouraged the church to continue to pray for
each of them and their mission. Their lack of inner anger and
resentment created room in their hearts for an eventual reconciliation.
Conflicts and differences in ministry will take place. It is how
we respond to them that determines how God can overrule them (and
our human frailties) and bring some good out of a difficult situation.
An attitude of openness, sticking to the issue at hand, not seeking
to blame or to harbour resentment, and remembering our God-given
common mission may lead to an eventual resolution or reconciliation.
- This article is based on a sermon first preached at Short Street
Tamil Methodist Church.
The Rev Ajit Hazra is an elder
of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference and works with The Leprosy
Mission International.
QUOTE:
THE RIGHT RESPONSE
'Conflicts and differences in ministry will take place. It is how we respond to them that determines how God can overrule them (and our human frailties) and bring some good out of a difficult situation.'