The Church Splits

Acts 15:36-41 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 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. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
 
THIS is very disappointing, isn’t it? From the time Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul (Acts 11:25), so Saul could help teach the great number of people who were brought to the Lord, the two Spirit-empowered evangelists, teachers and preachers had been inseparable. They celebrated the Spirit’s victories over evil, healed many and delivered financial support to the Jerusalem church. Together they faced violent mobs and even survived stoning.
   But then they argue. John Mark had left them on an earlier mission. Barnabas was Mark’s cousin, so it is easy to understand why Barnabas wanted Mark back on the team. And even more, Barnabas’ very name means son of encouragement (Acts 4:36). His nature was to mentor people toward their potential.
   On the other hand, Paul did not think it wise to take Mark. Apparently these words express a moderate view of Paul’s deep displeasure, possibly deep anger with Mark. Perhaps Paul thought Mark was not a man of integrity to be trusted to do the Lord’s work. Possibly Mark  had left when they had faced strong opposition, and Paul did not want to put Mark in that position again. From a more positive point of view, perhaps Paul was protecting Mark, a younger man, from doing something that would endanger him. Whatever the reasons, the two men who had spent years preaching unity between the Jews and Gentiles in the church could not find the way to unify their relationship.
   Pride seems to be the knife that cut their bonds. Neither one seemed willing to take one more step toward the other’s view. Pride is a great divider. Scripture has many examples of pride’s painful intrusion into God’s creation. For example, pride separated Satan from God’s presence. Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.” The Pharisees’ iron-clad pride blinded them to the Son of God, who had come from heaven to meet them face-to-face.
   We are thankful God heals and restores. The Spirit used this division to expand his church. Barnabas and Mark went to Cypress. Paul and his new partner Silas headed for Syria and Cilicia. From this point on Paul’s work is the focus of Acts as the historian Luke traveled with the apostle to witness and record God’s work.
   We are thankful our Lord works through our weaknesses into his strength. We must count Barnabas as one of God’s great workers to establish and expand the church. His encouragement opened the door to Paul’s ministry, and he helped Mark expand his discipleship to write the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1)