Divide and Conquer.

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 15:36-41

 

Acts 15:39-40.

And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

(ESV)

 

The buzz word for 2021 seems to be shaping up as unity.  This is understandable with all that occurred in 2020 and the violence and political divisiveness which resulted in the most divisive election of our time.  While in his inauguration speech, President Biden promised unity, the only unity that can truly bring unification in our country is the unification that comes through Christ.  While we should expect disagreement even among believers in Christ, a unity of purpose in serving Christ can bring unity despite these differences.    

 

In Acts 15:1-35, there was a disagreement in the Church in Antioch over the doctrine of circumcision.  The Jewish believers from the sect of the Pharisees believed one’s salvation required circumcision, with Paul and Barnabas disagreeing.  Since this issue involved doctrine, the issue went to the Apostles and elders, and the Church found a resolution.  However, the issue in Acts 15:36-41 involves a personal issue between Paul and Barnabas over whether John Mark should accompany Paul and Barnabas in ministry. 

 

The issue stems from an incident in Pamphylia where John Mark left Paul and Barnabas.  No details are provided in Scripture as to why he left but the issue remained a point of contention for Paul (Acts 15:38).  The initial reaction for many reading this passage is that Paul needs to forgive John Mark and move on, but Paul must also consider the ministry and does not want to have John Mark leave them in a lurch again.  It is possible Paul forgave John Mark but is not ready to reconcile with him, allowing him into the ministry.  Later when addressing the Colossians, Paul did tell the Church to welcome John Mark in (Colossians 4:10) indicating Paul had come to a resolution on the matter. 

 

The most interesting thing to take from this passage of scripture is that Paul and Barnabas did not allow this disagreement to stop their ministry but agreed to separate with Barnabas taking John Mark with him to Cyprus, and Paul taking Silas with him to Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:39-41).  After much success in their mission's work and after receiving encouragement at the Jerusalem council, Satan attempted to stop any further spread of the Gospel by placing a personal wedge of contention between Paul and Barnabas over whether John Mark should accompany them in their ministry.  However, instead of stopping the ministry, the disagreement leads to the separation of Paul and Barnabas and the taking of the Gospel to Cyprus through Barnabas and Syria and Cilicia through Paul.  Later, as a sign of his reconciliation of differences with John Mark, Paul would tell the Colossians to welcome Mark (Colossians 4:10). 

 

Divisions in the Church over personal matters such as occurred in Acts 15:36-41 still exist today.  Unfortunately, if left unattended to, these divisions can cause the Church to suffer and even disband.  Also, many believers in the Church may leave the Church altogether and lose intimacy with God.  Instead of a split damaging the souls of the Church congregation, a strategy like that implemented by Paul and Barnabas may be better as it allows expansion of the ministry until reconciliation of differences can occur later. 

 

If you are reading this and have soured on religion or even turned your back on God due to a disagreement in a Church that festered out of control, I pray you will come back to God and find a Church congregation where you can grow in intimacy with Christ.  The Apostle Paul and Barnabas did not let their disagreement over whether John Mark should participate in ministry stop their bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles and doubled their efforts.  God loves us and does not want personal disagreements to separate us from an intimate relationship with Him.  May God bless everyone reading this post.