You’ve had disagreements before, right? Don’t we all have disagreements at some point? And what about in the Church? Is it okay to disagree? Even to have significant differences? Aren’t we led by the same Spirit in the Church? Shouldn’t there always be unity?
The topic of disagreements is a difficult one. We just don’t like to disagree with each other. It makes us uncomfortable. Well, at least most of us. Some people really do like to disagree. That’s not a good thing. We should be uncomfortable, shouldn’t we? After all, if we disagree doesn’t that mean someone has to be right and someone has to be wrong? I admit, I don’t like to be wrong. How about you? But maybe it isn’t always about being right or wrong.
There’s a passage in the book of Acts that I’ve often wondered about: “…Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’ 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 15:36-39 NIV). Barnabas and Paul are Apostles. If anyone should be in agreement, shouldn’t they? And yet, they had a “sharp disagreement!”
Let me be honest. When I first looked at this scripture I thought, just maybe, it doesn’t really mean what it says. Isn’t that what we sometimes do? If we don’t like what we read we look for some other meaning. In this case, a “sharp disagreement.” How could Apostles have such a disagreement? More often than not, when we look at what we read in the Bible, it means what it says. Even when we don’t like it. Sure, new understanding is important. And new understanding often comes by looking closer. But when we want to change what the Bible says to fit our preconceived ideas, or preferences, we are in for trouble.
Looking closer, I was hoping to find that the underlying Greek words translated as “sharp disagreement” really meant something a little softer. Maybe, a “minor difference.” Anything that would make me more comfortable. That’s the wrong approach. The truth is what’s important, isn’t it? Not what makes me feel better. Granted, this particular issue may not seem that big a deal to you, but there are probably other issues we might approach in the same way. We simply want to see what we want to see.
What did I find? Every translation of the Bible that I looked at agreed. There was no controversy. All agreed that “sharp disagreement” was the right translation. And the Greek word used here, paroxysmós, could be translated as “incitement,” “provoke,” “irritation,” even “anger.” No minor issue here. Paul and Barnabas were at odds. Big time. They couldn’t come to terms. There was no compromise. It was a sharp disagreement! I didn’t find what I expected, or even hoped for. Instead, I found something better.
As a reminder, John Mark, whom Barnabas wanted to take along, had left Paul and Barnabas in the middle of a mission trip to return to Jerusalem (see Acts 3:13). Barnabas, who’s name means “son of encouragement,” was ready to bring John Mark along. But Paul would have none of it. They couldn’t agree. They held firmly to their positions. The only answer: Go their separate ways.
There has been much written about this disagreement. Perhaps Barnabas felt called to develop John Mark further. Perhaps, what may have been a mentoring relationship between Barnabas and Paul had run its course. Paul was ready to be on his own. Either or both may be, probably are, true. What we know for sure is that God multiplied the Gospel work through both Paul and Barnabas. “…Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches” (Acts 15:39-41).
That is the “something better” I mentioned earlier. God turned what appeared to be a negative into a positive. He took one mission team and turned it into two. We might be confused. We might not understand. But we can always be sure that God will accomplish His plan. Because “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).
What we see are two men called by God to spread the Gospel. Committed fully to that mission. Willing to die for the Gospel, in fact. They didn’t disagree on doctrine, or the facts of the Gospel. There was no dispute about how to be saved, or who Jesus is. They felt a strong call about how to accomplish the work. The tactics. God used them both. That’s something to be excited about. God will accomplish His work. Even if we don’t always agree, He is still in control.
It’s important that we don’t disagree on the essential things. We have to agree on the basics. As Paul put it, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim 4:16). Barring that we don’t veer from the truth of the Gospel, there is room for differences and we can still be used by God.
When we search the scripture, not based on our feelings or preferences, we’ll find truth that will help and encourage us. What’s more, if we’re fully committed to the spread of the Gospel, and willing to follow His call, God will use us.
Thank you for highlighting this. Not enough preaching is done around this scripture!