A sharp disagreement

The story so far

Three main achievements New churches were planted throughout Cyprus and Asia (Turkey): Jews and Gentiles both became believers (Acts 13:12; 13:43; 13:48-49; 14:1; 14:21) They started gathering together – first with Paul and Barnabas and then independently (Acts 13:42-44) Local leaders were appointed (Acts 14:21b-23) The church at Antioch and in Phoenica, Samaria and Jerusalem were encouraged and challenged by the stories of God’s work among the Gentiles (Acts 14:26-28; 15:3-4; 15:12) The theological and missiologial question of how people are saved and what the role of Jewish law and customs in that process was settled by the apostles and elders (Acts 15)

What happens when ministry partners disagree?

Barnabas… Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas(which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Barnabas and Paul… When [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. (Acts 9:27- 28) Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:29-30) Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 

Paul and Barnabas… The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said… From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia,where John left them to return to Jerusalem. (Acts 11:6-13) When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd… (Acts 12:8-20)

So who was right?

What else could they have done? One of them could have submitted to the other to maintain their ministry partnership They could have asked the Antioch church to mediate They could have asked the church in Jerusalem for their input as Mark’s home church They could have agreed to disagree and blessed and released one another to pursue different ministry strategies

Two great principles…  Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters… Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister… We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up. (Romans 14:1, 13, 15:1-2) Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19)

Not everything is a gospel issue… (If you wouldn’t be willing to die for it, then it’s probably not something you need to break fellowship over either!)

…but do everything for the sake of the gospel!