Sunday Ponderings ~ Disagreements

Pastor brought our attention today to the account of the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over whether John Mark was to go with them back to visit the churches they had previously established. Barnabas was desirous of taking his nephew John Mark, but Paul insisted that they shouldn't because John Mark had turned back on the last journey. We aren't told why. (Acts 15:36-41)

The question was asked, who was right—Paul or Barnabas? Hard to say. Both apparently had valid reasons. Who was wrong? Neither of them.

That's sometimes how disagreements are. Sometimes a compromise can't be reached in a situation. No right or wrong going on. Sometimes it's better to go separate ways, but disagreements shouldn't destroy relationships. (Lest I be misunderstood, I'm not talking about married couples going separate ways. That's biblically wrong.)  So, Paul took Silas and departed on their journey, and Barnabas took John Mark and went to Cyrpus.

It's interesting to note that John Mark did much to spread the advance of Christianity. Later, Paul would write during his imprisonment for Timothy to bring John Mark with him because he was useful to him in the ministry. John Mark was also the writer of the book of Mark, and Coptic tradition says that he was the founder of the Coptic Church in Egypt. Looks to me like Barnabas had some keen insight into the heart of John Mark. Barnabas was known as an encourager.

My takeaways:

• I don't need to feel that I'm either right or wrong in all disagreements.
• Sometimes I need to just go a different way.
• Sometimes disagreeing with the person in charge or with clout gets me nowhere anyway.
• I do need to look to the heart and encourage those that others may consider weak in the faith. 
• Barnabas stood by his family. Me, too. 

Painting ~ Lady Reading, Vlaho Bukovac 1855-1922
Wiki Commons public domain