IS ALL DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN CHRISTIANS A SIN? [podcast]

IS ALL DISAGREEMENT A SIN?
What Saith the Scriptures?

Kingdom Truth to Help You Walk in God’s Peace in Your Kingdom Relationships

Is there room for disagreement within the body of Christ? Yes, yet only on things not doctrinally essential. Not with doctrinal essentials, and yet as far as wisdom concerning direction, real time decisions, disagreement is acceptable. Everyone doesn’t have to see everything the same way as far as non-essentials are concerned.

Do we recall how Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed concerning John Mark?

Paul and Barnabas Separate

“And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” Acts 15:36-41

John Mark was the son of Mary, at whose house the members of Christ prayed when Peter was jailed and about to be martyred. They prayed fervently and God sent His angel to free Peter (Acts 12:12).

John Mark was born again. Otherwise, Paul and Barnabas would never have brought him with them to minister our LORD’s Gospel. John Mark had on their first journey with them, departed before their ministry mission was accomplished (Acts 15:38). Paul saw this past departure one way, and Barnabas another. Which of these men of God were in sin? Neither.

John Mark was the nephew of Barnabas and so Barnabas perhaps knew the weaknesses of his family, considering wisely that John Mark was a young man with much growing to do. And Barnabas had faith that young John Mark would come around, would correct his errant ways and mature. Sure enough, Barnabas was correct. Years later Paul said:

“Only Luke is with me. Take Mark (John Mark), and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:11

Paul now sees John Mark as “profitable to me for the ministry.”

John Mark had matured, he’d received correction and was growing in Christ and now ready, prepared to be involved in the ministry. He was now a much more mature, equipped man. Barnabas’ compassion greatly assisted this. John Mark was obviously willing and diligent in his repentance and life in Christ.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21

Paul now honored the work of God in Barnabas, an elder, who no doubt had been greatly instrumental in the maturing of beloved younger John Mark. Isn’t that what true elders of Christ do – mature and equip the saints “for the work of the ministry”? Yes! See Ephesians 4:11-16.

“4:11 The beloved Doctor Luke was the only one who maintained contact with Paul in Rome. How much it must have meant to the apostle to have the spiritual encouragement and professional skill of this great man of God!

And how thankful we can be for the latter part of verse 11! It holds encouragement to all of us who have failed the Lord in our service that He will yet give us another opportunity to go forth for Him. Mark went with Paul and Barnabas on their First Missionary Journey, but then left them at Perga to return home. When it came time to go out on the Second Missionary Journey, Paul did not want to bring Mark along because of the young man’s previous retreat. When Barnabas insisted that Mark should accompany them, the matter was resolved by Paul’s leaving for Syria and Cilicia with Silas, while Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus. Later on, Paul and Mark were reconciled, and here the apostle specifically asks for Mark as one who is useful to him for ministry.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

One lesson we can learn here is to allow others the freedom of their own opinion concerning non-essentials (Romans 14). If something is not specifically cited as a sin in the Bible, keep learning and consider it a non-essential. See Romans 14 and the 17 soul damning sins Paul lists in Galatians 5:19-21. Just because your personal view is currently negative concerning a certain view or practice, doesn’t make it something GOD calls a sin.

Have you ever seen yourself acting, deliberating more like Paul in some cases and in others more like Barnabas? Is there room for both? Yes. Notice the Bible never hints, never once indicates that Paul was wrong for seeing things the way he viewed them in this situation. Neither was Barnabas wrong.

The blessing of Barnabas arises out of this relationship with his nephew. Barnabas’ name means “The son of consolation.” He lived up to his name. Barnabas was a compassionate man and who was a real helper to the members of Christ’s body.

His name first emerges in the last two verses of Acts 4.

“And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 4:36-37

“4:36, 37 These verses are an introductory link with chapter 5. The generosity of Barnabas is set forth in striking contrast to the hypocrisy of Ananias. As a Levite, Joses … named Barnabas would not ordinarily have owned land. The Lord was to be the portion of the Levites. How or why he obtained the land, we do not know. But we do know that the law of love worked so powerfully in the life of this Son of Encouragement that he sold the land and laid the money at the apostles’ feet.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Barnabas’ name means the son of consolation. He was a compassionate consoler. Think about how Barnabas advocated, stood in the gap for John Mark. What a blessing when someone stands up for you, comes to your defense! Do you feel consoled? Yes. Do you want others to be consoled by your legitimate defense of them? Have you ever needed a second chance? Who is it that you could advocate for, could come to the defense of? Isn’t this what the beloved Barnabas did in the case of John Mark? Yes. See Acts 15:36-41. How far do you think Barnabas’ consolation to John Mark went in the heart of the younger saint, John Mark?

Perhaps some of our relationships over the years, can be seen through the lens of how Barnabas and Paul, neither who was wrong. Yet they separated, God giving them each others to minister with.

Giving preference, giving room for other members of Christ’s body to grow in His grace …… we see exercised through Barnabas (2 Peter 3:18).

WHO among us has ever needed a second chance? Who among us has been in the need of a beloved Barnabas, a consoler, one who would nurse us to health and victory? WHO has ever been super encouraged that someone believed in them, believed to the best, believed by their faith in God, that you were coming forth, were going to be tried and come forth as purified gold? See Job 23:10.

“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10

Also, we know that Paul controlled no one, unlike some of the warlocks and witches of the modern church world (1 Corinthians 16:12; 2 Corinthians 1:24). All who dare seek to exercise undue, unwarranted, ungodly control over any child of God, any sheep of Christ’s pasture, is under divine condemnation (Revelation 2:6, 15).

“…with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” Ezekiel 34:4

Read Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34. Woah!

Jesus has singlehandedly saved us individually and is the owner of His sheep, each one of them. HE leads them and any man who dares unduly interfere will pay (John 10).

What if someone like the young John Mark, who was lacking maturity in your past re-enters your life? Will you hold them in contempt for past errors, sins, lack of maturity? Have you not needed, and do you not still have great need of growing in the grace of Christ? See 2 Peter 3:18. This disciple has infinite need of growing in our LORD’s grace.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

How do you wish for people to view you? By your past or present? How do you desire other members of Jesus’ body to see you? To see you now, now that God has significantly matured you, now after the cross has begun to take center stage in your daily life and now you are more conformed to the image of Christ – now that much tribulation has come your way and God brought you through it all into a much more matured state? (Romans 8:28-29; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:5-8; 5:10, etc.)

Anyone else here ever shake your head at the thought, the remembrance of the dumb things you did in your past, in your earlier days after being born again? Or is that just this fool?

God be praised afresh, here and now, for His great mercy!

“And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.” 2 Chronicles 1:8

Read that again and scan your memory of the beloved king David – how he enters our view as a shepherd boy, faithfully worshipping God in the privacy of a pasture, guiding the sheep. Then this great worshipper emerges as a warrior to take out Israel’s chief enemy, the giant from Gath (Goliath). David is appointed by the LORD to be king of Israel. He wins many battles and then loses the battle to lust and commits adultery with Bathsheba, then has her husband murdered. He then suffers the loss of their baby (2 Samuel 11-12). God then, after the ups and downs of David, in the New Testament Scriptures, says this of the beloved David: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22).

How many of us want the LORD to say, in the end “THAT is a daughter, a son ‘after mine own heart”? How would you like to hear the Almighty speak your name and say, “I have found ______ the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will”?

Are you getting a bit happier to begin to increasingly realize that it’s how we FINISH more than about how we started?

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Perhaps we could surmise that part of the fight Paul had to fight in fighting the good fight of faith, was to forget his own past sins, mistakes, failures, rebellion.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

YOUR PRAYER: Merciful heavenly Father, I love You. Here and now, I come before Your holy presence in the name of my LORD Jesus, praising and thanking You afresh for Your great mercy upon my many sins, disobedience, rebellion, self-idolatry, and pride. Please wash me, wash my life afresh by the precious blood of Your only begotten Son, my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Bless this life to be from here forward settled at Thy holy feet dear LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen LORD. I love You.

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