Friction between church leaders?

So much of the book of Acts is so encouraging that it comes as quite a shock to see Luke including the closing verses of chapter 15, where we read of a heated dispute between Paul and Barnabas.

Yet we need a realistic appreciation of how easy it is for the closest of friends in the leadership of a local church not only to disagree and fall out, but to divide with bitterness and go their own separate ways. And the Holy Spirit does so much more than show us the dangers of such division. He shows us the underlying attitudes that can cause divisions to arise over such practical issues as the suitability of a young man like John Mark for responsibility in an outreach venture.

It is easy to see how the great apostolic leaders disagreed as to whether John Mark was the best man to accompany them as they set out to visit the churches they had planted on their first missionary journey. Paul did not want to take him because he had let them down before. The work was hard enough without that kind of disappointment. They needed someone who had proved himself under pressure. Barnabas, on the other hand, clearly felt that John Mark had learned his lesson, and that this was an opportunity for him to prove himself and for them to display Christ-like forgiveness.

No obvious compromise was possible and, since the journey was urgent, the question over whether to take him along with them could not be shelved. Sadly, it led to sharp disagreement. Barnabas stomped off with John Mark to Cyprus, thus dividing a partnership instigated by the Holy Spirit himself. It is true that this sad division was graciously overruled by God, so there were now two parties doing evangelistic work: and even more remarkably there seems to have been no significant division within the church at Antioch, for all appear to have sided with Paul (notice verse 41). However, we are foolish if we assume no damage was done. It is surely significant that the Christians at Antioch remembered the incident and reported it to Luke. And how much worse the situation might have been had the disagreement been about whether John Mark was suitable to be a leader in the church at Antioch.

Clearly the issue over which Paul and Barnabas divided was not an easy one to resolve. However, we must not fall into the mistake of thinking that their division was inevitable or acceptable. We see from the text at least four failings that combined to cause the bust up. These things are more often than not the real causes of friction between co-workers or officers within a local church. They make a sad catalogue.

Lack of perspective

We can appreciate the fierceness of Paul and Barnabas at the beginning of chapter 15 when they are debating with others over whether something more than trusting Christ is necessary for salvation. The whole of the gospel was at stake over that question.

But this is not such an issue. Going with Paul and Barnabas is not Mark’s only opportunity for spiritual usefulness. If he does go and fails again, the mission will not be shipwrecked. Paul and Barnabas have got this matter out of perspective. It is not as important as their reactions suggest. It is not a dividing issue.

Sadly, neither church members nor church officers have learned the importance of perspective in discussion from this painful incident. When we are tempted to react with heat to an idea or opinion expressed by someone else in our church we need instead to ask ourselves: ‘Is this really as important as I’ve been suggesting?’ If you and I got used to asking ourselves that question we would spend far less time on our high horses. It is so easy to get things out of perspective and that is so dangerous to relationships within the leadership of the church and to the cause of the Saviour.

Lack of humility

There are two telltale evidences of a failure of humility by both Paul and Barnabas in Luke’s account.

First, they are both so adamant that they are right! Barnabas never seems to have considered that his attitude towards Mark might have been coloured by their tie of blood. It is difficult to be objective when family relationships are involved. And Paul seems unable to understand that he might be prejudiced against Mark because he left at a bad time for Paul, when Paul was ill (see Galatians 4). When you’re sure you’re right and a fellow church member is wrong, you need to ask the question: ‘Am I prejudiced about this?’ You need to consider again the other person’s point of view in order to understand its merits rather than be satisfied with questioning their motives.

Secondly, neither of them is willing to back down. They must have their own way. Yet Christ commends meekness and the spirit of the peacemaker, and Paul himself calls us to submit to one another. Often, this is the only way to avoid anger, bitterness and estrangement. Are you willing to do that for the Saviour, and the unity of the leadership and the church?

Lack of mediation

Even though there were surely some who could have helped, like the teachers mentioned in verse 35, it seems that nobody stepped in to try to arbitrate between Paul and Barnabas and to get them to appreciate each other’s point of view. That was surely understandable! Paul and Barnabas were strong characters. Solomon warns of the foolishness of a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own. He likens it to one who seizes a dog by the ears (Proverbs 26.17)!

Yet the teachers in the church who failed to intervene were not passers-by, but fellow officers in the work of the Lord. It was their God-given duty to seek to reconcile their warring brothers. They should have pleaded with Paul and Barnabas to agree with each other in the Lord, and sought to help those fellow workers in the cause of the gospel to get this matter in perspective. It seems that instead of seeking to arbitrate they took sides (surely implied in verse 40). That is easy to do. We often do it! Yet it tends to make things worse, for it makes entrenched positions seem more justified and so brings division closer. When we see brothers becoming heated with each other we need to step in to encourage understanding, balance and love.

Lack of prizing harmony

When David declared, in Psalm 133, ‘How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity’, he spoke profound truth. Paul and Barnabas had experienced it in great measure, and the church at Antioch had benefited tremendously. But now these two great men seem willing to throw it away as if it were worth nothing. Paul later wrote: ‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace’ (Ephesians 4.2-3). How different things might have been if he had considered what a great blessing unity is. Friend, you will come to see the value of that in the future: the real need is to see it in the heat of disagreement. Harmony is to be prized. It is worth working very hard to preserve it, even at the cost of self-denial or compromise. The latter is a dirty word, but it is a vital aspect of the godly person’s behaviour when the gospel and obedience to God are not at stake. Many years later Paul himself said wisely: ‘Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolishness or stupid arguments, because you know that they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servants must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach and not resentful’ (2 Timothy 2.22-24). We will be much more careful about words and attitudes, and much more slow to be forceful and extreme, if we remember how precious harmony is in the leadership and life of the local church.

This sad and painful incident is here to warn us against letting differences of opinion and judgement lead to quarrelling, bitterness and division among leaders, or members, in the local church. It challenges us to get keep things in perspective, to show humility at all times, to seek to get (or offer) help when faced by disagreements that threaten to get out of hand, and to cherish the blessing of harmony. That is a vital and searching challenge!

Postscript

Let me add an important postscript for those who know that they have let a disagreement lead to bitterness and division within the local church. You feel responsible and guilty for what you have done or not done. Your sense of guilt may well be appropriate. Yet you need to remember that the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses from all sin. Confess your sin to God and seek to be reconciled to your brother or sister. The Lord will help in efforts to restore relationships. His Spirit always supports and empowers real attempts at godliness. Divisions do not have to last forever. We do not know if Paul was reconciled to Barnabas, but we do know that eventually he had an excellent regard for, and relationship with, John Mark.

Teaching from Acts 15.36-41

Lack of perspective

Lack of humility

Lack of mediation

Lack of prizing harmony

Postscript

Graham Heaps

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