Sometimes there isn't a right answer

Sunday, April 28th, 2024

Introductory information

In the last couple lessons, we saw how the early Church handled it’s first major doctrinal dispute

The people needed direction and a definitive answer on how to correctly understand an important matter: did Gentiles need to follow the Law of Moses to be saved?

We learned the importance of submitting to godly leaders, and listening to the Holy Spirit together, in order to get the answers to non-disputable matters

In this lesson, we will look at how to handle a situation with Christian brothers and sisters, when there may not be one correct answer

READ

Question to consider as we read:

What do we do, when we can’t agree?

Acts 15:35–41 CSB

35 But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord. 36 After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord. 41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

EXAMINE

What are the key points in this passage?

#1 | Paul and Barnabas agree they should revisit the churches they have planted

The churches existed in cities that had a lot of hostility towards the Gospel message

Acts 15:36 After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.”

No doubt the new Christians would need encouragement, instruction, correction, and support

#2 | Paul and Barnabas disagree about taking John-Mark (4) along

John-Mark had left them part-way through their first missionary journey

Acts 13:13 “Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John [Mark] left them and went back to Jerusalem.”

Barnabas wanted to invite John-Mark for the second journey

Acts 15:37 Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark.

His reasons aren’t clear, but it could be that he saw John-Mark’s potential and wanted to give him another chance (remember that John-Mark was Barnabas’ cousin)

OR perhaps Barnabas had agreed with John-Mark’s reasons for leaving the first time, and didn’t see it as a fault

Paul did not want to invite John-Mark

Acts 15:38 ...Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

John-Mark’s reasons for leaving them the first time are not explained, but Paul clearly thought John-Mark was in the wrong (2) and possibly saw it as a sign that John-Mark was unfit for this kind of ministry

#3 | Paul and Barnabas can’t reach agreement, and part ways

Luke doesn’t say which one of them was right or wrong

It could be that they both had good reasons and that’s why neither of them would budge (3)

This is a good lesson that sometimes there isn’t a clearly right, Biblical solution to a problem or question

While there are many situations where God gives us clear direction, there are other times when He leaves things open for us to decide

We have to trust God to lead us (and trust Him to lead other people) when things are unclear

Consider the implications of Psalm 18:36 You make a spacious place beneath me for my steps, and my ankles do not give way.

Paul would later explain in his letter to the church in Rome, how to handle disputable issues in the church

Romans 14:1–19 “...don’t argue about disputed matters… 4 Who are you to judge another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand… 7 For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord… 13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister… 18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval. 19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.”

Remembering last week’s lesson: this concept doesn’t apply to things the Holy Spirit has clearly communicated (such as clear instruction in scripture) - those things are not disputable and we don’t get to decide for ourselves

When we do face a disputable, unclear question or problem, we must release one another to the Lord - trusting Him to lead and guide us

Sometimes there is more than one good path, and we are mistaken in thinking that “only one of us can be right”

APPLY

Explore and apply the passage with these questions:

[These questions must be focused, yet very open-ended. Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want to encourage everyone to share and explore the topics of the passage. You don’t have to ask all these questions. Sometimes a group may only get through one or two questions. Select the questions you think are right for the conversation. Then, as it comes time to wrap up, refocus the conversation to “land the plane.”]

Does anything frustrate or shock you in today’s passage?

Why do we try to force agreement between ourselves and/or other people?

How can we know when a particular matter is disputable or not?

Does God always limit us to one possible path? Consider again Psalm 18:36

Where we want to “land the plane”

We have to leave room to disagree with one another over disputable matters - entrusting one another to the Lord’s direction and protection

REFLECT

Prayer Points for Today

Ask the Lord to teach us patience with one another and repent of any way we have tried to manage others, or force agreement, where God has given us liberty

Devotional Question for the Week

The desire for control is a pervasive one. It may surprise you how many of your unhealthy behaviors are driven by wanting control. How might the desire for control, be causing you to be intolerant of other people’s opinions or values?

FOOTNOTES

No verse 34? Verse 34 is omitted by several important Greek manuscripts. [Which is why many modern translations now no longer include it] Perhaps a scribe added it later to explain the choice of Silas (v. 40). Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 396.

What caused Mark to desert is open to speculation: (1) Perhaps he was disillusioned with the change in leadership. After all, Barnabas, the original leader, was John Mark’s cousin. (2) The new emphasis on Gentiles may have been too much of an adjustment for a Palestinian Jew like Mark. (3) Possibly he was afraid of the dangerous road over the Taurus Mountains to Antioch which Paul was determined to travel. (4) There is some evidence Paul became quite ill in Perga, possibly with malaria, as the city of Perga was subject to malarial infections. Furthermore, Paul preached to the people of Galatia “because of an illness” (Gal. 4:13). The missionary party may have gone inland to higher ground to avoid the ravages of malaria and Mark in discouragement over this may have returned home. (5) Some think Mark was homesick. His mother may have been a widow (Acts 12:12); perhaps Mark became lonesome for her and home. Whatever the reason, Paul considered it a defection and a fault (cf. 15:38). Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 388–389.

Probably both Paul and Barnabas were right in their assessments of Mark. It may have been too soon for Mark to venture out with such a pro-Gentile apostle as Paul, but Barnabas certainly and correctly saw good raw material in his cousin Mark (cf. Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Phile. 24; 1 Peter 5:13). Paul later spoke of Barnabas in positive terms (1 Cor. 9:6; Col. 4:10). The Apostle Paul owed much to Barnabas and it appears they remained friends despite their contention over Mark. Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 396.

John-Mark - In first-century Palestine, it was common for a man to have two names: a Hebrew name (e.g., “John”), by which he was known to friends and relatives, and a Greek or Roman (Roman Christian) name (e.g., “Mark”), by which he was known in the business world (Barclay, Introduction, 151; Acts 12:12, 25). “Mark” appears to have been a common name in the first century. Consequently, it is difficult to know whether the person mentioned in Acts and Colossians is the “Mark” named elsewhere in the New Testament (2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 24; 1 Pet 5:13; compare with John Mark in Acts 12:12, 25; 13:5, 13; 15:37, 39; Col 4:10). The Lexham Bible Dictionary