Fighting for Unity: When We Can't Agree

Introduction

Last week we talked about fighting for unity when we can agree. We honed in on the essentials, what does it mean for us to have unity on the foundational bricks of our faith. We saw that James’ declaration to the Jerusalem Counsel was to instruct the Gentiles in two principles for grace-filled living.

As those under Grace, we are not to make non-Biblical requirements of others

Because we are under Grace, we gladly restrict our freedom for the sake of others

My point was this- sometimes the best thing for the Church is to agree to disagree. But, there are also moments when we need to fight for unity when we can’t agree. That’s what we’re going to talk about tonight, and we find it in Acts 15: 36-41

Acts 15:36–41 ESV

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Content

Whats the implication of this portion of scripture? Well, tonight we’re going to talk about what it means to fight for unity when we can’t agree. When we have moments like the one we just read Paul & Barnabas had. What do we do when we have irreconcilable differences with other believers? Let’s unpack the text.

Acts 15:36 ESV

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”

Paul wanted he and Barnabas to retrace their steps from their first missionary journey. He wanted to revisit all of the towns where they preached the Gospel and follow up with all of the converts, those who gave their lives to Jesus. I think we can all agree this is a fantastic discipleship strategy: follow up. However, though Barnabas agreed with the strategy, he wanted to add a teammate.

Acts 15:37 ESV

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

So, who is John Mark? Well, we read about him in two other portions of scripture

Acts 13:13 ESV

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

Colossians 4:10 ESV

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),

John Mark had previously left Paul & Barnabas, why he left we do not know. But, what we do know is that it made Paul angry and distrusting in him.

Acts 15:38 ESV

But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

Paul wanted nothing to do with the man who had abandoned them. He had no interest in taking him on their second missionary journey, and the two apostles (Paul and Barnabas) could not come to terms on the issue. Why? Well, we know from Colossians that Barnabas was John Mark’s cousin. He had a family bond to the man who abandoned them, and he wanted to give him a second chance. Paul however, did not.

This led to a sharp disagreement,

Acts 15:39 ESV

And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

What is that word “Sharp” actually saying? Well its the greek word paroxysmos which is where we get the word provoke from. It wasn’t just a disagreement- they were provoked towards one another, they were passionately angry.

“This was not a mild gentlemen’s disagreement but an intense and passionate conflict!” (Preaching the Word: Acts. p. 203)

What does this mean of Paul and Barnabas? How do we interpret and understand a sharp disagreement among two apostles? Although Paul’s writing and teaching carries the authority of the Holy Spirit, does that same infallibility apply to his decision to reject Mark? If so, does that mean that Barnabas was simply wrong, or at least horribly unwise? (ESV Expository Commentary. p. 489)

Well, we know Paul later changes his mind about John Mark.

2 Timothy 4:11 ESV

Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

This seems to vindicate Barnabas’ judgement. It is possible that Paul was mistaken, or at least too stubborn, in his judgement about Mark. It is also possible that Paul should have given Mark another chance. Paul, as great as he was, was not perfect or infallible (only God is).

However, we know that Barnabas was known as the encourager, like I talked about a few weeks ago, which means maybe this made him shortsighted in his judgement towards John Mark. Obviously, there was a family bond, so maybe that caused him to overlook John Mark’s previous betrayal. Maybe Paul was right, John Mark was not ready to join them again. On the other hand, maybe Barnabas recognized something in John Mark that Paul did not?

Or, maybe neither of the apostles were absolutely right or wrong about John Mark.

My point is this, sometimes not even the best Christians always agree. Sometimes good Christians intensely disagree! When two believers disagree over an important issue, at least one of them must have something wrong in their life—if not in their walk, at least in his viewpoint. All Christians walk with limps. We all rely on the Grace of the Lord.

So what resulted of this conflict? One Bible scholar says, “so the unthinkable happened, and Paul and Barnabas agreed to disagree and went their separate ways of ministry for Christ” (Preaching the Word: Acts. p. 203)

Acts 15:40–41 ESV

but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul chose a new ministry partner named Silas and Barnabas leaves the narrative of the book of Acts.. Up to this point Barnabas has been one of the most important figures in the early Church. After he sails with John Mark, however, we read no more of him in the book of Acts. Paul, on the other hand, becomes the major figure in the narrative.

Now, while we love Paul and model him in many ways as Christ followers, he is no better than Barnabas— He is simply different. he is chosen by God for specific purposes, purposes different than Barnabas.

Barnabas sailed into more fruitful ministry, though not recorded in history. In contract, the continuing ministry of Paul and Silas is well-known. The point here is that the relationship between two great men of God had failed. Here is what that same Bible scholar has to say about this,

Nowhere in the account does it say that the two prayed and that it seemed good to them and the Holy Spirit for Mark to remain or for the two of them to double their ministry by going in different directions. The omission of a harmonious conclusion indicates the unstated but undeniable failure of two of the greatest souls the church has ever known. What does this reveal about how God directs his servants? While God did not cause the disagreement or fateful separation, he used it to guide both men into increased fruitfulness and service. (Preaching the Word: Acts. p. 204)

It is often through our difficulties and failures that God leads us in the direction that He wants us to go.

Conclusion

Disputes like this are a rarity in the New Testament; unity is the overwhelming shared emphasis in the Epistles.

No other single teaching on grace-filled living is addressed more than unity in the New Testament. Regardless of any disagreement, we cannot and shall not let anything hinder the work of reaching the lost with the Gospel.

What does that mean? Sometimes you may have to agree to part ways from time to time, but we must always agree that we will pursue the good of the kingdom of Christ regardless of the way we take.

This practice is why we have denominations, its why we had the reformation, and its why Christians continue to do separate but equally important ministry. Sometimes fighting for unity means agreeing that you can’t agree. I love how LB put it in her outline of this passage of scripture, sometimes you have to part ways with people to the Glory of God.