"Critical Issue"

                         "Graciously Disagreeing And Pressing On"

                               Acts 15:36-41; Ephesians 4:29-32

                                                       Part 3

          

            Sometime after returning from that first journey, Paul wanted to see now thise churches were doing, so he planned a return trip. That's when the disagreement happened.

                       And sfter some days Paul said to Barnabas,

                       "Let us return and visit the brethen in every 

                        city in which we proclaimed the word of the

                        Lord, and see how they are." And Barnabas

                        Was desirous of taking John, called Mark, 

                        alng with them also. But Paul kept insisting 

                        that they should not take him along who had

                        not gone with them to the work.(15:36-38).

Remember what we said earlier? In every disagreement there are two ingrediennts an objective issue and an opposing viewpoint.

The issue: Should a person who defects from a mission and leaves peoples in the lurch be given a second chance on a similar mission? The viewpoints: Paul said no, Barnabas said yes.

         The Opposing Viewpoints

          Each man was fully convinced he was right, because each viewed the issue from a different vantage point. Barnabas was people-oriented; Paul was more task-oriented. Barnabas was a man of compassion; Paul was a man of conviction. Barnabas a builder of men; Paul was planter of churches.

          Paul looked at the issue from the viewpoint of the overall good of the ministry. Barnabas looked at the issue from the viewpoint of the overall good of the man.

          A close examination of the text reveals the intensity of Paul's feelings. The Greek word translated "deserted" in verse 38 is a term from which we get the word apostasized. In Paul's mind John Mark had done more than jump ship; he had apostasized, he had been unfaithful.

          To some of us, Paul more seem harsh and Barnabas greathearted. But before we side with Barnabas, lets look at a proverb that undoubtedly had popped into Paul's pragmatic mind:

  

                      Like a bad tooth and unsteady foot

                      Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

                       (Prov. 25:19)

   

            Paul had a point. But we're really not trying to get you to cast a vote for either viewpoint. We're just trying to get you to see both sides of the issue. It's hard to do that, thought, when emotions are flaring which is what was happening in verse 39

                    And there arose such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. (Acts 15:39)

The Greek word for "Sharp disagreement" is paroxysm, Interestingly, our English word "paroxysm" is translated letter for letter. Webster says paroysm is "a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptom (as of a disease)." It is convulsion, a violent emotion. Such a rift resulted from Paul and Barnabas' disagreement that the time relationship could not easily mended.