Day 36: Church is Never Perfect (Acts 15:36-40)
Today’s Passage: Acts 15:36-40
Ever notice that people’s experiences at church and with Christians often gets in the way of them meeting Jesus?
Most people have a high standard for others who dare to say they follow God. Certainly, the failures of the institutional church, its abuse of power and people, is scandalous and breaks the heart of God.
Yet I am talking about the more ordinary run-ins with followers of Jesus. You know, the rude word, shortness when doing business with them, etc. The kind of stuff people experience every day from any number of Christians. The kind of stuff we are both recipient and source.
Then, of course there are the broken relationships. Those hurt.
In all of these situations our disappointment is real, as we have come to hope that people who know and follow Jesus will be different. Sometimes we are—sometimes we are not.
In the episode today, on the heels of the church rejoicing over the letter from Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas split. The band has broken up!
It is kind of jarring. Maybe as you were reading you were thinking, “What? Wait a minute, really? I mean…these dudes have been through a lot!”
When I say “a lot”, think back and consider all they have been involved with.
The phrase, “the band has broken up” is not offered to be trite. Bands struggle. They wrestle with finding the right song. They spend an inordinate amount of time together. They share in the exhilaration of success and discouragement of defeat. They are forged together in a crucible of pressure.
How were Paul and Barnabas formed? They faced death together.
We cannot know for sure all of the details of the break up, but there was a disagreement about John Mark. Barnabas, true to his nature, is willing to give John Mark a second chance. Paul, true to his nature, is focused on mission.
As an aside, I really appreciate that the Bible does not sugar-coat the story. There is no omission. As members of the Church we always strive for unity. When we find ourselves disagreeing, we should be humble, repentant, and ready to listen. Yet at some point, we may need to go a different way. This should come after seeking God’s will in prayer, and counsel from the saints. However, if after earnestly seeking the Lord we choose to walk apart, we must trust that God is sovereign, and be sure we are following Him as we perceive His leading.
It is never easy. Yet, it happens. Oh, that when we split, it would not be with sharp words. The Lord may find a later time when we are brought back together.