It's Okay To Split For A Cause
Dear Catholics and Protestants, you're doing just fine. Hate, criticism or rash judgement will lead nowhere.
There were two great men and disciples of Jesus who nagged at each other over a third party and split in the process. These two leading men were Paul and Barnabas.
Paul and Barnabas were the perfect definition of friends that loved more than brothers. The 'perfect duo' shared identical vision of making the Gospel known home and abroad and in turn, winning souls over to God. They went about doing good until an unexpected fuss surged up.
The fuss emerged as a result of John-Mark's initial attitude during their first Missionary journey where he tagged along with Paul and Barnabas but changed his mind by returning to Jerusalem after they had reached their designated country of assignment.
During Paul and Barnabas' second Missionary journey, Barnabas insisted that they tag along with John-Mark but Paul had zero tolerance to indiscipline and wouldn't agree. This made them part ways to continue their work for Christ.
There was no space in Paul's heart for second chance but on the other hand, Barnabas saw great potentials in John-Mark and failed to give up on him.
It gets interesting....
Decades later, John-Mark matures and gets endorsed by Paul who once rejected him. {See 2 Timothy 4:1} "Paul instructed, "Bring Mark with you, he'll be my right-hand man since I'm sending Tychicus to Ephesus."
Dear Catholics and Protestants, Paul and Barnabas are yardsticks for evaluation.
In our present society, Paul represents the Catholic church and Barnabas represents the Protestant church who criticize for a cause probably because they see potentials in what the former failed to see at first instance. It's okay to part ways and preach the Gospel of Christ to the nations. As a matter of fact, It's the heart and motive God is after not the religion.
Interestingly, Paul, Barnabas and John-Mark eventually lay their grudge to rest and lived peacefully proclaiming the good-news to the people which was their mission ab initio.
Anchor Scriptures:
{James 1:26-27}
"Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. The kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world."
{1 Corinthians 14:33}
"When we worship the right way, God doesn't stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches - no exceptions.
Today, lets go about doing good!
Have a Great day.
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Very Interesting. My euphoria never ceases as you mentioned in 2Tim 4:1. This summed it up. If John Mark became the problem, Paul and Barnabas found their way of solving it but at their own time. Thus the SPIRIT OF God was with them since it was their fuel of preaching the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, we await for the time for "Barnabas" to solve their "John-Mark"s.
Loved every bit of this article!