Fractures in Christian Community

Sometimes we think that the big leaders of the early church were always on the same page. There are a couple of passages early in Acts that said “All the believers were one in heart and mind” (Acts 2:32). And yet in the passage we’re about to look at, Paul and Barnabas walked away from each other because of “such a sharp disagreement.”

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. - Acts 15:36-41

Take some time to really think about this disagreement. All week we’ll be thinking through some of the implications.

• What does it do to your image of what it means to be Christian community to realize that these giants of the faith had this huge blow up?

• Are there some situations that you have had to walk away from that might be helpful to process with Jesus this week?