“Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along. :38 However, Paul didn't think it was right to take a person like him along. John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to work. :39 Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to the island of Cyprus.” Act 15:37-39
Is it always bad and wrong to disagree? The quick answer...no. Much depends on the circumstances that surround the disagreement. In all reality, you will find it tough to discover another person who agrees with you 100% of the time. They are in your dreams.
Paul and Barnabas had such a sharp disagreement over whether they took Mark with them on the next journey that they separated ways.
Is that wrong? Well, for an argument to occur, two parties must participate. Both believed strongly that their point of view was the right one. This passage also says that they both took a different missionary partner and went their way. In other words, they became twice as effective.
How great it is to see such awesome Godly men chucking tomatoes at each other. Even they did it. However, 1Timothy 6:4 warns us against quarrels. Read.
We must always have a desire to never loose Godly relationships over issues that just don’t matter. Never be too stubborn to still stand arm-in-arm with your brothers even in the midst of disagreement. Ps 133 says that God commands a blessing when we walk in unity. That means that when we disagree, we still worship the Lord and love your brother at the same time. Don’t you want God’s blessings? I do!
May the Lord bless you. Love from your pastor, Daren.
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