Feud In The Church

Very early in the week, we were told that feuds can be an ongoing prolonged battle or dispute. It was also noted that they generate a lot of anger and that they were most unfortunate, and extremely disruptive.

We now look at a dispute between two Holy Spirit, filled men, ardent and fruitful workers of Jesus, who have come upon this most volatile situation. Here is some necessary history about these men of the Church, high leaders of the Church, I might add.

Permit me to bring just some added information about the Church and how very fundamental disputes, which arise out of people’s own understanding, traditions and holding fast to the law, can be dangerously disruptive and maliciously harmful to the growth and progress of the Lord’s Church. When you listen, you will determine whether or not these are still prolonged disputes or feuds, affecting the Church today.

People, believers mind you, who had come to Antioch, were teaching the new Gentile converts to Christianity, that they had to be circumcised, to be saved. Yes, you heard correctly! Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved. Acts 15: 1b. Such malicious and erroneous actions and words, were not tolerated, by Paul and Barnabas. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. Acts 15: 2

Having arrived safely in Jerusalem and cordially welcomed by the Church there, a meeting was convened. Believe it or not, right there in Jerusalem, some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses’. Acts 15: 5. Quite a time ensued, where persuasive speakers, such as Peter, Paul and James, lifted high God’s grace above law. James sealed it all, when he boldly proclaimed. It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Acts 15: 19.

Aren’t these disputes still affecting the progress of the Church? They may not be the same, but they come from the same human, ignorant understanding or misunderstanding of the truths about Salvation. Think about it!

Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch where they worked together preaching and teaching about the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Sometime later, Paul suggested to Barnabas that they leave and go to visit the believers in all the places where they had preached the Lord’s Word, to see how they were doing and to encourage them. Would you believe that this suggestion, as wise and needed as it was, brought a sharp disagreement and dispute between these brothers in Christ, these Spirit-filled workers of Jesus, these leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ?

The dispute had absolutely nothing to do with the suggestion. It had nothing to do with who suggested it. It had nothing to do with timing and where to go or any such action. Their huge disagreement had to do with another brother in Christ. You see, Barnabas wanted John Mark to go along with them and Paul refused to have him. Paul did not see him as fit and ready for such committed work. He did not see him as ready to endure hardships and suffering for the sake of the Gospel. You see, Mark had been with them before and he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. Acts 15: 38b. This dispute was very big, and deep. So resolved was each man to his mind, neither would back down from his position. The work of God had to go on and it did, after these fellow co-workers in the Lord, parted company. 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. Acts 15: 39 – 40.