It didn’t take long for the first potential division to rock the young church. Paul and Barnabas were busy seeing people saved, churches established, and Christians edified. Anyone who has seen great progress in the ministry could have told them what was coming next – Trouble (notice that is with a capital “T”). Some Christians, notably saved Pharisees had a hard time with seeing Gentiles saved and added to the church. This was just a step to far for them. Some of them decided that those who got saved had to submit to circumcision. Practically speaking that would be enough to put most men off from getting saved!
Paul and Barnabas could not believe it. They were stunned that someone was trying to add works to the gospel of grace. The dispute got a bit out of hand it looks like so they decided to take it to the pastors and the apostles who were back in
We’ll lay the answer aside for the moment. There is something else we need to note. Both parties could have split up, written articles, and held conferences to expose the other side and prove that they were right.
But what did these men do? They took their dispute to the apostles and pastors. There the dispute once again got hot and heavy, but still the came together to consider the matter.
I think today we use the term “dialogue.” These men, with a huge difference, sat down and worked through the issue. Far too often today we never get to the point of trying to “consider the matter.” Instead we rush out, both guns blazing, trying to shoot down the other side.
I know God is sovereign, don’t take me wrong here. But “what if” these two parties in the early church had not come together to consider the matter, but instead acted like we so often act today?
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