Acts 15

Read Acts 15 – Disagreement does not negate the faith. 

Disagreement over circumcision breaks out between some men from Antioch and Paul and Barnabas.  The church decided to send them all to Jerusalem, so they could go before the apostles. This is important and both sides have passionate arguments for their view.  Notice that both were willing to pursue the matter to resolve. 

Together, they did come to resolve, deciding the most basic tenets for the new believers are to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. 

Beloved, be willing to work things out, take them to church leadership if you must, but work towards resolve.  There was great joy for the Gentile believers as they read this encouraging message. (15:1-31) 

Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas stayed on encouraging and strengthening the Antioch believers for some time.  Down the road Paul and Barnabas decided to return to the cities where they had preached to see how the believers were doing, but they came to a personal disagreement as to bringing John Mark along.  Scripture does not indicate favor for either side, but records they decided to split.  Barnabas took John Mark to Cypress, and Paul took Silas to strengthen the churches throughout Syria and Cilicia.

Beloved, this division did not lead to resolve between the men, but it did lead to God’s glory in that they reached more places than they would have together.  Is God calling you to something different?  What’s holding you back?