Life Thoughts
Struggles in Church – Leadership Disagreements!
Conflict! Some people love it, others hate it. Some it energizes and others it drains. I often laugh in church as leaders will present the early church as a single unified body and present to us that we are inherently off when we have conflict in the church. I personally believe that to be a herectical statement! There was conflict in the early church, however their was also unity. How can that be you ask? Purpose. Thats how.
As you read through the New Testament you will see how the early Judeo Christianity transformed into the Pauline Christianity, one faith that was a deviation of Judiasm to the faith that brought salvation to all men, both Jew and Gentile. That transition and struggle was not easy as you read you will see how those early church leaders struggled even when God gave them visions on moving out!
It is very clear, that church leadership did not always agree on direction. Sometimes their were even conflicts between leaders. The story that I have found myself fixated on this week is the struggle between Paul and Barnabas. Here were two great leaders of the early church. Men who were known for their faith and following.
Barnabas, was a nick name given to a man named Joseph. He was as the Bible puts it, a man of encouragement, so much so that everyone called him “The Encourager” or Barnabas! Baranabas is first introduced to us as one who sold his field and brought the money to the church to help those in need. Barnabas was one of the first to welcome Paul after his converstion and even opened the doors for him to the church brothers in Jerusalem. For several years their labored together in spreading the Gospel, but one day they had a disagreement, one that caused them to literally go seperate ways.
Now I have heard this tale concluded in several ways, some saying Paul was wrong and others that Barnabas was wrong. However I think they were both right! Yes, church leaders can be going in diffent directions and still both be right. I think it is a very persumptive thing for us to hold to the thought that only one could be right. God is greater than that. The key is how these leaders conducted themselves amidst this disgreement.
Barnabas had a young man that had accompanied he and Paul on several endeavors, John Mark. At one point, John Mark leaves Paul and Barnabas, or literally quits the mission. Later when Baranabas wants to bring him on another endeavor, Paul says no. Barnabas says yes, their is more to the man than you have have experienced. Paul says no, the work is too important to have a quitter. They stay at odds on the issue and ultimately Barnabas takes John Mark and goes one way and Paul takes Silas and heads another.
Talk about a leadership disagreement.
So what happened? Both groups went forth and spread the Gospel, saw conversion and experienced the move of God. What? How can that be? They were in disagreement? Yea, I know, God is funny that way.
What I even love more is that Paul later writes from prision and says that John Mark is their with him, and that if he should come, the church should recieve John Mark. Talk about restoration and leadership.
I love how God works. Have struggles with your leadership? Dont give up. Feel the need to go a seperate direction? Sometimes you need to! Can God be in it? Yes, absolutely.
Your takeaways:
God does not lead everyone down the same road!
God loves us all.
We need encouragement and the voice of encouragement!
Even when we quit, their is hope to get back in!
Its ok to disagree with each other sometims!
God Bless.
Moments are Like Love
Today, breath deep and release
Allow your soul to find peace
Time ushers forward at a relenting pace
but come away to solitude place
A brief second, or a long minute
Take time to see what is in it
A paue, a moment to see
can seem like an eternity
Moments, they are like love
Precious, few and from above
When you experience what they hold
Miracles, laughter and joy untold
today, take at least one
To experience life and fun
Take as much of them as you dare
But always try and share
Moments are like love, never forgotten!
Dont allow yours to be rotton!
What would you do for a Klodike bar?
Trains of thought are funny things. Yesterday, after picking my children up from their mothers, we were on the way home and they started a discussion about what they would be willing to do for 1 million dollars. This was one of those moments as a parent, your ears perk up and you listen…
The discussion was typcial of one led by teenage boys and the willingness covered swimming through vomet and human sewage. Surprisingly they would do it for a million dollars!
Then as my mind works it magic, I heard that old TV commercial jingle “What would you do for a Klondike Bar? Then the train of thought went further and I began to think about risk. You see, that is the real question. What would you do (willing to risk) for the gain (a million dollars or Klondike Bar)? Then my mind diverted again and began to contemplate a man named Cornelius.
In the New Testament, Book of Acts, there is a story of a soldier named Cornelius. Cornelius was by reputation and practice a devout man of faith and action. He was known for his generous giving to the needy and his regular prayer time with God. He was by all measure a success both in his career and spiritual life. His faith was not only a personal matter but his whole family were known to be devout and God fearing. He basically had it all together.
One day during his prayer time, an angel of God came to him and said “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come before God as a memorial offering, so send some ment to Joppa and bring back a man named Simon”. What a strange statement! Your actions have come before God as a memorial so send some people to go get a man from Joppa! Talk about an opportunity for risk. Not only was he asked by God to do something out of the ordinary, but he was told to involve others! Imagine for a moment what must have went through his mind. What if I imagined that? Who is Simon? Why do I need to see him? Why cant I go to him, where nobody knows me? Why do I have to bring him here? What if . . .
Risk!
Fortunately Cornelius listened to God and took the risk. He sent two of his servants and a miliatry attendant to Joppa to get Peter. Now the story continues that the men went to Joppa got Simon and headed back to Caesarea. Meanwhile, Cornelius gathered all his relatives and close friends together in expectation of what Simon who do/say. You see, I think that is an important part of risk, and that is expectation. But with expectation, brings greater risk! Imagine if Simon was a disappointment? Imagine if he was some kind of freak! Cornelius was exposing his close friends and family to this unknown factor. Most of us would wait, filter Simon, then disapate what occurred to reduce our risk. Not Cornelius. Faith!
I love the encounter when Simon arrives. He says, (slightly paraphrased) “Strange! You guys know that it is unlawful for me, a Jew to associate or visit with a Gentile, or in this case a large group of Gentiles. But God told me the other day that I should not see any of you as unpure or unclean, so when your men came for me, I decided to come. What do you want of me?”
Imagine Cornelius’s thoughts as Simon spoke. First the realization that he is a Jew and should not be there, second that Simon knows and says as much. Then a strange moment as this guy says he heard from God, that it is ok to break the rules. Risk is definitely seeming risky at this point. Then the hammer falls. When Simon asks, What do you want? Imagine Cornelius’s heart sinking and thinking “What! You dont know why your here? I dont know, I thought for sure you would know!”
Then Cornelius says as much, by recanting the story of his vision and then he sums it up, by saying “So we are all hear to listen to what God has told you to tell us!” Wow! Talk about risk! The story goes on that Simon tells them about Jesus and in that process the Holy Spirit comes on all, everyone who heard the message. Then Simon had them baptized and the Christian faith was effectively poured out upon your and my ancestors and the way of Salvation began to be openly preached and taught to Gentiles.
What a great reward for the risk! I owe you Cornelius! Thanks.
So I will conclude today with a couple of questions for you to consider?
What would you do to experience the presence of God?
What would you do to keep your heart/life pure?
What would you do . . .
Failings
I don’t know about you, but I hate to fail. But no matter how much I hate it, I do. Over and over. Not always in the same way (although occasionally that does happen!), but each test/trial of life brings new opportunity to succeed or fail.
However, when we fail, it is not always bad. I like the way Oscar Wilde said it, “Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.” As I consider failure, I find several things of value that if received, profit me abundantly:
1. Failure at something means that you now know for sure, one way that does not work!
2. Failure at something means that you have gained experience, that if shared, will benefit those who also are headed where you are.
3. Failure at something means that tomorrow you have a new opportunity for success.
4. No success has ever been achieved without failure.
I like what Provers 24:16 says, “Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again” Basically, when you fall, and you will, sometimes over and over, get up! Keep trying.
“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.”
