In our staff meeting this morning, our Pastor/ Teacher Jerry Marshall took us to Acts 15:36-41, where Paul and Barnabas parted ways over the inclusion of John Mark in their next missionary journey. He asked us this question, “Was this separation over a matter of preference or principle?”

In that we don’t have a lot of details, other than Mark has deserted them on the last journey, who was right in the assessment of John Mark. Barnabas (which means encouragement) probably saw this as an opportunity to encourage this young man in giving him a second chance. Paul was probably thinking, “Why? So he can desert us again?”

A few points of application arise from this study:

First, Paul is a human being who is an Apostle and is inspired by God to write Scripture, but isn’t always correct in all of his decisions. Now this may sound like I am siding with Barnabas, which I am not. Rather this simply brings into perspective, that you have two godly men here who disagree on a decision, and that decision has implications that go both ways. It could either be a help to John Mark or a hindrance to ministry (which John Mark had already proved to be on their last journey.) Paul can make a mistake.

Second, there can be legitimate areas of disagreement between two loving and dedicated siblings in Christ, that aren’t over doctrinal/ primary issues. This is simply a pragmatic issue. Would there be purposeful and progressive ministry in giving a guy a second chance? The answer from Scripture is clearly, “Yes!” For we see in Colossians 4:10 and 2 Tim 4:11 that there must have been some sort of restoration, because Paul is in need of John Mark. In fact God uses John Mark to write a gospel!

Would not also there be merit to Paul’s side. We could understand how practically you don’t want someone slowing you down (as he already had proved he could do!) So practically, ministry must go on and there is no slowing down and we don’t want someone on our team who might “stick it to us” again!

Thirdly, there is a sense in which the decision of both were beneficial. There were now two missionary fronts, and we recognize that God is the One who is in control of this whole enterprise!

The answer to the question of whether this is preference of principle is, “Yes.” There is a sense in which you could apply both of those terms legitimately to this scenario. Preference is sometimes grounded in good principle, but we must not separate permanently over preference. Both principles could apply here and one could not stand out over the other as more right. However, we take comfort in knowing that God knew (and knows) what needed to happen.

The part I am thankful for is when I am forced to make a decision like this, with all the thought and wise counsel I can gather, I am not going to thwart God’s plan, even if I screw it up royally from a human perspective!