Do Not Go It Alone

Read: Acts 15:36-16:5

God did not design us to “go it alone”. This is true for humans in general, let alone for us as his people. But the truth of it is that it is easier said than done sometimes. To be in community can be difficult. We have been seeing it here in Acts. There are disagreements. There are “shake ups”. The question becomes, is this good or bad? Are we to read these verses and say to ourselves, “see… I knew things were going along too well in the early church… things were too good to be true. It was only a matter of time before things blew up!” ?

Growth and progress will always require some deconstruction and redistribution. Conflict in and of itself is not bad, it is unresolved conflict that hurts us. What if there is room in the C/church for healthy debate and yet still the ability to remain unified. What if “splitting” can lead to GROWTH… the same way it does with cells in the human body. Look at Paul and Barnabas: “Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.” (v.37-39) It is probably easier for us to envision Paul and Barnabas stomping off angry with each other than it is to see them hugging and parting ways. But does that make it true? Are we to see this as a sign of “division” in the early church… or is it possible this is a catalyst for growth? In terms of “missionaries” going our… we get two new missionaries in the mix! (John Mark, Silas) We also see two “teams” leave - as opposed to a single team of three. What if God is using healthy conflict and subsequent resolution to bring about growth in the C/church… and in US!

Conflict is inevitable. It will lead to growth when we navigate it with a humble heart. As the people of God, we need to seek unity. Barnabas and Paul were UNIFIED in the mission to revisit church plants. They just went about the same mission in different ways… with different “team mates”. What Paul and Barnabas both understood was that they shouldn’t “go it alone”. Sometimes when we have been hurt, or in a disagreement with another in the family of God… we are tempted to withdraw. The enemy will tell us “it is not worth it… that relationships are too messy.” Like most of what Satan says… this is half true. Relationships ARE messy… but they are worth it. So what became of this split?

“Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” (v. 40,41) The people of God need to be STRENGTHENED by one another. When we work as a team with one another this brings strengthening. When we resolve conflict, even if it means parting ways in our work while we remain unified in our mission, this brings about opportunities for STRENGTHENING. We see this growth continue to happen when Timothy is added to the team with Paul and Silas. No this team of three “went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.” (v.16:4) Are you trying to go it alone? Do you need a “team mate” to two? Are you discouraged because of a disagreement? Remember this: resolved conflict leads to growth and strengthening… unresolved conflict leads to division and weakness. Who is “well spoken of in the city” like Timothy that you could seek out and talk to? Would you be brave enough to reach and share with someone around you how you feel? Who is God calling you to “strengthen in the faith”? Love you guys. - JDP