Acts 15:36-41 –“After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” NASB

Those who have studied the Book of Acts will remember that this was not the only time the apostle Paul disagreed with another brother.  We are told that he ‘withstood Peter to his face’ over what he considered hypocrisy and seems to have been correct.  However, that did not end his relationship with Peter. 

In this account, the split in the team of Paul and Barnabas was so severe that Paul took another co-worker, Silas, and Barnabas took John Mark and separated.  Their disagreement was not in the foundational truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, but in how to walk out what they believed was their commission and purpose from the Lord.

I have some friends I love and respect who disagree with me on some aspects of how to accomplish what we believe to be our purpose from the Lord.  Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that because we think something, that means it is the ‘only way’ or the ‘right way.’   If we allow that view to become our guide, we will think that our way is the only way, and anyone doing something different is riding 2^nd Class on the Gospel Train. 

There was a time in my life when I was like that. I was extremely dogmatic about not only what people should believe but how they should walk out their purpose and ministry.  I had a view and truly believed that I had heard God.   I could not fathom any other interpretation.  I had heard God for myself, but that did not mean I had heard Him for everyone else.

I have some dear Christian friends who have regularly censured or criticized my involvement in anything remotely political.  They do not necessarily tell me that to my face.  However, the things they say publicly and to others leave little doubt that my involvement was, at least, part of the reason for the statements, if not the reason. 

I take no offense to that because they love God dearly and want the best for the Body of Christ and me.  They genuinely believe that they are right and that I am wrong.  I am at peace with what I do and how I do it.  

I believe that God has directed me to speak to people about their spiritual condition and the condition of man reflected in the outworking of life as well as demonstrated in politics.  I believe God has called me to be a ‘watchman on the wall’ both to sound the alarm spiritually and warn of impending danger and evil in other areas of life. God seeks us to be discerning, not judgmentally critical. 

Hear me carefully.  What I am saying is that just because you do not agree with another brother or sister on how they perceive their path to walk out of their purpose does not mean you have to alienate or reject them.  If we agree on the core foundational truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, most other things can be worked around. 

I encourage you to realize that while God has a specific plan for each of our lives, He does not have a one size fits all plan.  He does not always give specific details on exactly how to walk out what he directs, so realize that each person is unique and how we walk out our ministry and purpose will likely be very different.

God bless you, and God bless America!