Acts 15:36-41
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Galatians 2:1
Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
1 Corinthians 9:6
Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
Reflection
The other day I found an audio reading of the epistle of Barnabas and listened to it. It's a beautiful book. In my opinion, it enriches our faith in Jesus very strongly. A quick Google search reveals that while it was a very popular book in the early church, it was ultimately excluded from the canon because the church seemingly favoured Paul's letters more, and given the sharp disagreement they had over John-Mark (who according to some biblical scholars was a relative of Barnabas), I'm not surprised.
Barnabas's epistle was never declared heretical, so I think it's safe to assume that they just excluded his book because they liked Paul more than him, which is a tad unfair but not surprising, as human beings we are all obviously like this. We gravitate to whom we find more appealing. All evidence points to Barnabas being a faithful follower of Christ, and if we take the time to listen to his book as per the link below or read it if we have the book, we may be pleasantly surprised.I personally find much spiritual value to his epistle. So to exclude his book because of personal preference instead of looking at his work and judge it based on spiritual merit is wrong.
Anyway, I gave his book a chance and wasn't disappointed. It's beautifully written, and I love how he tied some Jewish traditional practices back to Jesus's life and death on the cross that I hadn't heard before. For example, in chapter 7 of his epistle, he wrote about the two goats of Leviticus chapter 16, and how the one released into the wilderness to carry the sins of the people is a prophetic precursor to Jesus. When it comes to doing God's work. Nobody does it perfectly, and it's important to make the distinction between God and his servants.
They are not God, they are flawed people just like the rest of us, seeking Grace, Mercy, Love, Acceptance and Salvation just like the rest of us. They are sinners, like the rest of us. Nobody knows who was right in the dispute between Paul and Barnabas, on the surface it appears as if Paul was right because if John Mark abandoned them before, it's only natural that it would be difficult to trust him again. But Paul himself was a persecutor of Christians before his conversion, and it was Barnabas who helped him gain acceptance into the church community, so why was Paul being so harsh and judgemental on John-Mark when he himself was also beyond trust at one point in his life?
In that context, Barnabas had every right to be offended, especially if John Mark was a relative of his, he was probably trying to do for John Mark, what he had once been asked to do for Paul... Only to be harshly turned away. How would you feel? It seems they did reconcile much later, because Paul does mention Barnabas in some of his letters and defends his right to be taken care of by the church as a servant of Christ. So while they never ministered together again, Paul did defend Barnabas's ministry which further endorses his epistle. The lesson here is threefold: don't put anyone on a pedestal that belongs to God alone, and when it comes to the Lord's work, don't just jump on the bandwagon when a large number of people have agreed that someone isn't suitable. Jesus never did that and neither should we.
Barnabas fell out of favour with the masses because he disagreed with Paul who was the more prominent figure of the two. But God loved them both, and didn't abandon Barnabas. They both flourished and did good work for the kingdom, separately. Don't be blind to people's faults, but also don't demonize people just because your friends say they are bad. Take a look for yourself and make your own decision. Lastly, just because people share the same faith, doesn't mean they can work together or should work together. God can operate with us despite our flaws because He created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. But we are not God, and we certainly didn't create each other, so it's unrealistic to expect that Christians will work together just because they are Christians. This isn't realistic or biblical as is evident by Paul and Barnabas's disagreement. So love all, but be loyal and attentive to where The Lord leads, because from season to season in life, we won't always walk with the same people. Doesn't mean God loves us or those we separate from any less. We serve Him collectively, whether we're together or not, and there's nothing wrong with this.
My friends, I end my post with the closing words from Chapter 21 of the epistle of Barnabas: "It is good therefore to learn the ordinances of the Lord, as many as have been written above, and to walk in them. For he that doeth these things shall be glorified in the kingdom of God; whereas he that chooseth their opposites shall perish together with his works. For this cause is the resurrection, for this the recompense.
I entreat those of you who are in a higher station, if ye will receive any counsel of good advice from me, keep amongst you those to whom ye may do good. Fail not. The day is at hand, in which everything shall be destroyed together with the Evil One. "The Lord is at hand and his reward." Again and again I entreat you; be good lawgivers one to another; continue faithful councilors to yourselves; take away from you all hypocrisy. And may God, who is Lord of the whole world, give you wisdom, judgment, learning, knowledge of His ordinances, patience. And be ye taught of God, seeking diligently what the Lord requireth of you, and act that ye may be found in the day of judgment. But if you have any remembrance of good, call me to mind when ye practice these things these things, that both my desire and my watchfulness may lead to some good result. I entreat you asking it as a favor. So long as the good vessel (of the body) is with you, be lacking in none of these things, but search them out constantly, and fulfill every commandment; for they deserve it. For this reason I was the more eager to write to you so far as I was able, that I might give you joy. Fare ye well, children of love and peace. The Lord of glory and of every grace be with your spirit."
Be safe in Christ, take care of yourselves and each other.
🩵
Marcio.
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