Good morning Searching Saints! I applaud you for continuing in your reading of the Word. I am sure the Lord has already blessed your diligence and I pray you continue on faithfully.
The last part of our Acts reading hit a nerve with me.
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 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. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.I was once in leadership of a church that closed it's doors. The leadership poured so much of ourselves into this church and so when it closed, it hurt. And for a long time I harbored resentment towards the congregation, towards the church and towards even the building itself.
But then the Lord led me to realize that death is not always bad, at least in the life of a church. A church is a living breathing organism. It can get diseased and frail. By death, those diseases can die with it. The frailty halted, allowed to rest and then later become newborn in another church.
I was one of those diseased, frail parts. There was disease in the other people there too, but I can only speak for myself. By the Lord taking myself out of that context, that disease no longer had a host to thrive and so that disease (sin) could die. And that frailty (exhaustion, I was 17 at the time) was allowed to rest. I became strong in the word, strong in the Lord and found my calling. Had that church never closed I might not be where I am today.
When a church closes, or people we love leave our church, it hurts. Really it does. It's hard to talk to those people when we see them around town, their 'spot' in the pew remains empty. We miss them. Grieving over a closed church or vacant people is appropriate. But there is hope. Those people who left, or the church that disperses will go on to other ministries. They will get fed in areas they weren't fed before. And they will be used in new ways. Healing will happen, sin will come in check.
Like the gentlemen of our reading, it is not always pretty how people leave, but God used them. Had they stayed together, they might not have reached as many areas. God used their arguments to reach more people for His glory! More people came to know of the saving power of Jesus Christ as a result of a petty human argument. Praise the Lord He can use even our sins and faults!
It is true, His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. He can and does bring beauty from ashes and healing where there was a rift. Thank You Father God.
Tomorrow's passage: Amos 4-6, Galatians 1
4 comments:
Thank you, Kathryn. I am in a disagreement with a Christian friend that is misleading others and this is exactly what I needed to hear.
Our church was gifted a church that closed its doors and our church has been developing a new ministry in it and through it. There was an update about it last Sunday at church and what struck me was the stats of a new church and that new churches have a higher rate of bringing people to God. I think what happened to Paul and Barnabas helped spread the message.
(You can hear the message of what is happening to a f new church here:
http://www.wefc.net/home/sermons_and_podcasts/ and Click on "July 10". )
It's amazing that God can work even through our differences and disputes.
I think it takes wisdom to know when parting ways is better for the glory of God, then staying together when issues just can't be resolved.
Love the fact that later Paul and John Mark's relationship was restored!
What a well written post Kathryn. We left our home church to explore a different option about 2 years ago. It was a very difficult decision. We loved the congregation and we had no issues with people, we were feeling God calling us elsewhere. Thankfully - as far as I know - we have not burned any bridges. Thanks for tackling this very touchy subject!
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