Episode 136: Contentious are not always destructive

In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy

Spirit, forever Amen. Glory be to the everlasting

mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, the Light of the world

and the life of all. Give us wisdom by your law and

enlighten our impulses by Your knowledge.

Sanctify our souls by Your truth, and grant that we may be

obedient to your words and may fulfil Your commandments at

every hour. O you who?

Enlightens the rational with the knowledge of Your greatness.

Do enlight, O my Lord, our thoughts, that we may meditate

upon Your holy and divine Scriptures at all times, O Lord

of all, Father and Son and Holy Spirit.

Forever. Amen.

Acts chapter 15 Everything seems hunky Dory at the church.

Acts 15 · chapter mention

In Antioch in last, in the last episode.

We we concluded that the the church was informed of the

decree and. The decree in regards.

To the Gentiles being. Circumcised and they.

All rejoiced cause there was love, there was unity, and most

importantly, there was adherence to the authority of the

apostles, what the apostles that create the church in Antioch

received. We concluded that there must be

unity, beloved, when it comes to truth, not just unity,

intolerance while compromising the truth.

No, no, no, we don't compromise the truth.

No, no, no, there's always unity.

When you want to make peace, you need to, you need to find the

truth and then work towards that truth.

Because if there is no unity influenced by the truth that

unity is only. Going to be temporal.

And who is truth? Jesus Christ.

OK, you know Israel and and Palestine are trying to find

peace. You know all these countries,

Russia and and Croatia, sorry, Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine,

Russia and Ukraine, you know, peace, peace.

Everyone's talking about peace. Peace does not come from one

person. The person who wants to

influence peace and bring peace must have be in, must be

influenced by the truth, which is the Prince of Peace, that is

Jesus Christ. So where unity is sought, it can

only come when truth prevails. And in the church, truth was not

compromised. Again, not just unity in

tolerance while compromising the truth.

No, no, no. When you compromise truth,

you're trying to tolerate one another.

That will only be temporal, beloved.

Hence, when we recite the statement of our faith that I

see in Creed, the priest proclaims or intones in the

truth. Therefore, which is undivided?

Who is truth? Is Jesus Christ.

And where was the depository of this truth?

In the Church? Which Church?

The Apostolic Church, The apostles in the truth,

therefore, which is undivided? And we say we proclaim and we

believe in the one holy and Apostolic and Catholic universal

Church, undivided truth. Beloved, now there's going to be

some contention. Life's not always hunky Dory.

It's never been hunky Dory within the church from the

first, from the get go. This is 4 years.

This is the fourth year, beloved, the 4th year after the

ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, praise be to his

name, to heaven. And there's already going to be

contention. We're going to read Saint Paul

and St. Barnabas, the BFFS, the best

friends, the missionary, the the the partners in missionary.

There's going to be a contention, but the contentions

are not always negative and bad. Beloved, let's read verse 36,

chapter 15, Acts of the Apostles, verse 36.

And some days after Paul said to Barnabas, let us return and

visit the brethren in every city where we have preached the word

of God and see how they do. This is a follow up to go and

see how they're going because remember, there are many times,

especially in the church in Galatia, Saint Paul writes and

says who one more time told you that you, let me paraphrase it,

who came in and crept in and told you that you're going to

need to go back to the law again and the you know, the observance

of the law. Who told you that you've been

released from that. You're not under that bondage

anymore. So there was an update because

it was again, it was only teething process.

The church beloved. So they need to continue to

update to follow. They went to other cities to

visit the churches to update them on the newly decreed stance

on circumcision of the Gentiles. They visited the brethren in

cities that they preached. They were following up to update

other cities to to see how they were going with their faith, to

encourage them even more to mourn with them, to rejoice with

them, to rebuke them, to rebuke them, to upset them, to cause

them to mourn, to cause them to weep because they had gone back

to their to their old self after being revived a new life with

Jesus Christ. To encourage them.

As I said, as Paul instructs himself in one Thessalonians

chapter 5, verse 11. Therefore comfort one another

and edify, console one another, encourage one another.

So let's go back, He's saying to Barnabas, let's go back and

visit all these other churches. And hence he goes to some

churches, He visits them, visits them a few times coring

Galatians and to see how they're going, how they're doing.

Follow up is great beloved, when you talk to someone about the

Lord Jesus Christ and you have you've you've attracted his

attention and that person is interested, it's good to follow

up to continue to encourage that person.

When someone is down and you encourage that person and that

person is uplifted a little, the hope is regained.

It's good to follow up. It's good to follow up with one

another. That's why we text one.

Hey, how you going? Long time no see.

What's been? What's happening?

Right. We text one another.

That's why sometimes I reach out to you.

Hey, Steven, I'm seeing you at church.

Is everything OK? Follow up.

Yeah. Robbie, I'm sorry.

I've just been busy at work. OK, well, you need to set some

time for church. For God.

Don't forget, right? Yes.

We lack that. Of course we lack that.

Now, some of you may say, well, Robbie, you haven't texted me

for three years. I've been at church.

You're absolutely right, right? You're absolutely right.

But you know why we need to pray to the Lord of the vineyard?

So that he wouldn't bring workers in the vineyard, right.

We're short handed, as they say, but no excuse.

I try my best each time. I remember some, hey, I haven't

seen this person for a long time.

I should call. I should text at least.

Is everything OK? It's follow up because we need

to encourage one another, just as iron sharpens iron.

That's what Saint Paul suggested, Barnabas that they

should do to go back and revisit to keep them in the loop, to

give them this decree of the apostles, verses 37 and 38.

Now Barnabas wanted to take John.

This is where it's going to actually get a little

contentious. Now, Barnabas wanted to take

John. And you know, this John is John

Mark, right? I'm sure you know Mark, the

Gospel of Mark, the Mark the Evangelist.

Mark was his last name, his surname.

It was actually John, John, Mark.

I had a friend in primary school, or was it high school?

St. John's Park High School.

Yes, Saint John Pass. St.

John's Park High School. John Mark.

Was his name Alabach. I pray that he's doing well.

But Paul, sorry. Now Barnabas wanted to take John

Mark, who was also oh, there it is.

I jumped the gun, who was also called Mark, but Paul was

unwilling to take him with them because he had that is John Mark

had left them when they were in Pamphylia and had not gone with

them. Oh, we have a problem here.

Now let's see what happens. First of all, did they not agree

because and from the disagreement there was enmity

and animosity and hatred Because they're going to depart.

They're going to depart from one another.

Each one's going to go their own way.

Saint Paul's going to go his way.

Barnabas is going to go his own way.

Now, do you think they departed? Do you believe that they

departed and separated in enmity, in animosity, hatred?

Not at all, not at all. You know, with this contention,

Mark left Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary

journey when they arrived in Purga and Pamphylia.

We read this in chapter 13. You go and read I'm not going to

go back and and revisit Acts chapter 13.

Acts 13 · chapter mention

You'll read this that he departed.

He left them, at which point he returned to Jerusalem.

Now the Bible doesn't give the explicit reason, but thank God

for the writings of the Church Fathers and the commentaries of

the Church Fathers. The Bible doesn't say why, but

the Church Fathers do. Marishuddhat writes this because

he did not wish that This is why John Mark left them.

So there was another contention between John, Mark and Paul and

Barnabas because he did not wish that faith in Christ should be

delivered to the Gentiles without the observance of the

law. So he was in the same mindset at

those as those who were in the church in in Antioch and the the

Pharisees who were Christians that the Gentiles should not be

given the gospel or the Gentiles should not be delivered to the

faith of Christ without the observance of the law, that is

circumcision. But when he saw the letters were

written from the apostles that they should receive the faith

without the observance of the law, he sought again to take

part with them in the work. So Barnabas, Barnabas that went

out to see John Mark after he had explained to him that this

is the case. It has been decreed because

Simon had this vision. We, we, we, we relied, we

appealed to the work of the Holy Spirit, not only the Scriptures,

and we came to this agreement, the apostles game to this degree

that the Gentiles should not have to absorb the law to be

accepted in Christianity. And Barnabas being kind, as we

see he, he forgives him of all these things.

And this is what Marie Shoudet writes.

But Paul, because he longed and meditated for the accuracy of

the teaching, thought that he was not fit for this work on

account of the light heartedness of his mind.

So what Paul is saying, because he didn't understand, he

couldn't see, he couldn't accept, and he was light hearted

in mind. He was very, let's call it very

stubborn in mind. Well, because of that, we should

not bring him along to this ministry because he may cause

other contingents. But see, this is the good cop

and bad cop. Paul says no.

Barnabas says yes. And this is good for both

because when you see the good cop and the bad cop, when the

good cop is hammering the suspect and the bad cop is

sympathizing with the suspect, both intention is so that the

truth has been told and the perpetrator, the guilty party be

be caught and be sentenced and the law to be punished according

to the law. So Saint Paul saying no and

Barnabas saying yes, this is great.

We're going to see now is going to be beneficial for Saint

Mark's. So at times in the church,

beloved, when there's disagreements, don't just leave

the church. This is a cry out to the old,

not a yeah, a cry out. A shout out to all those who

left the Assyrian Church over the East.

Why? Why?

Because the Church did not know salvation.

Of course I've been preaching it.

For 15 years. The Church has been preaching

it. We don't know grace.

We know grace so, so well that we call it the mercifulness of

grace. We even know the mercifulness of

the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ because we don't adhere

to once saved, always saved. Of course, Paul in Philippians

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2 didn't adhere to once saved, always saved when he's in

prison and he says, and he says whether I have gained it or not,

I do not know. So Paul didn't know he was

saved, but didn't even know he was always saved.

He probably didn't know even know he was saved.

That's why you left the church. Oh, because there was too much

politics and there was too much. Yeah.

These are circumstances. Well, there was a circumstance

where John Mark left them because he thought, no, this is

not right. We need to adhere and enforce

the absorbance observance of the law.

And he left. But now we see that he's coming

back. And through this argument and

contention, he's going to come back.

So come back, come back and tell me what you disagree with the

church. Why you why you were you

standing apart from the church that you were you were born in

spiritually Come, let's dialogue.

But however, the truth will never ever be compromised.

We will not compromise the truth.

When we come to the truth, we need to accept the truth.

Beloved Mariah Shroudat goes on to say this also being from

grace in order that by means of their separation they should

consummate a double work. And we're going to read what

he's talking about because he's he's talking about the whole the

all the verses that when they separated, it was great so that

22 works were being done. One was to admonish and to teach

John Mark, and the other was to not comprise, to sympathize and

teach and bring back one more time to admonish Mark and to

teach him at the same time. Now these things are natural,

beloved, if Jesus warns in Matthew chapter 18, verse 7, it

Matthew 18:7

is a necessary. Why?

Because man is wicked. It is necessary that offences,

stumbling blocks and scandals will come.

It is necessary, it is a wicked world, man is weak.

If stumbling blocks and offenses and scandals are necessary to

come. How much more contentions and

arguments even within the Church of God because there is

imperfection in a perfect body, imperfection which is the man

imperfect in a perfect body with this which is the the Church of

Jesus Christ. Beloved, if Satan caused chaos

in the family of God in the Garden, how much more is he

striving to cause even greater chaos in the Church of God here

on earth? Let me say it again, if Satan

caused chaos in the family of God in the Garden of Eden, how

much more has he intensifying and striving even more to cause

even greater chaos in the Church of God here on earth?

However, we see that through this contention, they were smart

enough, they were spiritual enough, they were holy enough to

not allow it to go beyond. They didn't depart or separate

in enmity, animosity, and hatred.

Beloved, why do I say this? It sounds like it.

It, it, it reads like it, right? No.

In the Second Epistle of Saint Paul to Timothy to Timothy 411

you read it, Paul states that John Mark was useful to him in

his ministry. So Barnabas has gone and reached

out to Saint Mark and taught him and explained to him that the

disciples decreed because of 123 and four.

John Mark then was not stubborn and didn't say, well, I don't

feel well, I don't think No, he accepted it.

And then he became even more useful, I'll add, to the

ministry of Christ with Saint Paul.

So there was no animosity. There was only two ways of

understanding and two thoughts of how John Mark was to be

admonished, but yet again to be gained one more time.

And he writes the Gospel of Mark and this indicates that

Barnabas's efforts in training John Mark was successful and

beneficial to Saint Paul. St.

John Chrysostom writes this, he writes that I think according to

Saint John Chrysostom, and this makes sense since I this is what

they're saying to one another. You know, Saint John Chrysostom

is speaking on their behalf. He's saying this is what they

were saying. Since I wish to put you.

I'm sorry, we since I wish to, but you don't.

Barnabas, I want to take Saint Mark, but you don't.

So let's keep that in mind. Since I wish to, but you don't.

Let us distribute the places so that we should not fight.

This is this is wisdom. This is holiness.

We're arguing it's OK, I want to, but you don't want to.

Well, then you know what? Let's split.

This is the this is the advice we give husbands and wives,

those who have issues within their families, their marriages.

You're having difficulty in your marriage.

Those who are listening, maybe, maybe you are experiencing great

difficulties in your marriage. It's not the end of the world.

Because if it is necessary for stumbling blocks to come, how

much more? Your disagreement?

You're not seeing eye to eye. That's OK because you are human

beings. Don't throw in the towel

quickly. No, don't be a wuss.

This is what I'm going to say. Don't be a wuss and throw in the

towel quickly. No, no, no, since you don't see

eye to eye. This is why the church

recommends separate. Separate pollution and Prushun

doesn't mean go and see your attorney and start writing up

your divorce documents. Don't do that.

Don't do that. That's a sin.

Prushun separate doesn't mean that you go out there and you

try your Downers to put down your ex-wife or your ex-husband.

That's not separation. Separation doesn't mean, my dear

brother, that you hang out with your friends, you go out and you

enjoy yourself. You pick up girls and you get

drunk and you do drugs. That doesn't mean that's not

separation that the church encourages and and vice versa.

My dear sister, separation doesn't mean that you start

shortening the skirt and the top and take pictures with your

duck, duck lips, whatever it's called, so that you can.

No separation means you go your way.

Let him go his way. You go go to your parents house.

You go back to your parents. Oh, I'm old enough to be.

No, no, if you're old enough, you wouldn't have these issues.

I remember I had a a marriage session, counseling session and

it was the the grooms to be second marriage.

And he had his leg up on his knee and he was, you know,

slumping back. And each time I was telling him

something, he goes, yeah, yeah, I know, I know this, I know

this, I know this, you know, and I said, you know what marriage

is. Yeah, yeah, I know this honors.

So I was sitting back and then I thought, you know, I was praying

for for one more time that he would say.

And he said, and rightly so, he said.

I said, you know, he said, yeah, I know.

I said, you know what, you don't know?

Because if you knew, this wouldn't be your second

marriage, right? Separation means go back, have

some time together alone with the same intent.

Barnabas and Saint Paul separated with the same intent

to bring back Saint Mark and to continue to preach the Gospel.

Separate with the same intent. That one day you want to come

back again. One day, one month, one year,

doesn't matter. You're still husband and wife.

Just because you're not living under the same, you know, a roof

and you're not sharing the same bed.

You are still husband and wife separate and come back together.

Now, during that time, what the church needs to do is what St.

Barnabas and Paul wanted to do is go and see all the other

churches so that they would follow up.

Follow up. Hello, Madam.

Sir, you know how you feeling? Do you have a change of heart?

You know, do you have you, have you had some time to think about

it? And you know, yes, you know what

I'll be, you know, maybe I am a little bit stubborn, but you

know, she's got to change and da da da DA1234 in the church

through the grace of God, by the power of our Lord and our savvy

Jesus Christ, when the intent is the same, no compromising the

truth, then you see that just as Saint Mark John Mark came back

to the ministry and Saint Paul was was used him and became

beneficial for Saint Paul. That's what's going to happen to

the marriage as well. Therefore Saint John Chrysostom

Kings continues. Therefore, it was because they

yielded, they conceded to each other that they parted.

So when again, let's go back to the example of the husband and

wife who are having issues. You know you're conceding to one

another. So both concede, not one

conceding, no, both conceding and you're saying let's part for

a little while. For Barnabas wanted Paul to

succeed and so withdrew. Likewise, Paul wanted Barnabas

to prevail and he to withdrew. So I want you to have some time

for yourself and to think over. Let me and you give me some time

to think over where our problems are so that we can one day come

back to how what a beautiful equation.

You know, we're learning from this not just about the church,

but we're going, but we're in the family now, marriage.

These are great examples. That's why we say read the

scriptures, read the scriptures, read the Holy Scriptures.

It has to be a daily reading of the Holy Scriptures because it's

an answer to all your troubles and all your problems and all

your worries. Verse 40 But Paul chose Sealas

and departed, being commanded by the brethren to the grace of God

so so that they would continue the preaching, so that the

missionary work would not be altered because of one person or

because of 1 disagreement. Paul, it says chose Selas.

He was the prophet. Now prophet doesn't mean he was

prophesying, meaning he preached as well and departed being

commanded by the brothers. So the brothers said, you know,

you take Selas, you go see the church was helping as well.

OK, we see there's a disagreement.

Barnabas, you take John Mark, you go, you take Selas, go.

And they, they commanded them and entrusted them to the grace

of the Lord, because the intent was unity, just as there was

unity in the church. And they accepted the decree

without any arguments. There's unity.

They wanted to continue in the unity.

And Selas was a, a wonderful man, a very great man.

You know, he was also preaching. He, he accompanied them from

Jerusalem to Antioch to deliver the decree and verse 41 we read

and he travelled through Syria and Cecilia establishing

churches. That is Saint Paul.

You'll see now Saint Luke continue with Paul's mission.

Not that because Saint Luke disagrees and he didn't want to

write about Barnabas anymore. No, because we're going to get a

mention of these people again one more time.

But he's starting to follow the footsteps and the missionary

work of Saint Paul and St. Selas Selas and their work in

Antioch, they and the surrounding regions.

And we see that Barnabas and John Mark, they go to Cyprus and

go and visit those churches. So they were all, they were all

visiting the churches. Now when you continue to read,

we won't read and find that Paul was talking smack about Barnabas

in in one parish and Barnabas was talking smack about Paul in

No, they continue to preach the Gospel.

And then again we read in Second Timothy, Saint John.

Mark had a change of heart, accepted the decree in a loving

manner, where he then again becomes fruitful and useful for

the ministry of Saint Paul, which is the mission work of the

one Lord Jesus Christ. Praise and glory be to His name

now that all times and forever. Amen.

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Until next time, God bless you all.