A God of Second Chances; Acts 15

May the mumbling commence!

Our God is a God of second chances – even when those second chances are unpopular, even scandalous.  I have spoken briefly about the rift that occurred between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark.  Today’s Scripture reading includes the passage about their rift.  Read it below from Acts 15:

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."  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 brothers to the grace of the Lord.  He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.  (Verses 36-41)

The reasons for Paul wanting to leave Mark behind are understandable.  For reasons unknown to us, Mark left Paul and Barnabas in Pamphylia.  So, why would Paul or Silas for that matter want to depend upon someone who might leave again?  Paul flatly refused.  Barnabas adamantly insisted.  It caused their parting.

So, how did others views the decisions of Paul and Barnabas?  It seems revealing to me that when Barnabas and Mark left there is no fanfare recorded.  However when Paul and Silas left, they were commended by the brothers – the church body – to the grace of the Lord.

To the grace of the Lord?!?  Isn’t this just a little ironic?  They speak of grace when their actions flatly deny grace to John Mark.  Barnabas understood that our God is a God of second chances.  It wasn’t all that long ago that the words of Barnabas the encourager had pleaded to the apostles for a second chance for who… Saul.  You know, the one breathing murderous threats to the followers of the Way of Christ.  Yes, Barnabas argued for a second chance for Saul who became Paul.  Shouldn’t this experience have stuck with Paul?  Shouldn’t Paul, who had sought the lives of Christians before his conversion, understand the second chance for John Mark?

It is the grace of the Lord that prompted Barnabas to adamantly insist on bringing along John Mark again.  If it meant splitting ways with Paul and traveling with John Mark, then so be it.

Our God is a God of second chances.  Will we sit in condemnation before a brother or sister who falls?  Or will we sit beside a brother or sister who has fallen and encourage them to get back up again and seek to do the work of the Lord?  Will we reflect the attitudes of Paul and seeming the majority of the church body and condemn our fallen brothers or sisters to never answering God’s call again?  Or will we reflect the encouragement of Barnabas?

It’s our choice.  Condemnation seems easier.  How can we reconcile when things have gone so wrong?  But reconciliation and relationship are the ways of our God of second chances (and third and fourth and fifth chances).  Jesus never promised his followers an easier way.

How will I choose today?  How will you choose today?

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out