Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

So they are all praying for divine guidance and they got it. Here is a team that was hand picked by the Holy Spirit: Barnabas and Saul! Who could ask for a better endorsement?

Then it happened, Paul said let’s go back and visit the places we to which we had formerly gone.

Act 15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Act 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

Surely, this was easy to figure out. After all, the Holy Spirit called them to do this. Surely they will ask Him what to do.

No, but what actually happened was this:Act 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
Act 15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

Right or wrong if the contention was sharp, it was not a “good argument. Perhaps the Holy Spirit wanted them to separate at this point but even so, it could have been done in a nice way. They could have discussed it and each said to the other, we did much good together but I feel the Spirit leading me in a different direction. John Mark may not be to your liking but the Spirit has given him another opportunity to serve and I will train him. Then they would part as friends.

Surely the good that John Mark became and the work that Paul completed would be a testimony to the fact that parting was the will of God.

Some might argue (as so many like to do that) that Paul was commended by the brethren and subsequently must be the chosen one. One might counter argue that Paul was the lead man and most favored and that is the reason for the approval.

The point of all that is nowhere is it written who was right and who was wrong.

So I think any argument on it would just be to boost ones own approval of their self. An argument like that would /could never be won and so the argument was started only for one person to demonstrate their great power of reasoning/intellect/insight…on and on.

To jump on someone the minute you think they are wrong is the Baptist way. Notice, I did not say the right way.

Oh yes, if someone says Jesus did not die on the cross or did not resurrect, it’s on. No doubt about that but whether or not woman can wear pants or my song is better than your song??? Come on now, there must be a better way.

The very act of being a Baptist is by agreement that all Baptists serve God according to the individual conscience yet, there are those that will practice their debating skills at every juncture.

Let me also ask this. If you are bringing attention to a fault of a brother by trying to tell him about a position he has taken which you feel is wrong, do you drag that brother in front of Social Media to correct him or do you do it in a private message as it calls for in Matthew 18?

Why would you publicly debate your own brother so every one especially the non believer can witness it?

I am afraid we are all guilty of this.

Christianity is not about winning arguments. It is about winning souls and I am going to try harder to focus my attention on the latter.