Contention Between Paul and Barnabas

    "And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 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."—Acts xv. 36-39. What! a quarrel between two of the apostles of Christ? Shame! shame! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in Askelon. But it really happened, and has been told both in Gath and Askelon. Divine inspiration has blazed it over the world. Then it must be for our good, although it was their sin. The thing, then, happened in Providence for a useful lesson to Christians in all ages. It shows us what man is. The pretended ministers of Christ have been deified, and God, who foresaw this, has in his Providence shown that even his best servants are sinful and imperfect creatures. Were it of any consequence to judge between the brethren, and settle the amount of the fault of each, there appears sufficient ground to believe that Barnabas was most to blame. It is a suspicious thing that he took the part of his kinsman. In the kingdom of Christ there is no carnal kindred. No man is to be known after the flesh. No man is to be brought into a church, or kept in it, or put into office, on account of carnal relation. Paul, it appears from the document, acted not from private hostility, but from the conduct of Mark. There was good reason to be reluctant to employ the man who had already, in a manner, deserted his post. He might be still reckoned a Christian, yet be accounted unfit for any office or place of trust. Paul, however, on another occasion, shows that he acted towards Mark from no improper motive, as he fully recommended him to the reception of the brethren, as soon as he was convinced of his returning to his devotedness and duty. "Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandment;) if he come unto you, receive him." We are sometimes told that infallibility is not impeccability, and reminded of the contention between Paul and Barnabas. Very true, impeccability is not to be expected in man. But there is a mighty difference between impeccability and monstrosity of vice. The best of God's servants have their faults. But monsters of iniquity none of them can be. With all the evil and infirmities of the children of God, still they must ever be distinguished by their fruits. All who are imbued with the gospel must deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly in this world.