Ministering To Other Churches

Acts 11:19-26

From the beginning man has been rebellious and self-willed. Eve was tricked into eating the forbidden fruit, but no one tricked Adam. He did it deliberately. That same selfish attitude has been passed from generation to t generation. It led to Cain’s murder of Abel, and to God’s destroying the world with the flood.

After the flood Go renewed his instruction to man to populate the whole earth. Man rebelled, and started building the Babel as a way of holding people in one location. The tower of Babel was a deliberate effort to use religion to gain control and prevent people from moving too far away. Genesis 11:4 describes the intent. “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

To disrupt their attempts and prevent t from succeeding in the future, God caused them to speak in different languages. The break down in communication resulted in conflict and distrust. As a result people separated into language groups and separated, fulfilling God’s command. The racism and nationalism of today are largely a result of human selfishness and pride combined with the inability to communicate freely. Isn’t it interesting that the Holy spirit did the opposite to spread the gospel?

The Jews were no different than other groups throughout history in their focus on maintaining their own culture by isolating themselves from other groups, especially when confronted with a more powerful influence such as the Roman Empire. When they became Christians, the Jews carried many of those cultural beliefs with them. We do the same thing today, only dropping them as we mature spiritually.

“Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.” (Acts 11:19)

While the Christians who had been driven out of Israel were orthodox and would not associate with other cultures, some of the Jews who had been relocated to other areas through the centuries were more open to other cultures.

“And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:20-21)

Because they were less focused on Jewish culture, when they were forced to relocate yet again, the Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene spoke to the Greeks as well as other Jew, and a large number of Greeks believed. About the same time, Peter went to Caesarea and was shown that salvation was for the gentiles as well as for the Jews. Having accepted that Gentiles could be saved and children of God as well as Jews, the church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to see how he could help, like they had sent Peter and John to Samaria.

“Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:22-24)

As missionaries, we were contacted by a number of churches who wanted to take a missions trip to help a missionary and inspire their people for missions. They pointed to Barnabas being sent as an example of the impact. After a couple of experiences, I suspect most such efforts are counter productive, often weakening, rather than strengthening the churches they go to help, and not producing real spiritual growth in the participants. Most of the teams were comprised of people the leaders hoped to inspire to become more involved.

Barnabas was already a mature Christian. In Acts 4, he had given a tremendous financial sacrifice, then in Acts 9, it was he who had the spiritual discernment to bring Saul to the apostles. Here he is described as “a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.” he had done and was doing the things the church at Antioch needed to learn, and could show them how effectively because of his experience.

Sending spiritually immature Christians to “help” other churches sets that immaturity as the standard to be attained for those in the church they go to, and encourages those who were sent to view themselves as mature, harming both the church and the individual. I can attest to the fact that such a false standard of spirituality delayed my own spiritual development, by encouraging me to devote my efforts in the wrong areas.

“Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11:25-26)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Barnabas didn’t try to plan everything out and do it all himself. Rather than trying to do all the teaching himself, he got Saul involved. One of the things I most admire about Barnabas is his concern to strengthen and develop others. It is largely through his efforts that Paul was given the opportunity to become the apostle, by recognizing him as a Christian, and starting him in the ministry.

Even though the church at Antioch was already fairly strong when he came, Barnabas spent a full year, helping Saul become Paul, developing church leaders and teaching the people. He would continue to mentor and work with Paul for several years.