Westside Church of Christ

It had been a rough mission trip for Paul and Barnabas. The Holy Spirit had summoned them for the task while they were in Antioch (Acts 13), and it was a challenging introduction into a new way of life. They had been loved by some, hounded by others, run out of town more than once and even stoned. Welcome to the life of a missionary. Now, they were back home where all is calm and peaceful. Well, not exactly (Acts 15).

Some out-of-towners had come in and begun to upset the church with faulty teaching (Verse 1) which led to some heated debate. Paul, Barnabas and several others headed to Jerusalem to consult with the leadership there. The matter was discussed, resolved and a letter was written and sent to explain the resolution. Now, there would be peace, right? Wrong.

Judas (No, not that one!) and Silas were leaders of the church in Jerusalem, and they accompanied the letter back to Antioch. After they had shared the contents and offered some words of encouragement, Judas headed home. Silas decided to stay for a while. Little did he know what was ahead.

Paul and Barnabas determined that they would revisit the towns where they had spread the gospel. On that they agreed. Then John Mark’s name was brought up, and the fuss began. He had bailed on their first trip, and Paul did not want him along the second go-round. They couldn’t settle it, so they split up. Paul picked his new partner, Silas.

God’s ways are not our ways. The church began and flourished in Jerusalem. Then persecution intensified, drove them out and the word spread beyond the borders of Judea because of it. Paul tried to go to Asia, and the Lord stopped him. It looked like failure. It wasn’t. A Macedonian call led the apostle to Philippi where he met a lady from Asia. He also was arrested. Another failure? Nope. A jailer was converted, and a new congregation began.  

Persecution from outside is a terrible experience. Yet, it ended up causing expansion of the church. Controversy within the Lord’s church never seems like a good thing. It isn’t, but the Lord can use it. Silas was brought into the picture because of an argument. He became a missionary because of another argument. He partnered with Paul who was introduced when Stephen was stoned (Acts 7). A persecutor became a main voice for the Lord. Who would have predicted that?

God has worked in incomprehensible ways from the beginning of time. He has used nature, nations, cooperative individuals and rascals to accomplish His plan. He hasn’t stopped. He uses the willing, the unwilling and even the disagreeable. Wicked hands nailed His Son to the cross to carry out His plan (Acts 2:23). It surely looked like the end. It wasn’t. Three days later there was an empty tomb..