https://odb.org/MY/2022/02/22/love-your-loved-ones
In my 40 years as a believer, I have seen at least a few instances of people in ministry having falling out with one another leading to splits in church. A lot of pain and sorrow and sometimes our faith is destroyed through disillusionment and disappointment. In fact I was part of a group who left our previous church and started an independent church. But I am glad that after nearly 15 years, a few of us did meet up with the senior pastor of our previous church and shared a meal together and prayed for one another. There is a need to be reconciled and let bygones be bygones, forgetting the past and moving on toward the goal that Christ has set for us for our lives.
The story of Paul and Barnabas and Mark in the book of Acts highlights one important aspect of Scriptures. They are real as to describe what happened then and real to describe what is happening now in the church two thousand years later. The strife, conflicts, tensions, disagreements and falling out which happened then are also happening today. Why? Because believers then and now are just ordinary people moved by the Spirit of God to do great exploits. We are all ordinary people with jobs, life challenges to face, work and family issues to deal with and yet doing ministry to the best of our ability for the good of the congregation and the Kingdom of God. Our current challenges are compounded by the pandemic and the disruptions it brings to our daily lives that a new normal for some churches is perhaps perpetual online or at least hybrid services. It may be many more years to come before we can meet together on site as a church congregation worshipping God corporately like we used to.
With so many things happening in the world and the changes brought about by the pandemic and we know that these are the end times with Jesus possibly coming again in our generation, why do we want to let our past to continue to hound and haunt us? Not a question of sin and guilt but broken relationships waiting to be mended and made whole. Forgive and forget and reconcile. God has lots more stuff ahead of us for us to possess and actualize. The world is still our oyster. Mend and heal whatever destructions we left behind. God heals but we must also heal. If a tank destroys everything in its path with its weight and iron chain wheels, it is time to come down and replant those vegetation and plants that we had flattened before. As we heal our past, God will heal our hearts and lead us on to greater heights. Paul later forgave and accepted Mark, also known as John Mark and regarded as the same Mark the Evangelist who wrote the Gospel of Mark. Always be a Barnabas, the encourager and reconciler of men and women.
Ronnie's Thoughts 