Son of encouragement

"After the news about Antioch reached the church in Jerusalem, Barnabas was sent to Antioch. When he arrived there, he was pleased to see what God had done for them out of kindness. So he encouraged all the people to remain solidly committed to the Lord. Barnabas was a dependable man, and he was full of the Holy Spirit and faith. A large crowd believed in the Lord. Then Barnabas left Antioch to go to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul. After finding Saul, Barnabas brought him back to Antioch. Barnabas and Saul met with the church in Antioch for a whole year and taught a large group of people. The disciples were called Christians for the first time in the city of Antioch." Acts 11:22-26 (GWT)

Barnabas, Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36), left Antioch...the Antioch (Antiocheia) that was on the river Orontes and the capital city of ancient Syria. In time, it would stand as the 3rd Patriarchal see of the early Church, after Rome and Jerusalem and would be destroyed by the Persian invasion of AD 538.

Fourteen years after the Jerusalem church sent Saul to Tarsus, after his inciting 'murderous responses', Barnabas would come seeking this individual whom he had vouched for to the original eleven disciples in Jerusalem in a city second only to Antioch in economically, culturally and politically in the region. Tarsus was a bustling seaport where the ancient religion of the god Mithras was prominent. This has led many anti-Christian theologians and historians to compare the religions and find what they claim are co-opted myths, blended into the new found movement of Christianity by Gaius Julius Paulus (some claim his name was).

"What part did his stay there play in his later effectiveness?" one researcher asks, "I expect that a time of tempering, including growth in humility, ……. time is essential for the ingredients of something to blend properly. Tea has to be steeped, wine has to be aged……changes in life have to be assimilated and lived out."

We know that Paul's character was drastically changed even before he departed the Jerusalem church at the behest of the leadership. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes him before his conversion as an intolerant, bitter, persecuting, religious bigot - proud and temperamental. After his conversion he is pictured as patient, kind, enduring, and self-sacrificing. Paul's combative relationship with the followers of Jesus Christ was so changed with the help of Barnabas' introduction that he had received the 'right hand of fellowship', which meant that the leadership considered him as an equal.

According to most theologians, Saul likely didn't remain idle while he was in a 'place of higher learning' in Tarsus, which hosted a Jewish population evidenced by several archaeological records. After inciting such violent feelings among the Jerusalem Jewish population, he may have avoided most of the Jewish thoughts and instead listened in on the current philosophical arguments of the Greeks, although he probably did visit with relatives and family. He may have traveled home to gather linen for his trade as a tentmaker, which he used so as to 'not become a burden' to the congregations he founded and visited, though it would seem he got sidetracked for a period of time.

The explosive growth of the church in Antioch, which Barnabas was sent to pastor most likely led to his decision to seek out help, but it is interesting that Barnabas went seeking Saul in Tarsus instead of calling for some of the apostles to help him with the growing Antioch church. Barnabas always sought God’s direction in his decisions and often exercised his leadership abilities in the support of others who, not necessarily were better than he is, but more suitable for the work at hand. Since he knew of Saul’s desire to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, he went to seek him out.

The story between these two apostles would span a long time, a disagreement over John Mark and the endorsement of the Jerusalem church of Paul and Silas no doubt bothered Barnabas to some degree, but never to the point of contention. He simply moved out on his own, taking whom God led him to take, and would never speak with Paul again, at least according to the biblical accounts.

Paul, upon his final imprisonment, would speak of his foolishness concerning John Mark, in 2 Timothy…….

“Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” 4:9-11 (NIV)

Barnabas would remain true; never forgetting the apostle he introduced to the leadership in Jerusalem, whom he taught a growing number of believers with in Antioch, and whom he helped found numerous churches through their missionary journeys. When Paul was sent away for inciting bad feelings to Tarsus, it is Barnabas who came to seek him out. When it was time to go on missionary trips, it was Barnabas by Paul’s side. And, when it was Paul’s pride that got in the way of the mission to proclaim the gospel, it was Barnabas who stepped out and took John Mark with him.

He never stopped believing in Paul; in the journey that God surely showed him that this once-persecutor of the faithful would travel. He never turned his back upon Paul, even with fourteen years between seeing him and most likely never stopped praying for him.

How many of us in the church are Barnabas? Very few, unfortunately, although we are all called to be such an impactful leader, not for our glory but God’s.
I miss my Barnabas, that one son of encouragement that God blessed me with when I was just starting out on this journey towards God, who never laughed at the Call, never questioned God’s impact, and never stopped believing in this young upstart whom he called friend and brother.

I know that, in the passage of time that my Barnabas (whether he wears a new face or an old one) will come and draw me out of the quiet contemplative place I am in, observing and learning, to help fulfill my Call where God directs him to bring me.

"Put me in!"

"A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished." Proverbs 28:20

I keep hearing that song, I think by Cheap Trick......you know the one, "Put me in Coach, I'm ready to play...today!" At least, that's how it goes in the replay of my mind. It has been a consistent, up until recently, utterance during my prayer time, my meetings with the leadership group, and other activities that I have participated in my journey towards home.....amongst the faithful and like-minded family of the faithful.

Nothing has happened much, at least until recently, regarding that consistent cry and any attempts of my own humanity to make it happen. In fact, it seems to have gone backwards, not towards the goal of working in ministry as I believe God called me to waaaaaay back in October of 2004.

So much opposition, even within the community of believers. You have to have a seminary degree, be attached to a denomination, or subscribe fully to a doctrine that is espoused by the Lead or Founding Pastor. You have to be 'perfect' in your home, financial, and spiritual journey....there is no room for mistakes like a dropped football or a missed pass. Human standards abound even in the world of Christianity.

Someone told me that now, on what seems like the verge of achievement, that I've backed off my relentless pursuit of ministry. Even here, in this blog, I've expressed time and time again that determination to jump when God calls.

I've missed that call; the persistent one that keeps telling me to stop sitting on the bench and come practice; practice faithfully, consistently, and hard. Until recently, those passion-driven pursuits have been in my own efforts to make it happen. Even when I would try to relax and let God work.

But, my mind has turned and I'm now that player who shows up to practice every day and gives his best in the tests, play running, and skill improvement exercises. No, God hasn't impressed upon me that the call is going to be realized at the church I'm at, in the ministries I am involved in, or even out in an adventure of my own.........

That's the point, I guess. It is not in the achievement of the goal of ministry full-time that God wants me involved in....It isn't even going to garner me a pat on the head from Him once I walk upon the stage in front of a congregation for the first time, a desire and passionate calling fulfilled.

It's in the practice, without expectation of playing on the field the following Monday. It's suiting up on Game Day and cheering those who stomp out onto the field of dreams and hear the accolades of the cheering fans......and being one of the loudest as I watch this epic battle between the usurper of this world and the Lord of All.

Oh, the song still beats in my heart of hearts....."Put me in Coach....."

But, as I sit on the bench.....I am so caught up in the game that I don't even think I'll respond right off the bat when the call comes in that I am going into the game........if it comes this side of heaven.....

It doesn't matter what I do, for my efforts are wasted and futile. But I'll continue to show up for practice and faithfully work hard, consistently stretching my faith, and on game day will show up in full uniform, with the enthusiasm for the Team......for the victory of the Lord and His children in this battle on the gridiron of this world.

There's no quick path to the richness of God's mercy, grace, and love.....in terms of our understanding. But there is much to be said about the reward of being faithfully consistent in the pursuit of it's realization.

For God is always faithful and will show Himself to those who seek after Him.
Faithfulness, consistency and hard work bless a man with the revenue and riches to be a blessing to his family, his friends, and his community.

Are you putting the same drive into your pursuit of God that you do in your job?

Are you truly ready to play?