For a couple of weeks recently, I focused on our need to receive, and to give, encouragement to one another on an ongoing basis. We also looked at Barnabas as an example of an encourager. I mentioned previously that I have one more exhortation regarding our calling and equipping to encourage one another based upon Paul as an example of encouragement. That final, not so brief, segment on encouragement follows
As I shared in a weekly gathering announcement recently, I have found in 50+ years serving in fellowships of all kinds, there are often two attitudes found in fellowships, as well as ministers that teach in them. One is the “Family of God mentality”. The second is the “Army of God mentality”. One pushes forward a “people orientation” with exhortation to love and care and compassion. The other pushes forward a “doctrine and purpose orientation” with a call to commitment, service, and mission beyond compassion. Neither is necessarily wrong in a given moment and situation. The truth is we need both lines of thinking in the ekklesia/church, the people of God. And, we probably should try to find the balance between being a part of the family of God and being a part of the army of God.
As we have looked at encouragement over a few posts. I believe we can see Barnabas was a “Family of God” guy. As we look at Paul here, I think we may find, at least in the beginning, he was an “Army of God” guy. But, he made a transition to understanding the place of the “Family of God” mentality as well. Again, we may do best in an understanding of being both the Family of God AND The Army of God.
For now, let’s consider Paul’s exhortation to the church at Thessalonica:
[1Thessalonians 2:5-12 NASB95] 5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed–God is witness– 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. 7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing [mother] tenderly cares for her own children. 8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, [how] working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and [so is] God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 11 just as you know how we [were] exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father [would] his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
We find him speaking of gentleness as a nursing mother, having fond affection, of how dear they were to him, of giving his life to and for them… not just a message. And, He is encouraging, exhorting, and imploring them to walk with Jesus. Could this be written by the same man who once was a persecutor of the church. And by one who would take such a hard line against John Mark with Barnabas, whom he had received such grace and support from, that in Acts 15 that they would split from one another and go in different directions?
Remember, as we go forward, everyone needs, and I dare say wants, encouragement. And encouragement it is a primary reason for our getting together regularly, whether in fellowship gatherings, one on one, for dinner, or through social media. We are equipped by the Holy Spirit, THE ENCOURGER/One called alongside to help.
In Acts 11:26 Barnabas went down to Tarsus to retrieve Paul and bring him to Antioch. At Antioch, Paul brings Paul out in calling, training/discipling him as they served the church there for a year or so. During that time Barnabas was giving opportunity for Paul to come into his calling for ministry to the Gentiles, and preparing him for, and supporting him in it.
[Acts13:2-3 NASB95] 2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Here we see the Holy Spirit has special purpose for Barnabas and Saul and wants them set apart and sent out to minister together. The Holy Spirit meant for them to travel together and minister to the Gentiles. Through about Acts 15 Barnabas apparently has the preeminent position as Luke references “Barnabas and Saul” several times. In acts 14 Barnabas is referred to a Zeus… the chief pagan God, and Paul as Hermes…the chief speaker for Zeus…. Paul was chief speaker/preacher/orator for Barnabas. And in Acts 15 onward a shift takes place where reference becomes consistently “Saul or Paul and Barnabas”. Paul moving forward as Barnabas has given him support and encouragement in his calling and recognizing Paul’s powerful gifting to preach.
Also in Acts 15:36-39 as they were planning return visits to the fellowships they had established, they had a disagreement over Mark, a young disciple, and split from one another.
[Acts15:38-40 NASB95] 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him (Mark) along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
It appears that Paul had learned very little from Barnabas. Paul held Mark’s failure in their first journey against him. Barnabas wanted to extend grace and bring him along (in more ways than one). Paul would not have it. Paul would not act or do toward Mark the way Barnabas had done toward Saul in this situation. But, I do believe Barnabas had left an imprint on Paul.
Paul had been an insensitive murderous zealot for the Jews and persecutor of the Church, holding the coats of those that stoned Stephen and getting papers of authority to track down believers and bring them to “justice” and stop the Jesus heresy.
Where Barnabas was people oriented. Paul was doctrine and purpose oriented. His early life as a zealot for Judaism had made him so, laying that doctrine foundation. He was doctrine oriented. He had had the scriptures/word placed in him and he believed in handling it, the law, accurately. He brought those foundations with him, as many of us do as believers. And, then over time we are changed.
This doctrine orientation served him well, and Barnabas supported him in it as Paul preaches boldly from the prophets in Acts 13 and 14. Paul (and Barnabas) is even persecuted for his preaching. Paul is a man of the word holding it up high and preaching Christ from it. He committed to it no matter the cost to himself or others.
Barnabas was family of God oriented. Paul was doctrine oriented initially valuing commitment beyond compassion with Mark. But, Paul, like all of us, was in the process of becoming like Christ. I think the split with Barnabas and Mark, may have made Paul do some serious thinking about Barnabas. That’s why in Acts 16 we see him take a chance on Timothy, a Greek, laying his reputation on the line by doing so. He wanted to bring this young disciple along, giving opportunity to learn and minister, nurture him in the faith, bring out his calling. I think he learned something by the split with Barnabas and had thought of his example. He is exemplifying the way Barnabas worked with him in the way he now treats this Greek convert//disciple Timothy. (Side note: Paul and Mark must have reconciled because Paul would later write to bring Mark to him for he was profitable in the work 2Timothy 4:11)
[Acts 16:1-3 NASB95] 1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2 and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
I can’t help but believe, Paul was impacted by Barnabas and made the transition to balancing doctrine and compassion. You can’t write 1 Corinthians 13 without that compassion. Love is patient, kind, not jealous or arrogant, keeps no score of wrongs, bears, hopes, believes, and endures all things. I wonder if he wasn’t thinking about Barnabas and Mark when he wrote those words.
Paul developed an ability to be an encourager. And, I think he saw unselfishness, as in Barnabas, as the foundation of encouragement.
In Acts 17 we read of a visit to Thessalonica that was not pleasant. Angry mobs and threats. At Thessalonica they had to leave under cover of darkness to Berea, and then be escorted under safety to Athens. This brings us to the scripture referenced at the beginning of this article; 1st Thessalonians 2: 5-12. This passage at first glance does not appear to be saying much about encouragement. But it does, and particularly from the “family of god” perspective.
[1Thessalonian 2:7-12 NASB95] 7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing [mother] tenderly cares for her own children. 8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, [how] working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and [so is] God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 11 just as you know how we [were] exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father [would] his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
The underlined segments in verse 7 and 10-11 make it clear the “family of God” has moved into Paul’s heart. Verse 8 reveals a people orientation has become a focus as he commits his life to them… not just the gospel message. Compassion and commitment have found balance in pure motives in the face of even hardship in verse 9. And he references upright and blameless behavior…. Christlikeness if you will… or perhaps… Barnabas like behavior in verse 10. And, in verse 11 “each one” indicates a one on one people orientation in their exhorting and encouragement. This is intimate and personal ministry to those in the “family”.
Paul had discovered the balance between doctrine and people orientation. The Army of God and The Family of God. He understood people want to see Christianity (Christ) not just hear (about) it, Him or His message.
The practical application is that we must be encouragers… treating one another with gentleness and compassion. Proverbs 1 indicates gentleness diffuses anger. I learned as a parent teaching my oldest girl to ride a bike, as a child at age 5, my impatience and impatient prodding did not bring her along. It encouraged her to give up. But, my loving standing alongside, picking up from falls, and positive encouragement yielded the fruit of balance and forward motion.
In encouragement we are required to be self-giving. Self-centeredness is central to the humanism and existentialism that pervades our culture and times, not Christianity. As Barnabas proves, where there is self-centeredness there can be no encouragement.
The Golden rule would seem to make more sense if it were negatively stated “Do NOT do to others what you would NOT want done to you.” But Jesus turns that around, making sacrifice the measure of giving others what you would like to receive. It is a paradox. Selfish desire yielded to unselfish giving what you yourself want. But what it does is puts the focus on actively giving of self and encouraging others in the way, and with that which, you would desire. As such you can’t just pay lip service to it, but actively and consciously give yourself to a focus on others… a people orientation.
Love is active. Romans 15 and Philippians 2
[Romans 15:1-2 NASB95] 1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not [just] please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.
[Philippians2:1-4 NASB95] 1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not [merely] look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Love in the gospel and in Christlikeness is active. Romans 15 and Philippians 2 are strong exhortation from Paul regarding love, edification and encouragement in the family of God. Put others before yourself, edify and build up your neighbor, encourage one another, all in the precepts taught and lived out by Jesus.
While we can encourage and build up one another in active service. Let us not discount the word of encouragement or comfort. By a word, message, e-mail, call, you can lift a brother up. (See Proverbs 12:25, 16:24, 15:4, 25:11, 1st Thessalonians 4:18, and 5:1-11,)
We live in times when lawlessness is rampant. Media and the culture have encouraged us to embrace “if it feels good….Do it “ since the 60’s.
Jesus spoke of a time when, as lawlessness increases, the love of many would grow cold ([Matthew 24:12 NASB95] 12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.”) Sometimes I think rather than face the persecutions that Paul and first century believers faced, we Western culture believers now face a more subtle form of persecution. The adversary doesn’t need to kill us by stoning, but simply lead us into death by distraction. Our persecution, rendering us as ineffective as death, comes through enticement to spiritual laziness.
We are so distracted by everything in the world around us that we can’t give ourselves to ministry/works He has called us to and beforehand ordained that we should walk in, in Jesus. Even something, made so simple by our current technology, like encouragement. Distracted by TV, entertainment, sports, social media, etc. that we can’t give ourselves to one another. Remember Hebrews 3:13 where we began looking at encouragement said “encourage one another day after day …. so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Distraction creeps and sneaks in and deceives. Remember the only treasure you can lay up in heaven is people. Nothing else goes to the other side.
Acts 11 Barnabas began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;
Acts 14 Barnabas and Paul were strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith,…
In Paul’s letter to Corinth he speaks of the importance and place of encouragement. I will not go into detail fleshing out this passage, Perhaps another time. But just know every place here you see the word “comfort”… it could have also been translated as “encouragement”.
[2Corinthians 1:3-7 NASB95] 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are [sharers] of our comfort.
Paul’s clear point is that he always sees Purpose in Problems. Whatever he has gone through has been so that he may encourage others who are likewise afflicted in problems. It’s an eternal and God centered perspective. One he saw in Jesus. Because that is exactly what Jesus did when He left the effluence of Glory that was His in the heavenlies in eternity past and took on the form or a man and became a servant even to the point of death (Philippians 2).
Let us encourage one another, even as He encouraged, and encourages us still! Call, write, message, get together with… serve practically… one another.