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When Gods People Disagree

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CAROLINA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE DISAGREE

BY LATASHA BARR

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
DR HANCHELL
9 JULY, 2012

Conflicts are part of life. We all have experienced situations where we found ourselves on one side of an argument. From playground fights, to board room debates or the emotional dispute of a couple, it is inevitable at some point we will disagree. The church is no different. When we join our selves to the body of Christ we bring along all of the attributes that make us who we are. What should separate us from the world is how we handle the differences that arise amongst us. Acts chapter 15 is filled with conflict, and provides details on dealing with conflict when God’s people disagree.
Acts 15 opens in Antioch. Paul and Barnabas are in a fierce debate with some fellow believers from Judea. The Jewish believers from Judea were teaching in order to be saved, one must believe in Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ; but in order to be part of the covenant community, Israel, one must become a proselyte, which is entered into by circumcision and obligates the individual to keep the Law of Moses¹. Paul and Barnabas disagreed with these teaching and this made for heated discussions. The debate raged on in such a manner that the group was ultimately sent back to Jerusalem to present their arguments before the council which remained there. It is important we realize there are no good guys and bad guys in this equation. Both parties are Christian believers and when the debate ensued both parties were out evangelizing and teaching the body of Christ. Each party had a different means to the same end result, the salvation of the lost and the building of the church. So, what we are seeing is an internal conflict that stands to damper the progression and momentum of the church.
The Jewish leaders believed that

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