Ac 15:35-41 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
This is another classic example of why we need to be accountable. Paul and Barnabas seemed inseparable. After all, it was Barnabas who reached and welcomed Paul when all of the other apostles seemed indifferent because of his reputation. Barnabas actually went out of his way to ingratiate himself to Paul. They were an awesome evangelistic team. They established many churches together. They were responsible for many souls coming to Christ. They even went to prison together. However, Barnabas thought it good to take John Mark with them, but Paul did not. Paul felt that John Mark had deserted them at Pamphylia. The contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from another. Now you may say where does the accountability come in. Well, although they departed from one another, they still were accountable to the church at Jerusalem. They still had to answer and report to the apostles. Barnabas took John Mark and Paul took Silas, but they both had to report to the apostles in Jerusalem. John Mark was not destroyed because Paul no longer desired to work with him.
Many times ministers are destroyed due to disagreements when there is no accountability. If you are in some independent church or ministry, and everything stops at the local pastor or leadership, you have no recourse. You can be destroyed by that leadership. However, if there is a higher leadership that they are accountable to, you can take your case to that higher authority and be heard. Thank God for the organized church. The Barnabas and Paul Evangelistic Team split up, but the Gospel continued through the Barnabas and John Mark Evangelistic Team and the Paul and Silas Evangelistic Team. Isn't that interesting. The gospel actually increased, instead of decreasing, all because of the organized church.
