The Barnabas Factor

December 27, 2010

Have you ever stopped to think what Paul’s ministry might have been like without a Barnabas? It is true; Paul was a driven man. Paul had go-go-go galore, and had he taken the church planter evaluation, he would have passed with flying colors. I’m sure, even without a guy like Barnabas next to him, he would have had a great impact on the culture, planted a few churches and even enjoyed a time of measurable success. Yet I have to wonder; did Barnabas play a role in the success of Paul’s ministry? I think so!

Paul needed Barnabas! Let me explain.  By the time Paul was converted, he had a black reputation among the Jews. Paul, formerly known as Saul, was infamously known as a violent, hateful, murderous, persecutor of those that followed Jesus. Where the blood of new coverts was spilled, there was Saul, like a vicious predator, drinking in each death. Like a twisted and evil James Bond, he had a license to kill.  Obviously, he was good at ferreting out new believers because everyone was afraid of him.  As Saul, he was probably one of the most powerful Jewish leaders of his time. He describes himself as a Jew who was, “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless” (Phil. 3:5-6 ESV). Paul was no small player!

Suddenly, Saul is converted, and he is claiming that none other that Jesus himself saved him. I’m sure this far-fetched story was met with a great deal of skepticism from his contemporaries.  I bet Jews and Gentiles alike thought Paul was going undercover to get to the kingpins behind this budding religious movement. The Christians of that day were suspicious of Paul.  They realized that if they allowed him into their inner circles and he turned out to be an imposter, their lives and the lives of their families might be snuffed out in the middle of the night. Would you trust Paul? I’m not sure I would. At any rate, the scripture helps us to understand that he wasn’t trusted. Most would have been quite comfortable to let Paul fend for himself.

Now let’s return to Barnabas. Barnabas was involved in the new Church, and he had a good reputation among converts. He was upstanding among his peers…and he accepted Paul. The Bible never allows us into this conversation or series of conversations between these two, but somehow, Barnabas was able to believe in Paul’s conversion. If it had not been for Barnabas’ belief in Paul’s intentions, it is likely that Paul would have never been accepted into the ranks of the converts, given their stamp of approval, and sent on missionary journeys by the church in Antioch. Barnabas was the key Paul needed to enter into his new life’s mission. God used Barnabas in a very important way. His trust propelled Paul’s ministry to a whole new level. Those who formerly distrusted Paul soon stood behind him, and like Barnabas, they too sought to elevate and support Paul’s calling to go forth and spread the good news.

So what is my point? Church planters are often treated like Paul, beginning their new position as outsiders. As they go about the business of planting a new church, they are viewed with suspicion, seen as competitors, misunderstood, and left to fend for themselves. In many ways, they have a tide of emotional stress that constantly threatens to pull them under. Too often, the personal and emotional support of a church planter is overlooked. The pattern of planting usually goes like this: “Here’s your training. Got it? Good! Here’s your money. Take care with that. Oh, here’s how much freedom you have to shape your church with. Understand? Good! Okay buddy, go get-em!” This all sounds good, but this leader goes out into the big bad world of church planting alone - alone with their mission, alone with the pack of emotionally stresses that will soon eagerly surround them.

Ministry, in general, can be lonely, and church planting, being what it is, has an enormous potential to amplify this loneliness. Many church planters I have spoken with over the years have felt isolated, detached, and misunderstood. Often dropped into a new city with no support structures, and no immediate friends, from which to draw strength pressure builds and a sense of loneliness can turn into, depression, or burnt out. Too make matters worse, many of those who lead new churches have a extra portion “rugged individualism” built into their DNA. Instinctively they push away those whom they need the most. These two factors combined create enormous potential for catastrophic failure – both in their personal life as well as in the life of the new church. Encouragement is an absolute necessity among church planters. The level of emotional support a church planter receives will ultimately play a huge part in the emotional well-being of the plant itself.

Posted 12/27/2010 in Church Planting | 0 Comments - Add Comment