26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe he was a true follower. 27Then Barnabas helped him by taking him to the apostles. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also said that when Saul was in Damascus, he had spoken bravely in the name of Jesus.
28Saul moved about freely with the followers in Jerusalem and told everyone about the Lord. 29He was always arguing with the Jews who spoke Greek, and so they tried to kill him. 30But the followers found out about this and took Saul to Caesarea. From there they sent him to the city of Tarsus.
31The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria now had a time of peace and kept on worshiping the Lord. The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow.
What if Charles Manson has a "Flash-Bang" conversion experience?
So, Charles Manson gets out of prison and attempts to join our local congregation...how would that go over? Probably about the same is it did with Saul in Jerusalem. Who can blame people for being fearful?
Thank God for Barnabas...
I've seen congregations get hinky over far less...and a Barnabas was not to be found. There may have been a number of "Barneys" (you know, "I love you, you love me...")...pleasant enough, but ineffective. I wonder what the Body of Christ missed as a result.
Are we the "Barnabas" for our congregation? Or the "Barney"?
Let's remember, Barnabas did not cut corners or equivocate just to help Saul. He did so on a solid foundation of evidence of conversion and evidence of fruit. "Barnabas helped him by taking him to the apostles. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also said that when Saul was in Damascus, he had spoken bravely in the name of Jesus".
Anything less won't work.
Live boldly out there today...
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