We love building
narratives, don’t we.
Sometimes the tales we
tell each other represent reality. Other times we are simply reading our own
impressions, default assumptions and prejudices into the text of scripture.
I was in a conversational
Bible study recently. Our subject was Acts 15 and the “sharp disagreement”
between Paul and Barnabas over whether or not John Mark, who had previously
deserted them in Pamphylia, should accompany them to encourage the believers in
Asia where they had planted churches and preached Christ. The
disagreement, if you recall, was sharp enough that Paul and Barnabas parted
ways. Barnabas took Mark and went with him back to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and
went through Syria and Cilicia.
