Acts 18:18-23The Return Trip to Antioch

“18 So Paul, having stayed on for many days, said good-bye to the brothers and sailed away to Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because he had taken a vow. 19 When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and engaged in discussion with the Jews. 20 And though they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, 21 but he said good- bye and stated, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

22 On landing at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and went down to Antioch. 23 And after spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the Galatian territory and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”

Acts 18:18-23 

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As I look at the ministry of the Apostle Paul, I am reminded again and again of the divisions and separations that have occured over the last 2000 years. Granted, even in the early years and decades of the church, Paul & the other Apostles had to deal with separations and issues that divided the church in its infancy. Some separations were out of necessity. The church had to branch out from Jerusalem, & so disciples wouldn’t make the trip in from Antioch Psidia, Cypur or Rome every week just to attend services. That was quite impossible & so there would have to be separations that took place in the body as it grew & as the faithful multiplied. These separations still exist today. I have friends spread out all over the country and in different places around the world & so it isn’t really practical for us to all gather each week on Sunday for worship & that’s okay. Plus, we know that this separation is temporary. Our eternal gathering will be without these separations over miles. 

Some divisions occured because of culture & language. It wouldn’t make much sense for an Etheopian Christian to become a part of a church in Gaul. The cultures & languages would produce a number of hurdles to overcome, not insurmountable mind you, but enough that no one would blame our Etheopian brothers and sisters for gathering where the communication was easier. Again, this separation is temporary & we still view them as our brother & sisters in Christ, even though our heart languages are different. Even if we couldn’t speak together, we could sing a common song together (each oin our own languages) & participate in a meal or Communion together and understand well enough what was needed in order to spend time together as family. These barriers & separations are normal in this life & we look forward to the day when we all speak as one again in the perfected Kingdom of God. 

Other divisions simply shouldn’t exist and do nothing but separate the body. Sometimes it’s a disagreement over doctrine because one person or group has wandered from the truth & authority of the Word. Some exist over music preferences, instrumentation, dress, traditions & structure. People pick hills to die on that do not honor Christ & that promote division rather than put to death the desires of the flesh & pride. These divisions (not separations, but divisions, rightfully) are not in the plan and desire of God for the bride of Christ & need to be done away with. 

We should all be accountable to the Word itself and not the traditions of men. We need to be sensitive to cultural identities, but at the same time, we must be conscious of the freedoms we have in Christ and the bigger picture of the church universal & our witness to the world. Jesus told us that the world would recognize that we were His by the love that we shared with one another. Division doesn’t work toward that witness. Unity builds and enhances that reputation. Unity must come under the authority of the Word, the doctrines of the faith that are clearly laid out there and in the blood of Christ Himself. We cannot add to it, modify it or subract from it and still be faithful to Him. 

Paul’s journeys between the churches reflected this unity. They cared for one another, took care of each other’s needs, prayed for one another & sought Christ for their cities in a unified effort to take the good news of the Gospel to the nations. Paul encouraged them, and they in turn encouraged him. We should be actively engaged in strengthening one another, pointing hearts and minds back to the Word, living under the authority of God laid out there for us to see. As we GoLove others in Jesus Name, it is crucial that they see a God-honoring & proper example from us as we interact with other believers. They need to see the way we esteeem Christ & His Word & His exmaple of service, grace & love for others. Our integrity comes from this & not from anything that we would do to try to bolster the message, as if it needed our help.