Galatians 2:1-13
Peer pressure is a terrible thing. So often though, we accept the stereotype of peer pressure as only being applicable to teenagers. Most everybody has an innate desire to be loved and accepted, it’s the way God wired us. This desire doesn’t leave though at 18, it stays with us throughout adulthood.
Sometimes people control the desire to be accepted, and other times people allow this desire to control them – giving into peer pressure, specifically doing things to win the approval of others that are wrong.
Thus far in our look at the life of Barnabas, his conduct has been nothing short of exemplary. He has been a spirit-filled man of God, was responsible for the acceptance of Paul and was heavily involved in the first missionary journey.
But even the most gifted and godly of servant leader’s aren’t perfect. What we are is imperfect people preaching a perfect saviour.
Our story picks up sometime between verse 35 and 36.
(Act 15:35) Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
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.
The story itself isn’t actually found in the book of Acts, but as Paul is rehashing the Jerusalem council in Gal 2, he adds a snippet not previously known.
Peter after his life-changing vision was eating dinner with his new Gentile friends when suddenly through the door came some Jews. Old habits die hard, and Peter was suddenly self-conscience eating with people that previously would have been forbidden. To save face he separated himself from his Gentile friends.
Well, this opened Pandora’s Box, soon other Jews that were with him followed suit and after all of the progress that had been made with connecting Jewish and Gentile believers together in the church, it was being torn apart again.
The dissension became so great that Barnabas of all people was carried away as well.
(Gal 2:13) And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
This was Barnabas! The same Barnabas who testified about God working in the Gentile! The same Barnabas who went on a mission’s trip and preached Christ to those people!
Barnabas should have known better, and he probably did but peer pressure can be a powerful thing. Bowing to what other people though caused a division in the church, one that was repairable but was a division nonetheless. Doing what’s right is so important, even in the face of opposition and peer pressure.
Instead of caring what those around us our saying, may we each endeavour to hear our Saviour say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Ryan King is pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Westville.
