Douglas Young

His real name was “Joseph,” but the apostles nicknamed him “Barnabas” (Son of Encouragement). Barnabas had sold a piece of property and gave the proceeds to the apostles that they might help the needy (Acts 4:37). Generosity of that sort must have been a tremendous source of encouragement to the apostles.

Later he would appeal to the same apostles in defense of one Saul of Tarsus, a Jewish enforcer and persecutor of early disciples (Acts 9:27). While traveling to Damascus to carry out orders, Saul was confronted by the Messiah, struck blind, and told to locate a man by the name of Ananias who lived in Damascus. He does and there Saul puts on Christ (Acts 9:1-19). This brings us back to Barnabas. It was Barnabas who made the case before the apostles for Saul to received into their fellowship. Though God had forgiven him of his past, the stench of death and persecution would follow him in the minds of others. Barnabas going to bat for Saul had to have been a great encouragement to him!

It seems to me that Barnabas’s confidence in Saul allowed them to forge a relationship conducive to the advancement of the new covenant cause. They do indeed join forces. They travel and work together establishing and encouraging churches.

Unfortunately, shortly after the Jerusalem conference, Paul (formerly Saul) and Barnabas get crossways over Barnabas’s cousin, John Mark (Acts 15:36-41). Apparently, John Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas while at Pamphylia (Acts 15:38). Paul had lost confidence in John Mark, but Barnabas, for whatever reason, hadn’t. Paul and Barnabas are so at odds with each other that they choose to go their separate ways. Eventually, Paul would have a change of heart with respect to his opinion of John Mark (2 Timothy 4:11), but Barnabas is never mentioned again in the Scriptures.

I don’t know whether Paul was misguided and Barnabas was right about John Mark to begin with or vice-versa, but I am certain that Barnabas’s willingness to stand behind his cousin had to be a confidence booster to John Mark. For whatever reason he had deserted Paul earlier and he might have been a lost cause for the rest of his life had someone not shown confidence in him. Thankfully, the “Son of Encouragement” was there for John Mark to supply the need!

Many of us have a lot to say, but what is it that we are going to say? Are we going to use our voices to be a source of encouragement to those who need it? Are we following the mold of Barnabas?

In the last couple of years, I’ve become enamored with the outdoors, mountaineering in particular. I read Outside Magazine, books by Jon Krakauer, as well as watch specials on mountaineering. I’ve learned a lot about the mountaineering culture; namely, it’s greatly concerned with environmental preservation. In my mind, this is a wonderful thing. But there’s something that goes on that really doesn’t make much sense; Mount Everest is a dump. 

Everest is literally the pinnacle of all peaks. At 29035 feet, on the planet you cannot ascend to any higher place on foot. Getting to the top takes months, and over the course of those months a person leaves more than mere footprints in snow. The most obtrusive items are discarded oxygen canisters. Climbing at that altitude almost always demands supplemental oxygen. Even with it, the task is so taxing that one must travel as light as possible. When one oxygen tank is empty, they simply remove the regulator, chunk the canister and replace it with a full one. The discards are just left there.

I respect the drive that mountaineers have to climb. I, too, respect the principles by which they tend to live their lives. But that respect is diminished by the fact that pragmatism prevails in certain circumstances like the one I mention. How do you take people seriously with respect to their principles when they are capriciously ignored so that they can climb a peak?

What must people think about Christians, who too play the pragmatism card, not living according to their profession? Several years ago, a prison study suggested that 84% of the United States prison population was professed “Christian.” It is believed that 81% of the US population professes to be “Christian.” These statistics are unbelievable. Even more incredible was that it is believed that anywhere from 8 to 15 % of the US population adheres to atheism, and yet only .2% of the prison population professes to be atheist. Doesn’t make much sense does it?

It seems to me, people just don’t tend to take their beliefs seriously. Sadly, Satan doesn’t have to work very hard to keep such people right where he wants them. How do you take people seriously who live so estranged from their “convictions?” Maybe they really aren’t convicted?

But what about us? Do our lives reflect Christ or another? We cannot serve “two masters” (Matthew 6:24), but it sure seems like we are trying. From God’s point of view, that doesn’t make much sense.