Leaders Must Sometimes Agree to Disagree

The contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:39-41 Leadership sometimes demands hard choices, especially about people. In many cases, these decisions aren’t cut and dried. Different leaders have different perspectives. They can try to come to an agreement, but at the end of the day, someone has to make a decision so the work can move ahead. In this case, one team morphed into two, and their effectiveness doubled. That may not have been Paul’s plan, and it probably wasn’t Barnabas’ first choice either, but it was God’s solution. He often has plans that we never considered. New plans may be found in the heat of disagreement, and ultimately, they produce more for the Kingdom. Don’t be afraid of disagreements. State your opinion and try to find common ground, but realize that God may have other plans for you and for others around you. What ground rules and expectations do you believe should be put into place when Christians disagree? Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com