Barnabas File

Last month I wrote of my search for an icon of Barnabas and of his example as the prototypical Christian coach.   A couple of things have happened since.   I found the icon on line (pictured here) and it is now hanging in my office.   I have also been teaching The Book of Acts on Sunday morning and have been immersed in texts on Barnabas’ role as a leader in the growth of the early church.   I still affirm his empowering role as a coach, but I have seen another aspect of Barnabas as well. Barnabas was a missional leader.   He was committed to the missio Dei—the mission of God.   The missional church concept is built on the nature of a missional God, One who sends.   God sent the prophets, God sent Jesus Christ, and God is now sending us.   This God has a people who are living out his mission in the world.   Barnabas was one of those people.   Although he was not officially an apostle, he was one of the “sent ones” who furthere...

When I visited Conception Abbey recently, I asked for an icon of St. Barnabas.  I was disappointed to learn that neither the book store nor the Printery House at the Abbey had such an item.  Barnabas, one of my favorite characters in the New Testament evidently does not get the respect he deserves! Why do I like Barnabas?  Because he exhibits all of the best characteristics of a Christian coach.  We can learn a lot from Barnabas and how he invested himself in others.  The man we know as Barnabas was originally named Joseph.  He was a Levite from Cyprus who became part of the church in Jerusalem.  Because of his unusual generosity, the apostles called him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement” or “son of exhortation” (Acts 4:36-37).  When Saul first appeared in Jerusalem after his conversion from persecutor to preacher, the members of the church were afraid of him. Barnabas became Saul’s advocate, bringing him to the apostles and v...