Who Is Right?

I am what you can call a “Conspiracy Theorist Junky.” Not sure if that is a real title or a real thing, but if there is ever a time when I am lying in bed awake at night when I shouldn’t be, it is because some ridiculous theory has gotten my google attention. However, my theories are not theories most people get hooked on. I can be occupied for hours with videos like those claiming that Michael Jackson is still alive. “Who was that old man on the third row of his funeral that no one recognized? And how did he get there? Was it Michael in his old man costume disguise?”

I can lose myself reading articles about whether Janet Jackson and James Debarge had a child. “She does look like she put on some pounds in some of her videos during that era. Was that just 80’s shoulder pads or was that baby weight? And did Jackie raise that daughter as his own or did Rebbie do it?” I know, insert hand over face emojis now. These confessions of my theories are not my proudest moments.

Still, way before the movie "The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel" came out, the conspiracy theory that I found myself researching the most was what happened to Denise in the Clark Sisters Gospel Group. I am a big Clark Sister’s fan and Denise was one of my favorite Clark sisters. I loved watching her sing. She was so full of energy and zest. She praised like she didn’t care who was watching. And her soprano voice was one of the best. Suddenly, though, Denise just disappeared from the lineup! Just like that, she was not there. There was no explanation. No one seemed uncomfortable with the fact that she was missing. Years before the Lifetime Channel movie captured the world’s attention, I looked for clues as to what happened to Denise. My first detective discovery was that she was still alive. I found videos of Denise singing or doing interviews on Youtube. Denise had not died which was good. Even so, I noticed that all the information about what happened to Denise came from Denise. The other Clark Sisters were not touching the story. As I tried to piece together the story of her disappearance, I concluded that she was kicked out of the group because she had a baby out of wedlock. This was not a surprise to me at all because I grew up in the church and this kind of thing happened all the time.

Yet, the movie gave us an entirely different perspective. Finally, the Clark sisters would tell their side of the story. When they tell the story, Denise left the group according to her own volition. They had not kicked her out because of having a baby out of wedlock, in fact Denise had had a few more children and was still in the group. Their story is that Denise got fed up and wouldn’t sign a contract! I don’t know which story is correct.

As I continued to listen to interviews from Denise I was often shocked by some of the things that came out of her mouth. Since I am the joint child from a blended family, I was horrified by how Denise Clark seemed to be dead set on showing that Jackie didn’t belong. You don’t do that! Mattie Moss Clark was married before and had two children, Jackie and Leo. Denise, who was the first joint child born to the Clark family, did not like the fact that now Jackie was using "Clark" as her stage name although she wasn’t really a "Clark.” She said, “Jackie didn’t even like my daddy. How is she going to take his name now?” Denise went so far as to make her email address to be thefirstclarksister@yahoo.com. As much as I wanted to feel sorry for Denise, I knew that her actions were mean and divisive. Then, Denise went too far when she pointed out, in the name of truth telling, that even though the sisters called Jackie an RN, that Jackie had never passed her licenser test. This is not ok and to me is reason enough for the sisters to keep Denise at bay.

I still am not sure what really happened when Denise left the group, but I often wonder if Denise should have the chance to be restored back into good and regular standing as a Clark Sister again? It seems like the Clark sisters themselves are split on this issue. Twinkie seems to have more sympathy with Denise. Even Karen has made statements that one day all the Clark Sisters will sing together again. While Dorinda and Jackie, understandably so, seem to be firm in their “No!” Obviously, Denise hurt all of them by leaving the group, but half believe that she should be restored, and half believe that she shouldn’t. And I want to know who is right?

In the Bible we read about something that resembles what happened to the Clark Sisters. Paul and Barnabas take John Mark with them on their missionary trip as an assistant, but when the going gets tough John Mark quits and goes back home. He left them hanging. They were empty handed. He left them high and dry. Now they had to scramble to do all the things that they had hired John Mark to do. I know it was an inconvenience. They were still on their missionary trip. It’s not like they could hire another assistant from a temp agency. I know that they felt deserted. Someone who should have been loyal to them proved that he wasn’t. It was a big disappointment. Paul, Barnabas and John Mark were like a missionary team, and John Mark’s actions completely damaged and embarrassed their brand. I’m sure that Paul said, “Never again! Never will I partner with John Mark. He’s totally undependable.”

So, imagine Paul’s surprise when Barnabas suggested that they take John Mark again.

“Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Then 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” (Acts 15:37-39).

Barnabas was determined to take John Mark and Paul insisted that they leave him behind. And my question of them is just like my question of the Clark Sisters: “Who’s right”?

Both men were godly men!
Both men were on the battlefield for their Lord!
Both men were determined to spread the gospel to the whole world!
Both men were really done wrong by John Mark. It’s not like John Mark did Paul more wrong than he did Barnabas. He left both. Both Barnabas and Paul were mistreated. Both were put out by John Mark’s actions. I’m sure that both were unhappy and dare I say “miffed’ by his behavior. Nonetheless, when the dust settled, one man wanted to be used to restore John Mark and the other was not up for the job. And again, my question is, “Who was right”?

There is not much else written about John Mark in the Bible, but what is written is astonishing.

The first time we are introduced to John Mark by name is when Peter gets delivered from prison by angels because the church was praying. You know the story where Peter goes to the house where the saints are praying, and Rhoda won’t open the door? Guess whose house that was? That was John Mark’s Momma’s house. John Mark grew up in a house of faith. They didn’t pick his Momma’s house all “willy nilly.” When the believers were picking a place to really pray, they knew that John Mark’s Momma’s house was the place! So John Mark comes from good Christian stock.

The second time we hear about him is when Paul and Barnabas take John Mark with them on their missionary journey. The third time we hear about John Mark is when he quits on them. Then we hear that Paul and Barnabas have this argument over him and split up because of it and Barnabas takes John Mark with him.

But the last time we hear about John Mark is when Paul, at the end of his life says, “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11, NIV).

Did you hear that?!

Paul is on his deathbed, and of all the people he could have beside him to bring comfort and strength during his time of need, he wants John Mark! It’s even more mind-blowing when you realize that in the previous verse Paul says, “Demas has forsaken me” and that’s one of the specific reasons why he wants John Mark to come! He sees John Mark as someone who won’t desert him. Wow.

Clearly, John Mark had been restored if Paul is asking for him now. What a turnaround! Something remarkable happened and I’m pretty sure that we can give the credit to the “Son of Encouragement,” Barnabas himself.

Many scholars even believe that John Mark was the author of the Gospel of Mark in the Bible! Oh what would we have missed if Barnabas wasn’t determined to take John Mark with him! We don’t know where John Mark would have been if Barnabas didn’t see the Holy Ghost potential in him. I shudder to think about what missed opportunities John Mark would have had in his life if Barnabas wasn’t determined to restore him.

So clearly Barnabas was right. Right?

What’s interesting is that even though I am forever grateful for Barnabas’ decision to mentor John Mark again, I don’t see God ever chastising Paul for his decision not to. Maybe John Mark needed to be restored but Paul wasn’t the one who could do it. Maybe Paul wasn’t the one who was supposed to do it. When I read their story, I get the impression that Paul was the one who was the most offended by John Mark’s desertion. It’s as if he felt the most violated. And whether it was Paul’s setting healthy personal boundaries, or recognizing where he was in the stages of reconciliation, or simply the need to maintain his own mental health, God seems to be fine with the fact that Paul is not the one working to restore John Mark.

So, who was right? Maybe they both were.

Let’s be clear: God needs people in the body of Christ who are Barnabasses. There are so many John Marks that God wants to use mightily, but instead they are floundering because of a mistake. Barnabas is right. The John Marks need to be restored.

Still, Paul is right also. It's going to take Paul a little more time and that's alright. We all heal at different paces, but I'm so glad the ending of this story shows that he does heal.

So Twinkie, go ahead and be determined to take Denise with you. You may have to begin by singing some duets with her first. You will have to love her enough that she will hear you when you call her to the carpet about how she has treated Jackie, and what her departure from the group felt like. But if you do your "Barnabas" work through the power of the Holy spirit, who knows what God will do? Wouldn't it be amazing if your work of restoration may pave the way for Jackie to someday say, "Bring Denise with you because she is helpful to me in my ministry."