3. People want to identify with something that is greater and bigger than themselves. This is a good desire, but the answer is that we can identify with the spiritual church of God! The middle verse of the Bible is: "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man" (Pslm 118:8). People should be able to identify with the larger body of believers who have obeyed God rather than followed men throughout history. Some of those who obeyed God had less knowledge than we do (they taught doctrines we know are wrong); some probably had more (the Apostles taught by Christ certainly did). It has not been human organizations that God has worked with throughout history, but individuals. We can identify the New Testament church, with the many early Christians who where persecuted by the Ro-mans, with those who fled a state church to maintain their faith, with those who translated the Bible into English and other languages and with those who fought to establish nations where people were free to worship as they best understood.

4. Local, unaffiliated congregations are unstable and frequently break up. This is sometimes true. In other cases, they remain stable and grow—sometimes for many decades. Even congregation divisions occur, the long-term effect of a congregation breakup is almost always positive spiritually. People are forced to examine exactly what they believe and why. The stakes are real—they are going to lose some friends. They need to be able to say why they are doing what they are doing. If they make the right decision, they can be joyful that they are suffering for righteousness (Matt 5:10–12; Acts 5:41, 1Pet 4:13–16). When people make the wrong decision and later realize it, it is a great opportunity to learn repentance and to seek the forgiveness of those whom they have wronged.

5. 5) Young people see small groups as a dead end—with no prospects of finding a spouse within their own local congregation, parents fear that they will eventually marry outside the group and leave it. This problem only occurs when people treat their small fellowship like it is the "one true church". Young people should be encouraged to visit a variety of groups and to seek a prospective spouse with a desire to follow God and the Bible, not one who is committed to an organization of men or a doctrinal statement written by them. This approach opens up the possibility of a great many more prospective spouses compared to joining one of the many denominations. Local congregations should take part in larger, nondenominational Christian activities.

Actual Problems of Shared-Ministry Congregations

1. Some people come and want to teach, but they have little to say that edifies anyone. It may take a number of meetings to clearly recognize this problem, but it certainly occurs. Some people will try to dogmatically teach a different doctrine every week. Others will want to talk too much about themselves or largely irrelevant ideas. This is an opportunity to make Christ's instructions in Matthew 18:15–17 (see page 20) and Galatians 6:1 work. Anyone noticing the problem can solve it. If it cannot be solved privately, it can eventually be brought up in the congregation. Very few people will continue to take up time in a congregation where they are being openly, but lovingly rebuked for doing it.

2. A person continually tries to teach a doctrine to the congregation which most have studied and rejected. This is worse than the previous case because he is on a "mission" to teach his doctrine and may continue trying to teach it even when everyone else is obviously opposed to it. "If someone disputes what you teach, then after a first and a second warning, have no more to do with him" (Titus 3:10, NJB). The congregation may simply have to get together and tell the person that if they are going to continue to try to teach their doctrine, that they are not welcome. (I know of an opposite example where a group failed to do this and one by one all of the members dropped out, leaving only the objectionable teacher. They later got back together to form a new group. It would have been much better if they had restrained the unwanted teacher from the first group.)

3. Services turn into doctrinal arguments, and the unpleasantness outweighs the value of the teaching. Paul taught: "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification" (1Cor 14:26). Teaching edifies. Questions and "reading scriptures that appear to disagree with the teaching" edify. But if people are simply repeating the same words over and over—just louder and more emphatically, then it is an argument. Arguments do not edify much. If necessary, they should be continued outside of services. Learning how to gracefully do this is an important part of being a part of a local congregation.

4. A congregation drifts into eccentricity. This danger is the opposite of the previous one. It occurs when people agree too much! This is a congregation that has been together for a long time and comes to draw a lot of very precise conclusions about exactly what the Bible says on numerous topics and becomes intolerant to others who understand anything differently. These conclusions may be erroneous or true, but the danger is an emphasis on knowledge rather than bearing fruit. A common cause is a congregation with a few teachers who are largely in agreement and other members who accept almost anything those teachers teach. This is usually coupled with the lack of visitors and new believers attending. A congregation in this state needs a wake-up message to begin concentrating on serving others, rather than their own personal knowledge.

5. A congregation becomes lukewarm. This problem occurs when people are getting along well and agreeing. They feel good about their service and enjoy the teaching, music and fellowship there. But they are also tolerant of other's beliefs. Unfortunately, they are not stirred to share what they have. There are many scriptures about this issue. Anyone who recognizes this condition in their congregation can search them out and read them in the Bible.