![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/leaving-300x200.jpg\")
They went out to manifest that the disconnect had already been brewing in them for some time and discussing with knowledgeable leaders their issue was not an option for them since they knew they could not defend their attitudes or issues on a sound scriptural basis.<\/p>\n
As their attitude and disconnect continued they were not a good influence on the church or for the church. It was better for the local church to lose that number than to try to cater to them just to appease them and keep the number. A little leaven of that kind would not be good for the church. So, it was a cancer, a drag on the church. It was better if they could not or would not repent, for them to leave than remain a drag on the church.<\/p>\n
While ideally, we want people to be of one mind (I Corinthians 1:10), we find the reality to be that divisions must occur to reveal the truth (I Corinthians 11:19) that some members are not really dedicating themselves to God’s word. That is unfortunate, but a reality we must acknowledge in local churches from time to time, which means we must all diligently examine ourselves regularly whether we are in the faith (II Corinthians 13:4) and truly abiding in Christ (John 15:4).<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Terry Wane Benton Sometimes it is a hidden blessing to the local church when we lose some people and numbers. John spoke of some who ceased in heart to be “of us” (I John 2:18f). They “went out” because, in heart, they had been secretly drifting away from the truth being preached and could…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[253,1060,544],"class_list":["post-64047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-fellowship","tag-i-john","tag-membership"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42135,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-friends-are-not-content-with-the-church-what-can-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":64047,"position":0},"title":"My friends are not content with the church. What can I do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I read your questions and answers often, and find real, godly, and biblical solace in them. I trust your judgment and wanted to ask you several things. My family has been attending churches of Christ since before we are born, and I could not see myself anywhere else. I'm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":46286,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/devaluing-the-local-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":64047,"position":1},"title":"Devaluing the Local Church","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 15, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Glen Young via\u00a0Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 25, June 22, 2008. The local church occupies an important position in God's scheme of things. It is through the local church that Christians execute certain works. These are works that God commands that can only be accomplished as a group in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33601,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/into-what-were-you-baptized\/","url_meta":{"origin":64047,"position":2},"title":"Into What Were You Baptized?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Floyd Chappelear Sentry Magazine, March 2000 Which came first? Admission into the church universal or the local church? To some, baptism is an ordinance of the church (that is, the local church). From that perspective, one is baptized into the local church. The truth of the matter is, however,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41256,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/dealing-with-diotrephes\/","url_meta":{"origin":64047,"position":3},"title":"Dealing with Diotrephes","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 31, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jefferson David Tant If you have read III John, you are aware that the author, very likely the apostle John, mentioned a troublemaker in the church. \"I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":82734,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-work-god-gave-the-local-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":64047,"position":4},"title":"The Work God Gave the Local Church","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Steve Klein God is the Master designer. We need only look at the physical universe to realize this. Psalm 19:1 tells us, \"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.\" The intricate and marvelous design of the creation shows the wisdom of God. \"O\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2383,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-scriptural-to-join-a-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":64047,"position":5},"title":"Is it scriptural to “join” a church?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 6, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a question about joining a church. I'm a bit at a loss to know how to go forward. This is all rather new to me as my family left \"going to church\" decades ago and have since worshiped with other Christians in homes or fellowships. 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