| Dr. Eugene Brice tells a disturbing story about a minister who returned to visit a church he |
| had once served. He ran into Bill, who had been an elder and leader in the church, but who |
| left the old congregation and was not around anymore. The pastor asked, "Bill, what happened?" |
| You used to be there every time the doors opened. I knew I could always count on you." |
| "Well, Pastor," said Bill, "a difference of opinion arose in the church. Some of us couldn't |
| accept the final decision and we established a church of our own." |
| "Is that where you worship now?" asked the pastor. |
| "No," answered Bill, "we found that there, too, the people were not faithful and a small group |
| of us began meeting in a rented hall at night." |
| "Has that proven satisfactory?" asked the minister. |
| "No, I can't say that it has," Bill responded. "Satan was active even in that fellowship, so my |
| wife and I withdrew and began to worship on Sunday at home by ourselves." |
| "Then at last you have found inner peace and a satisfactory place to worship?" asked the pastor. |
| "No, I'm afraid we haven't," said Bill. "Even my wife began to develop ideas I was not comfortable |
| with, so now she worships in the northeast corner of the living room, and I am in the southwest." |
