Which of the challenges described in this lesson surprise you the most? Why? Are any of these challenges similar to those you face in your faith community? If so, which ones and in what ways?

[Abraham Alier]

Nothing really surprise me at all. the same disagreement that happen in the New Testament when the members divinding them between Paul and Apollo is still happening today. I have seen in my community people are ordain base on the tribal line. Even the churches are establish on tribal line.

[Rebecca Crone]

None of the challenges described in the lesson surprise me. Within the United States, I think Geographic Distance might be a bigger issue than people realize. The problem is not that people live too far from church; rather, the difficulty is that there are so many churches in some areas, that people can quite easily pick/choose which church to attend on any given Sunday. If someone is offended or hurt within the local church body, they will easily leave and go down the street to another church. I have seen it happen so many times, and it is quite unfortunate. People would rather avoid a conflict than deal with it biblically.

[Donna]

The challenge of doctrinal disagreements and schisms was surprising to me in that I wonder why something as the foundational beliefs in doctrine ends up dividing and creating new groups instead of bringing them together. This is similar to what my church is having issues with regarding women as pastors and deacons, instead of the congregation coming together they are separated into two camps which makes it uncomfortable for everyone.

[Cheryl Hollingsworth]

Geographical distance surprises me the most. We live in a time that the message of the gospel can be transmitted by several different modalities. No need to always ‘physically be there.’ One person is able convey much to the masses. The challenge our local churches are currently facing are doctrinal disagreements. We have recently had another split and a new church group formed over the question…”Can a woman pastor the church?”

[Rebecca Crone]

I agree that there are many different ways to receive a message/gospel via technology, but in order for the local church body to be active and grow, people should attend and connect with others. I think geographical distance is a bigger issue in the United States than people realize. It is not a challenge about being too far from a church; it’s more about not connecting due to technology or moving on to another church as soon as something is not what one thinks it should be. I think it is too easy for people to distance themselves from a church body.

[Stacy Colwell]

This is a very good point. Even when we are physically close in proximity, we can be very distant due to pulling away and disconnecting ourselves. While technology has great advantages for those who are truly cut off for a myriad reasons, it can hinder those who can convince themselves that they are fellowshipping when they are, in fact, forsaking the assembly.

[Gail Bradley]

Doctrinal Disagreements and Schisms use to have a strong hold on me. I could not understand why such a wide variety of fellowship felt the need to worship, praise, and teach Christianity under so many different umbrellas. Here is a list of some in my community:

Baptist

Sanctified

Jehovah Witnesses

Catholics

Evangelistic

Apostolic

Today most of them are coming together in agreement as to who God is but using all different sorts of titles and names to identify God. Muslims and Buddhists people today are now calling their Gods Bishops instead of God. But still, why are there so many different ways of describing His Goodness in so many different ways to the extent of only confusing everyone.