Over
time, believers began associating (and disassociating) with other local
believers based upon doctrinal, ethnic, or traditional differences.
Some of these divisions are more rigid, while others are more informal
and flexible.
The
above picture is typical of today's situation. It is nearly impossible
to find any city where Christians
are simply meeting again as the church in their city. In some places,
however, the testimony of the one Body of Christ within a locality
is
being restored.