Frequent mingling with the professing church (Stephen Tyng, "Christ is All") The professing church is characterized by a worldly, covetous and frivolous spirit; which is manifested by distressing acts of inconsistency and folly. Far too often, when the true Christian associates with those within the professed communion of the followers of Christ, he is met with a low standard of personal piety. Frequent mingling with the professing church very rarely promotes, and far more frequently hinders--the growth of grace in the true Christian's heart. Much experience of this impediment to holiness, compels him to retreat, as often as possible, from the professing church, to seek for strength and refreshment at home, in secret with his Lord.