Why do so many churches today have problems and splits?
Many church conflicts and splits trace to the “mixed multitude” principle from Exodus: unsaved hangers-on who join outwardly but lack true spiritual life. They have no real spiritual concern or knowledge, and they are usually the murmurers and complainers who stir trouble within congregations.
Les explains that when someone was decrying how many churches today have problems and are splitting, he connected it back to the mixed multitude of Exodus. The mixed multitude were not true Israelites; they were hangers-on, perhaps Egyptians and foreigners who had labored in Egypt, who saw a good thing and went along with Israel. They became like parasites, and in the wilderness they were the first to murmur. Les applies this by saying most problems in churches today come from the murmurers and complainers, usually—not always—the unsaved element in the church, who have no real spiritual concern or knowledge.
And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.