Cityslickers and Rednecks In the Same Pew

The church is made up of people who are different. In the New Testament people from all kinds of backgrounds were converted and became members of the same congregation. Paul said what mattered is that they were Christians. In Christ he said there is “neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all” (Col. 3:11). They were to be humble and loving toward each other regardless of culture or social standing (Col. 3:12-15). When you think about how different these groups were, it is amazing that they could have unity. Jews and Gentiles were very different, and yet when they were baptized they often found themselves sitting beside each other in the same congregation. Though the law of Moses had been nailed to the cross, Jewish members were slow in giving up many of their customs. Jews were taught not to…