Pentecost 4

Differences between people have continued to divide people ever since. Abraham's descendants from Ismael did not get along with his descendants from Isaac. Jacob's descendants (Israelites) did not get along with the descendants of his brother Esau. The Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians. The freed Israelites under Joshua fought against and almost exterminated the Amorites. Israel became divided. At the time of Jesus the Jews and Gentiles did not mix nor did the Jews and the Samaritans or the Pharisees and the Tax Collectors to cite just a few examples.

This is demonstrated in world missions.This is demonstrated in congregations where the membership takes on the culture of the community in which it is. This is seen especially when the culture around the congregation's neighborhood changes.