“And [God] has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.”
Acts 17:26
Since the Tower of Babel episode (Genesis 11), people groups have often viewed one another with suspicion and hostility. Following widespread acceptance of Darwin’s evolution story, biological arguments for racism have became common. On this view, some people groups are more evolved than others, meaning they are further removed from their animal past. This kind of thinking was foundational to the Nazi holocaust and other atrocities of the 20th century. The Bible, however, has a very different interpretation of man. According to the Bible, all of humanity traces its origin back to original man, Adam (Acts 17:26). It was his sin that caused humanity’s estrangement from God, which came to terrible expression at the Tower of Babel. There, all the world gathered together in defiance of God. Under His judgment, the people were disbersed into three broad groups, descendants of the three sons of Noah (Genesis 10). From these patriarchs come the Jews, the Europeans, and the Africans. Though scattered in their sin, they are invited to unite again in the present dispensation under Christ (Ephesians 2-3; Galatians 3:27-29). God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19) and He has testified to this great fact. The biblical record shows God undoing the Babel judgment, saving an African (Acts 8), a Middle-Eastern Jew (Acts 9), and a European (Acts 10). Because God created man in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6), and has provided for man’s salvation, we ought never to look down on others whose skin color or eye shape is different. “Honour all people,” said the great apostle (1 Peter 2:17). Racism would end tomorrow if people believed the Bible and gave its teachings much wider application. “Love your neighbour as yourself,” said Jesus (Matthew 22:39), no matter what people group your neighbour may represent.
God bless you today, dear saint, as you share the love of Christ with your world.
Pastor John
English