“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” Ephesians 2:13-14 (NIV)
Identity is the key to who we are. When we do not know who we are, we feel lost and tend to be disjointed in outlook. Our language buttresses our identity and helps us to know who we are and where we are from. This is the reason why many groups fight to preserve their language, chiefly because they see it as the key to being who they are. Language facilitates concise communication and gives us a sense of belonging. It reinforces the feeling that we are part of a family and often serves as a springboard for collective attainment. This is the reason why when God wanted to frustrate mankind’s propensity to undermine His input in the world, He confused their language and brought disunity into their midst. When people speak with one language, they exude the power of unity, which according to God is unassailable.
Jesus Christ created a paradigm shift and turned this principle on its head when He redefined family as those who actively help Him to fulfil God’s plan and do His will. In other words, He is essentially positing that what defines you is not your origin or physical attributes, but your destination. Hence, where you are from, and whatever attributes that might confer on you no longer matters. What is important is that you now have a new Christian family – a peculiar group of people with whom you are now headed in the same direction – heaven. We are defined by the one thread that joins us together – Jesus Christ. Consequently, we are no longer to judge others by their appearance or physical differences, but by the Jesus content of their character.
God was also mindful that a people group usually have a common language and to further bind us together as His chosen people, He has given us a spiritual language – speaking in tongues. He has thus reversed the action He took at the Tower of Babel and replaced man’s propensity to exalt himself and undermine God with the desire to praise Him. So, whenever you speak in tongues, whether you are Caucasian, Negroid or Mongoloid, or fall somewhere in between, understand that you are an integral part of God’s wonderful project of creating a people for Himself.
God has called us to a ministry of reconciliation. He has mandated us to build bridges that emphasises our commonality and not to erect walls that espouses our differences. So, which one are you? Are you a bridge-builder or a wall erector? You need to understand that God is colour blind, gender-neutral and age-impervious. He sees only human beings and relates with them on that basis and He expects nothing less of you. It is said that Sunday is the most segregated day of the week, when people congregate on the basis of origin and not destination. It is time we start redressing this wrong. What are you going to do about it? Let’s start walking in love with one another.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, wash my eyes in your cleansing blood, so that I only see you in the lives of people regardless of whatever differences may abound between us. Reveal the pride and prejudices that cloud my ability to see other people as you see them or accept them as you do and help me to make the necessary adjustments so that we can enjoy the unassailable unity it brings to the glory of your name. Amen