Why the World Shouldn’t Seek Unity

Any study of ethnicity and race should begin with the Tower of Babel because that’s where the separation of ethnicities first occurred. And If God separated humanity, to what degree should we attempt to unify it? Put another way, if God mandated that this is how the world is supposed to work now, who are we to tell him differently?

Consider this: Have you ever been on a mission trip to a foreign country? Even though you’re seeking to serve others, there’s still a natural human tendency for all of us to congregate with those with whom we share a language. It’s called a language barrier for a reason. To effectively communicate with another person who doesn’t understand your language (and vice-versa) is very difficult aside from rudimentary, almost baby-like sounds and gestures.

We experience this barrier as a result of what God caused in killing the Tower of Babel project. Consequently, different languages led to different people congregating with each other. Thus we have multiple ethnicities.

Note that I wrote “ethnicities” and not “races.” We all belong to the human race just as poodles, schnauzers, and Pomeranians all belong to the canine race. Yet within our one race, we have multiple ethnicities. Our ethnic groups are chiefly divided by language and location, though more defining descriptors certainly exist.

The Hurdle of Language

Noah and his descendants, even unto the time of the end of the Tower of Babylon project, were of one ethnicity. But within a few generations following the confounding of languages, many ethnicities abound. This occurred as separate segments of that singular gene pool began only to procreate with one another. As these particular segments mated over generations, notable differences emerged. (This is akin to how particular breeds of dog have come into existence.)

If we ever achieved one language as a race again, I believe our ethnicities would merge back together into one ethnicity given enough time. Without the hurdle of language to jump over, we would be much more prone to covering the earth. But then we would very likely become the people of Babylon all over again and seek ways to bring heaven down to earth.

I’ve often described Babylon as the birthplace of humanism, the self-centered, I-can-do-all-things-through-me belief that whatever I think or dream I can accomplish. God isn’t necessary to a humanist’s plans. But even the most humanistic humanist wouldn’t believe that they can accomplish all they want alone. Rather, they need some kind of assistance: maybe from big government, technology, or their entranced minions. In the same way that evolutionists believe that given enough time, evolution works, humanists tend to believe that, given enough manpower, they can do anything—which sounds a lot like the builders of the Tower of Babylon.

And doesn’t our world today seem to be leaning, even yearning, for this kind of global unity? But in light of the fallout from the construction of the Tower of Babel, such unity might not be a great idea. In fact, it might be a terrible idea. And I know it’s never going to happen because my Bible tells me so.

Why We Shouldn’t Strive for a Global Language or One-World Unity

Don’t misconstrue my point: there’s no time or place where prejudice toward another human being for their differences is ever tolerable, especially for a Christian who lives according to the Bible. We are all made in the image of God and we ought to always afford each other such respect.

Furthermore, despite our culture’s best intentions to say otherwise, it’s not racist to recognize ethnic and cultural differences for what they are: differences. The failure to recognize ethnicity is a failure of a worldview that aims toward a “one-people” agenda. By minimizing or eradicating the noticeable differences between all ethnicities, popular culture is subtly attempting to unify what will never be unified.

The Certainty of Never Unifying

How do I know that such one-world unity will never truly occur? Jesus and John in the book of Revelation speak of the end times, when “people of every tribe and nation and tongue” will bow down before Jesus in worship for what he’s accomplished. Why would that particular phrase be used over and over instead of just “people”? When the end comes, we’ll still have tribes, nations, and tongues. Despite our best efforts at one-world unity, we won’t get there. God will never undo what he did at the Tower of Babel.

I believe there’s a sinister motive at hand when it comes to the politically correct agenda of removing ethnic differences: anti-Semitism. Why is there such a push toward borderless nations? Why is there such a push toward one language, one people, one agenda, one heart? The Jews.

Because of the Jewish people’s chosen place as God’s own tribe through whom he will save the world, the Devil has been adamantly opposed to their thriving. If the Devil can eradicate ethnic differences, the distinction of the Jews may be able to be removed as well.

The preceding post is an adapted excerpt from my upcoming book, 30 Things You Need to Know about Your Bible (If You Claim to Know Your Bible).