Race Relations...continued

THE HISTORY OF RACIALISM.

Please note that I have not used the word Racism here. That involves wrong attitudes and even bitterness between peoples, but racialism is that which pertains to Races, and to get any subject into perspective we always need to look into its history. The Bible account is fully set out in the book of Genesis (2) where we find early man living in one particular area and having a common language. At that time society had become degenerate and living a purely secular existence. Following their egocentric desires they thought up a grandiose scheme to build a city with an impressive tower which would 'reach heaven'. Such was their arrogance. They said "let us make brick and let us make a name".

And God was displeased. That was a tower too far for Him, so He stopped the project by diversifying their language. This resulted in confusion and the work had to cease. They scattered across the then-known world, and in the book of Acts (3) (New Testament) we can pick up the sequel: "God made of one blood all nations to dwell on the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation".

These groupings eventually developed into separate races and nations, with their own lands, traditions, language, culture and dignity. We all appreciate our identity whether it be national, family or personal, and there is nothing politically incorrect about that. The nations inter-related with one another to mutual advantage as well as sometimes coming into conflict. The warring factors may have had a racial reason, but things go deeper than that. Jesus said that it is from within the heart of man come evil thoughts, murders and wickedness (4). Flawed human nature is always the culprit.