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Following the Flood, God’s instructions
to man were to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” (Gen 9:1).
As generations passed, men did multiply, but they had no intentions of
filling the earth. Instead, in rebellion to God, they decided to build a
great city and a great tower in the land of Shinar where everyone would
live. This project was designed, not only to prevent them from
scattering, but also to make for themselves a name- it was to be a
monument to their own greatness. (Gen 11:2-4)
It was easy for men to work
together because they spoke the same language (11:1) But, when God saw
their defiance and their pride, He confused their speech, causing them to
speak in different languages instead of one. The language barrier put an
end to the work on the city and the tower (now called “Babel” or
“confusion”) and men went their separate ways and filled the earth, as God
intended. (11:6-9).
However, not long after man
scattered from Babel, God began to work out a plan to bring all men
together, not on the physical globe, but in a spiritual body. He promised
Abraham that he would be the beginning of a great nation through whom He
would bless all nations (Gen 12:3).
For
nearly 2000 years, there was a national barrier among men, as Israel, the
nation that sprung from Abraham, was God’s special nation out of all the
nations of the earth (Ex 19:5-6). This barrier
was temporary, lasting only |
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until God’s purpose through Israel was
accomplished. God used Israel to bring Jesus into the world to shed His
blood for the forgiveness of all mankind (Acts 3:25-26). Through Jesus’
blood, all barriers are broken down- national, racial, social, sexual, and
language, for all men can be united into ONE spiritual body of saved
people, Jesus’ church (Gal 3:26-29; Eph 2:13-18; 4:4; 5:23)
The city and
tower of Babel was designed to make a name for the men who built it and
lived in it. In contrast, the church Jesus is building, a body of men
made up of both Jews and Gentiles is a monument to the wisdom of God (Mt.
16:18; Rom 11:30-36). Those who are filled with human pride will not
enter the saved body, for salvation does not come by human achievement.
Jesus’ body is composed of rich and poor, scholar and drop out, celebrity
and common man, who through obedient faith, have all been saved alike- by
the grace of God. Therefore, to God be the glory. No man can boast. (1
Cor 1:18-31; Eph 2:8-9; Rom 16:25-27)
Only in the “Word of the Cross” (1 Cor
1:18) is it possible for all men to come together and with one voice
glorify God (Rom 15:5,6). The “good news” or “gospel” is God’s universal
language, which through its translation into hundreds of human languages,
has saved (Rom 1:16) and spiritually united men of all nations and
languages. As they all speak the common language of the gospel, they can
work together to God’s glory (1 Cor 12:12-27). |
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If God’s intention from eternity was to
purchase with the blood of His Son “men from every tribe and tongue and
people and nation” (Rev 5:9) and unite them in One spiritual body where
all could work together, is not the division of “Christianity” as we know
it today contrary to His will? Certainly, it is! But, why does this
division among “Christians” exist?
The answer is simple. Those who call
themselves “Christians” today cannot work to-gether. They are in
the same position as the men who had to stop building Babel because they
did not speak the same language. A “Catholic” does not speak “Methodist”
and a “Methodist” cannot speak “Catholic. And on it goes. Each
denomination has its own language (doctrine) and its peculiar speech is
the reason for its beginning and its continued existence. As men join
with those of the same language (doctrine), they separate themselves from
those of other languages (doctrines). The result is the “scattering” of
“Christians”.
The first Christians were united because they “continued steadfastly in
the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42). They spoke “the same
thing” (1 Cor. 1:10). They stayed in the doctrine of Christ” (2 Jn
9). They contended “earnestly for the faith once for all delivered
to the saints” (Jude 3). They were “striving together for the
faith of the gospel” (Phil 1:27). |
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Numerous warnings were given con-cerning
inventing or following “languages” other than the gospel (Acts 20:28-31,
Gal 1:6-9; 1 Tim 4:1-3; 2 Tim 4:1-4, to name a few). Despite these
pleas, new languages (doctrines) have continued to develop until now there
are hundreds of denominations, each set apart from the others because of
their peculiar language (doctrine). Many are not disturbed about this
“spiritual Babel”. They say, “You speak your language and I will speak
mine. God will accept us both.” But, the Scriptures clearly state that
both “language” (doctrine) and unity matter to God!
Some see a problem with “spiritual
Babel” and propose the solution of “non-denominational” congregations who
accept men of all “languages” (doctrines). In these churches,
denominational loyalty is abandoned, but the language barrier remains and
men cannot truly work together since they do not speak the same language.
The only Scriptural solution to
“spiritual Babel” is to break away totally from denominationalism, from
its organizations and its languages (doctrines), and to unite with
others who speak only the language of Jesus, His gospel, in a local
church. This is our intention at the Palmer Road church of Christ. We
pray that you will let us study the gospel with you that you may be able
to learn the language of Jesus and be able to distinguish it from all the
“Babel” of men. |
