Ethnic and Cultural Separation
Greg Howse
We live in a world in which billions of people are alienated from one another. This separation may be along
the lines of age (old and young), economics (rich and poor), or sex (men and women). However, the most distinct
and prominent rift is along ethnic and cultural lines. All one has to do is view one of the popular T.V. “talk”
shows to witness alienation and hostility between various ethnic and cultural groups. The general reaction of whites
and blacks to the verdict in the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial is another obvious measuring rod of the wide chasm
between people groups.
Ethnic hostility is common all over the earth—from the Balkan struggle among the Serbs, Bosnians, and Croats,
to the ethnic struggle within the United Kingdom, to the hostility between Israelis and Arabs in the Middle East,
to the racial tension in South Africa, to the separation of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in American cities. The
most severe ethnic division in American society, and therefore, the one that has received the most attention, is
the malevolent separation between whites and blacks.
Word Wealth
Nation is the word for a race (as of the same habit), a tribe, or a foreign one—referring to a nation
or people group. Even though the word “foreign” is used in this definition, an ethnic group should never simply
be classified as “foreign ones.” The word “ethnic” (from the Greek ethnos, i.e., nation) designates a population
subgroup having a common cultural heritage distinguished by such things as national origin, customs, characteristics,
language, and common history. The word “ethnicity” describes one's affiliation with a particular ethnic group.
The Unity of the Human Race
God's redemptive purpose includes bringing people together who have previously been divided. His redemptive
plan stems from the fact that every ethnic group and culture come from one blood line, one set of parents, and
one God. This truth from the Bible absolutely contradicts the humanistic, evolutionary philosophies of 20th century
mankind. Let's take a look at the truth from the Word of God.
Acts 17:16–34 records Paul's ministry experience in the city of Athens. He preached what is arguably his most
intellectual sermon on the Areopagus. Read this section of Scripture, especially focusing on verses 24–30.
Identify what you think is vital information about racial groups in Acts 17:26.
What should result from the way God allowed ethnic development to proceed? (Acts 17:27)
What did even the Greek philosophers and poets conclude about the diverse human race? (Acts 17:28)
As creatures of God, what should we conclude about the nature of God?
• Negatively (Acts 17:29)
• Positively (Acts 17:30)
God could have caused all descendants of Adam and Eve to remain ethnically alike. Why do you think He wanted
His image to be reflected through widely divergent ethnic groups?
What do you think you learn about God, human nature, and yourself through close contacts with various racial
groups?
• God
• Human nature
• Yourself
Kingdom Extra
In Acts 17:26 the unity of the human race is clearly stated, for through Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:20), and then
the sons of Noah (Gen. 9:19), all races and nationalities of men came forth. We all proceed from one blood, both
figuratively and literally, for the same blood types are found in all races. Humankind is a universal family (Mal.
2:10). We live in a single world community. No race or nation has the right to look down on or disassociate itself
from another (Acts 10:28, 34, 35). There are only two divisions of humankind: the saved and the unsaved. Other
differences are merely skin deep or culturally flavored, but all people are relatives. [Spirit-Filled Life®
Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991), 1661, “Kingdom Dynamics: Acts 17:26, The Unity of the Human
Race.”]
The Tower of Babel—The Place of Ethnic Separation
If all of us have our origin from the same earthly parents, how did we become so mixed up and divided? We find
some clues to this perplexity in the story of the Tower of Babel, recorded in Genesis 11:1–9.
Bible Extra
The city and kingdom of Babel was built and established by Nimrod. Nimrod was the son of Cush and the grandson
of Noah (Gen. 10:8–12). His name is closely related to the Hebrew word marad, which means “to rebel,” or
“we will rebel.” It points to open and violent rebellion against God. Genesis 10:9 says that Nimrod was a mighty
hunter before the Lord. His hunting and mighty deeds were related to hunting men, as well as animals, by tyranny
and force. “Before the Lord” suggests that his tyranny of men was done as an act of defiance against God. Nimrod
was a city builder. It is said that he taught men to build walls around cities. These walls speak of separation,
defensiveness, and self-preservation. [Dake's Annotated Reference Bible (Lawrenceville, GA: Dake
Bible Sales, Inc., 1963), 9, note on Gen. 10:8–11.]
What evidence of human pride exerting itself against God do you see in Genesis 11:4?
What did God say about the unity of the people in Genesis 11:6?
What was the first stage in scattering the people in Genesis 11:7–9? Why was this the most effective way to
divide them?
How do you react to situations in which you cannot understand what people of another language group are saying?
When the united human race rose in proud defiance against God to make a name for itself, God withdrew His mighty,
keeping hand from them. When God withdrew His hand there came a demonic visitation which initiated separation,
alienation, and hostility. The confusion of languages was a manifestation of that demonic visitation.
Behind the Scenes
The ten languages spoken by the most people as their native tongue are as follows —
1. Chinese (840 million)
2. Hindi — Indian (340 million)
3. Spanish (335 million)
4. English (325 million)
5. Bengali — Indian (190 million)
6. Arabic (185 million)
7. Russian (170 million)
8. Portuguese (170 million)
9. Japanese (125 million)
10. German (98 million) [Andy Rooney in a segment of 60 Minutes on C.B.S. (May 14, 1995).]
This event at the Tower of Babel was not very long after the flood of Noah's time. The earth's population was
still quite small. As each language group separated from the others and spread over the face of the earth, intermarriage
and an intensifying gene pool within each group brought about the different skin pigmentations, facial features,
and hair textures.
Why do you think superficial features such as skin color and hair texture cause us to react with caution and
suspicion to one another?
If the Tower of Babel incident is the source of the tendency to withdraw from people unlike us, why should we
expect that God would want His special people to resist and overcome that impulse?
The Day of Pentecost—A Joining of Ethnicity for the Kingdom of God
God specifically chose the feast of Pentecost as the time for the outpouring of His Spirit on His people. Acts
2:1–21 gives us a description of the happenings of that day. There are several striking contrasts between the Day
of Pentecost and the incident at Babel.
Read Acts 2:1–21. Record the aspect of the Pentecost experience that counteracts the curse of Babel.
BABEL: Racial unity at first
PENTECOST:
BABEL: A visible human wonder
PENTECOST:
BABEL: Language confused
PENTECOST:
BABEL: People divided
PENTECOST:
At Pentecost the outpouring of the Spirit neutralized human separation. Where languages had been confused as
a manifestation of demonic separation, the language of the Holy Spirit was given as evidence that the hearts of
God's people were united in Christ Jesus. This language of the Spirit enabled a broadening of praise to the Lord,
a widening path of intercession, a strategic opening in spiritual warfare, and a deeper intimacy in worship.
Why do you think nothing less than the powerful hand of God can reunite racial groups separated by centuries
of mutual suspicion and mistreatment?
How do you think the Spirit-language of praise functions to overcome ethnic division and bond God's people into
His community?
As mentioned earlier, God specifically chose Pentecost for this great event. There were Jews and proselytes
from all over the known world in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. Take note of all the places mentioned (vv.
9–11), and consult the map below to discover where these places were. Refer to a Bible dictionary or an encyclopedia
and identify the modern country where each of these ancient locations is.
Parthia________________________ Phrygia________________________
Media__________________________ Pamphylia______________________
Elam___________________________ Egypt__________________________
Mesopotamia____________________ Libya__________________________
Judea__________________________ Rome__________________________
Cappadocia______________________ Crete__________________________
Pontus_________________________ Arabia_________________________
Asia___________________________
The Holy Spirit reversed what had happened at Babel by bringing people together in Christ Jesus. This was not
legislated integration, but a willing acceptance of others in the heart of mankind. It was kingdom correctness
instead of political correctness. It was love, acceptance, and forgiveness instead of mere toleration.
This Holy Spirit ministry of joining ethnicity spread from the ethnic and cultural representatives in Jerusalem
to the far-reaching locations of the earth. We are accountable now to allow the Spirit to do what He set out to
do on the day of Pentecost.
In your community, what groups feel uneasy with or distrustful of one another? Are they divided ethnically or
by some other factor, such as economics, politics, or age?
How does the gospel of Jesus and the glory of Pentecost address the divisions in your community?
What can you imagine your church doing to minister in your community to help heal this division?
Exclusion and Inclusion
In New Testament times there was tremendous racial hatred between Jews and Gentiles and between various gentile
races. The culturally proud Greeks regarded all non-Greeks as barbaros. Roman citizens considered themselves
the only first-class people. True Romans—those native-born to one of Rome's seven hills—knew they were the crème
de la crème of the earth. All slaves were subhuman.
Jews were thought to be weird. They had no visible god. Many Gentiles regarded them as atheists. Jews, of course,
knew they were God's special people. Consequently, all Gentiles were despised by God. Then as now, each nation
of the earth regarded its members as insiders with God or the gods, while all others were outsiders.
Read Ephesians 2:14–22 for a wonderful description of the joining of ethnicity for the Kingdom of God. Jesus
is described in these verses as our peace. How does He provide peace between each of the following pairs?
• Hostile Jews and Gentiles (vv. 14, 15)
• Humans and God (vv. 16, 17)
Through the incarnation of Jesus, God experienced what it's like to be flesh. When His flesh endured crucifixion,
Jesus annulled the Law that divided humanity into Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:15). How do His incarnation and crucifixion
also provide the answer for the hostility between other racial groups?
What terms of exclusion do you find in verse 19? How do they express the hostility people often feel toward
those of other races?
What terms of inclusion do you find in verses 19–22? How does each of them express an aspect of the harmony
Christ died to create between born-again believers?
First Peter 2:4–10 describes the people who have come to Jesus to be made living stones in the spiritual house
of God known as the church. In verse 9 believers are described as a generation which is ________________, a priesthood
which is _______________, a nation which is ____________, and a people which are _______________.
First Peter 2:10 describes the people of this spiritual house of God as those who were not a people before they
knew Jesus. No matter what our ethnic, racial, cultural, or nationalistic pride tells us, God says we were not
a people before we knew Him. But now we are a people—the people of God. All the various ethnic and cultural groups
which have been separated and alienated are brought together in Jesus Christ to become the people of God.
Faith Alive
What is your ethnic or cultural background? How far back can you trace your family tree? How long has it grown
in American soil?
How has your family kept its ethnic heritage alive or attempted to blend into the popular culture?
How does Peter's phrase “who once were not a people” (1 Pet. 2:10) apply to your ancestry? What emotional reactions
do you have to such an expression?
How can you arrive at an accurate balance between being involved in and feeling good about your cultural heritage,
and realizing that you were nothing before you met the Lord?
From Race & Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds, Winning
the Harvest by Jack W. Hayford with Greg Howse and Michael Posey. Copyright 1996 by Jack
W. Hayford.
