One symptom of human ‘original sin’ is division. Paul says that the Gentiles were called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (Eph 2.11). This was a particular division, that between Jews and Gentiles. We see it in the book of Acts when Peter visits the home of Cornelius (Acts 10-11). The ‘Counsel of Jerusalem’ considers the issue (Acts 15) which results in a letter which Paul takes around some churches.
In the book of Judges, there is inter-tribal fighting within Israel. Tribal differences were highlighted by the inability of Ephraimites who could not pronounce ‘shibboleth’ correctly. As a result, we read, some 42,000 were killed (Judges 12.4-7). In more recent times, for example, in 1994, some 851,000 Tutsi were killed in the Rwandan genocide, simple because they were of the ‘wrong’ tribe. More recently, over 700,000 Rohingya people have been abandoned between Myanmar and Bangladesh because they belong to the ‘wrong’ tribe.
Many delight in the uniqueness of their tribe or nation. We support our football team at the World Cup; we cheer on our favourites in the Eurovision Song Contest. But at some point, that patriotism becomes nationalism, then xenophobia and tribalism and racism. When there is animosity and hatred and ethnic cleansing, that is clearly sinful.
Paul declares; “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. (Eph 2.13, 17). We are brought near to God, and near to one another. Men and women from different tribes, even those in conflict, are brought together, part of the same family, fellow-citizens and members of God’s household.
This is evidenced in Acts 13.1, which names five leaders in the Church in Antioch. Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, is joined by Simeon, a black African, by Lucius, from Cyrene, north Africa, by Manaen, from Samaria presumably (having been brought up with Herod) and Saul, from Tarsus. Here are men from different nations, reflecting the variety found in the Antioch Church. It was from this Church, not the Jewish-dominated Church in Jerusalem, that Saul (to become Paul) and Barnabas were sent out to plant Churches throughout the Roman world.
In his vision of eternity, the apostle John saw a vast crowd, more than any man could count, of every nation and tribe and people and language (Rev 7.9). And, in the closing section of our Bibles, he joyfully declares, “now the dwelling of God is with men … they will be His peoples …” (Rev 21.3). This is an indication that tribes and nations (peoples) will retain certain distinctives in eternity.
In our present world human divisions are the norm, the Church has the glorious responsibility to declare what Paul calls the manifold wisdom of God through joyful unity in diversity.