Overcoming The Barriers That Divide People

People today are divided by racial, national and ethnic barriers. Such artificial walls have contributed to the slaughter of innocent humans in wars the world over. if history is any indication, the prospect of men and women of different races and nations viewing and treating one another as equals is indeed bleak. "The solution," says an Africa statesman, "is in our hearts." But changing human hearts is not easy. Consider, though, how the Bible's message appeals to the heart and fosters attitudes of equality.

The Bible's teaching that God "made out of one man every nation of men" precludes any idea of racial superiority. (Acts 17:26) It show that there is really only one race-the human race. The Bible further encourages us to "become imitators of God," of whom it says: "[He] is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him." (Ephesians 5:1; Acts 10:34, 35) To those who take the Bible seriously and who truly seek to live by its teachings, this knowledge had a unifying effect. It works on the deepest level, in the human heart, dissolving the man-made barriers that divide people. Consider an example.

When Hitler waged war throughout Europe, there was one group of Christians-Jehovah's Witnesses-who steadfastly refused to join in the slaughter of innocent humans. they would "not lift up sword" against their fellowman. They took this stand because of their desire to please God. (Isaiah 2:3, 4; Micah 4:3, 5) They truly believed what the Bible teaches-that no nation or race is better than the another. (Galatians 3:28) Because of their peace-loving stand, Jehovah's Witnesses were among the first inmates in the concentration camps. -Romans 12:18.

But not all who claim to follow the Bible took such a stand. Shortly after World War II, Martin Niemoller, a German Protestant clergyman, wrote: "Whoever want blame God for [wars] does not know, or does not want to know, God's Word. . . . Christian churches have, throughout the ages, repeatedly given themselves to blessing wars, troops and weapons and . . .prayed in a very unchristian way for the destruction of their enemies at war. All this is our fault and the fault of our fathers, but by no means is God to blame. And we Christians of today stand ashamed before a so-called sect like the Earnest Bible Students [Jehovah's Witnesses], who by hundreds and thousands went into concentration camps and [even]died because they declined service in war and refused to fire on humans."

To this day, Jehovah's Witnesses are well-known for their brotherhood, which unites Arabs and Jews, Croatians and Serbs, Hutu and Tutsi. However, the Witnesses readily acknowledge that such unity is possible, not because they are better than others, but because they are motivated by the power of the Bible's message. -1 Thessalonians 2:13.

Next time: Practical Guidance That Promotes Good Mental Health

A Book For All People, 1997