Nationalism, despite claims to the contrary, is not dead. One of the most recent and public episodes of nationalism erupted last year in the small state of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). Singalese and Tamils, two distinct groups living on the island nation, went at each other head to head. Subsequent riots and general disarray resulted in a terrible food shortage, and the near destruction of the national economy. One must ask why? Why was all that necessary? But Sri Lanka is not the only place. Armenian nationalists regularly remind the Turks of the genocide perpetrated in World War I. Extremists among Protestants and Catholics war daily in Ulster. And, of course, no one needs to be reminded of the near-continuous bloodshed that has needlessly cost so many lives in Lebanon. But nationalism hurts major industrial nations also. The Soviet Union has seen its domestic program sputter and cough as it has tried to absorb the Ukrainian peoples, not to mention the Asiatic peoples that continue to resist Russification and absorption. On the Western front, the Anglo culture in the United States confronts an ever-increasing Spanish-speaking minority The French have the Algerians. The West Germans are trying to learn to live with the Turks. Men have dreamed of different major families and races living together side by side in peace. But always comes the eventual historical struggle for superiority by a dominant group and the subjugation of the other. Everyone agrees this is senseless-but where is the solution?
An Authoritative Answer
The truly authoritative and sure answer comes from a source you perhaps wouldn't expect: the Holy Bible. The problems of nationalism and tribalism are spiritual in nature. Few understand that God created man complete with safeguards from the abuses of nationalism and tribalism. "From one man [Adam] he [God] made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined... the exact places where they should live" (Acts 17:26, New International Version). But what did humanity do? They rejected God and never did learn to keep to the lands God gave to each of the various families of man. As the ugly capstone to this human age, one more unification attempt will come. The Bible reveals that this final effort will center in Europe, beginning with a consortium of 10 nations, later spreading through economic ties over major portions of the globe. In the second chapter of Daniel, God reveals the result of this final attempt to overcome divisions between nations. Will it be successful? "....the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay" (verse 43, NIV). It won't be a pleasant time Man's final effort apart from God's guidance will lead to terrible bloodshed, the enslavement of many groups of people and the unleashing of nuclear devastation. What will follow this pathetic effort? No more will human government be allowed to trample over innocent people. Instead, at that time, "... the God of heaven-will set up a kingdom [government] that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those [human] kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever" (Dan. 2:44, NIV). Thank God this time is soon coming! Men of different ethnic origins will learn to appreciate and cooperate with each other. We have a booklet that explains this in detail. We offer it to you free. It's called The Wonderful World Tomorrow - What It Will Be Like. Read it today and learn of the future God offers to you!
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