By Michael E. Brooks

“Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” (Genesis 11:7)

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18)

In trying to achieve at least a little competence in languages beyond English, I have been impressed with how many shared words there are in the various tongues. The word “cha” or variations thereof, will get you a cup of tea in many parts of Asia. The Latin “pater” (father) is recognizable in many languages, including some that are not of the Romance family. There are many other examples. In spite of different alphabets, different rules of grammar, different vocabularies, and other dissimilarities, there is still much held in common by the world’s tongues. This is comforting to those who must travel in various nations and cultures and who seek means of communication. Beyond language, there are expressions, gestures and the good old pointed finger to bridge gaps.

But more than ease of communication, these commonalities remind us that there are many other shared bonds between the diverse races and peoples of the earth. If our languages share words and rules of expression, so our experiences and our flesh itself know common ground. We may be European, Asia and American, but we are also and above all human. We share needs, desires, and problems. And we share one loving Father and one Lord (Ephesians 4:3-6).

Not since Babel have all people spoken the same tongue. Yet, all can understand the same message. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Now more than ever we must preach and live the message of the love of Christ for fallen humanity. Never have there been so many humans on the earth. Never has there been so much strife and enmity. Our problems multiply as a direct result of the increasing population. Some speculate that we may one day reach a “critical mass” of population beyond which peace, stability - even survival - is impossible.

Into this expanding crisis comes the same simple message of God’s love and the hope of abundant, eternal life. This earth is temporary. It will end, disastrously. Yet this is not our end, or the end of hope. Jesus is coming again to reclaim his own, after preparing a place for them. That is our hope and our message. And that message meets a need perceived all over this earth, by people of every race and tongue. It is proclaimed not just in words of various languages, but also in the love and faith of those who follow Jesus. And that can be understood by all.