The curse of Babel

Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages.
Genesis 11: 7 (NLT)

At first glance the curse of Babel is obvious. God confuses the people with different langauges. The people scatter and form different tribes and nations.

In our modern world, much is being done to reverse this curse. The number of spoken languages is in decline as more people move into cities and minority languages drop out of use. State-sponsored education promotes common languages even in countries with many different people groups. The media and the internet promote content in majority languages. Automated translation tools, for all their flaws are becoming more accurate and prevalent.

Despite this, communication remains a complex subject. Even people who speak the same language use words differently. Our upbringing, our community and our gender shape our understanding. Even when we think people understand they often don't.

As I have explored the subject of discipleship I have come to realise that the curse of Babel is all-pervasive. People with different giftings cannot understand why everyone doesn't see the problem in the same way. Denominations and churches become obsessed or even split over differences in theological interpretation.

Differences, however, do not have to be devisive. In 1 Corinthians Paul says that we are one body, made of many different parts. As reflected in my previous entry, scattering is part of God's plan, in order that the church may bless the whole earth. As we learn to celebrate our different viewpoints and talents we can reach everyone, and not just people who think and speak the same way that we do