We Are One
The world today seems to have as many religions ( ways of looking at, explaining and deciphering the world around us ) as it seems to have had peoples / tribes throughout time. Yet even among the many ways of explaining life along with the notion of different peoples / tribes, evidence shows that all people the world over came from a single source... and the idea that one tribe or people is "different" from another is purely by perception and a shortsighted assumption of man!
Currently, science has concluded that all peoples share the same ancestral origins in their DNA. Here are one and two interesting sources to check out regarding some scientific evidence speaking to the reality that we are all part of the same family ( if you sometimes need some science to 'legitimize' your beliefs ).
It is really interesting to see science finally catching up with what has been mentioned in scripture. In the last part of the following passage, a human assumption is being corrected. Science today is also correcting divisive assumptions which scripture has succinctly explained; that people, although seemingly different on the outside ( having superficial variations ), are actually one in the same and share the same origin:
"From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’ Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by human design and skill."
- Acts 17:26-29
The above passage of scripture makes reference to a Greek poet's explanation of humanity and from whence they descended, bringing to view a unity and common bond to the entirety of humanity. This phenomenon is furthered and expanded in the following mystery:
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
- Ephesians 4:2-5
Some religious groups who may identify themselves as Christians or some other ideology may be tempted to believe that their particular religious group is the one which God is "over" and "through" and "in," but the passage does specify "Father of all" and "over all" and "through all" and "in all." Not to fall into semantics or to strain a gnat, but the point being made here is shedding light onto the bigger picture that God's message of hope, love, peace and reconciliation is for all of mankind, not just for the Jews ( as was previously believed, see Acts 10 ) nor destined for a select bloodline or for people practicing the 'right' kind of religion / religious practices, but for all of humanity, as is stated here:
"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
- 2 Peter 3:9
The long reaching arm of God's love put another way and followed with yet another mystery:
"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Yeshua."
2 Timothy 2:1-5
Notice it also expresses "all people." Read again the manner in which "all people" is being referenced and what is instructed as well as what is desired of God. Seems like the Creator doesn't want division or for anyone to be left out of His promise. Seems also that God desires unity and for people to realize that they and all other people are His creations:
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
- Philippians 2:1-4
Here's another mystery reaffirming the call to be one, to be united and to love:
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
- John 17:20-23
The calling is to be one with others and not divided, to pray for those who may not believe the same way as you and not to consider yourself 'greater' than anyone else, but to value others above yourself. The calling is to humbly see that God loves everyone ( and asks you to love everyone just the same ), He loves all of mankind because all people are derived from Him and are His creations. Quite sobering while also quite exciting to realize the extended family you actually have!
Currently, science has concluded that all peoples share the same ancestral origins in their DNA. Here are one and two interesting sources to check out regarding some scientific evidence speaking to the reality that we are all part of the same family ( if you sometimes need some science to 'legitimize' your beliefs ).
It is really interesting to see science finally catching up with what has been mentioned in scripture. In the last part of the following passage, a human assumption is being corrected. Science today is also correcting divisive assumptions which scripture has succinctly explained; that people, although seemingly different on the outside ( having superficial variations ), are actually one in the same and share the same origin:
"From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’ Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by human design and skill."
- Acts 17:26-29
The above passage of scripture makes reference to a Greek poet's explanation of humanity and from whence they descended, bringing to view a unity and common bond to the entirety of humanity. This phenomenon is furthered and expanded in the following mystery:
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
- Ephesians 4:2-5
Some religious groups who may identify themselves as Christians or some other ideology may be tempted to believe that their particular religious group is the one which God is "over" and "through" and "in," but the passage does specify "Father of all" and "over all" and "through all" and "in all." Not to fall into semantics or to strain a gnat, but the point being made here is shedding light onto the bigger picture that God's message of hope, love, peace and reconciliation is for all of mankind, not just for the Jews ( as was previously believed, see Acts 10 ) nor destined for a select bloodline or for people practicing the 'right' kind of religion / religious practices, but for all of humanity, as is stated here:
"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
- 2 Peter 3:9
The long reaching arm of God's love put another way and followed with yet another mystery:
"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Yeshua."
2 Timothy 2:1-5
Notice it also expresses "all people." Read again the manner in which "all people" is being referenced and what is instructed as well as what is desired of God. Seems like the Creator doesn't want division or for anyone to be left out of His promise. Seems also that God desires unity and for people to realize that they and all other people are His creations:
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
- Philippians 2:1-4
Here's another mystery reaffirming the call to be one, to be united and to love:
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
- John 17:20-23
The calling is to be one with others and not divided, to pray for those who may not believe the same way as you and not to consider yourself 'greater' than anyone else, but to value others above yourself. The calling is to humbly see that God loves everyone ( and asks you to love everyone just the same ), He loves all of mankind because all people are derived from Him and are His creations. Quite sobering while also quite exciting to realize the extended family you actually have!
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