ONE BLOOD

It was on this date in 1868 that W. E. B. Du Bois was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

As a teenager Du Bois became aware of the “vast veil” separating him from his white classmates. As a result, “he devoted most of his life to studying the position of Black Americas from a sociological point of view.”

Du Bois was a sociologist, historian, civil rights activist and author, who helped found the NAACP in 1909. While he had impressive academic credentials, including a doctorate from Harvard University, he was unable to get a job at a major university.

With his publication, “The Souls of Black Folks” in 1903, he was thrust into the national limelight. While his life involved controversies, including his sharp criticism of Booker T. Washington, Du Bois, did much good and left his mark in the advancement of race relations.

In 1903 Du Bois published a credo that began with this affirmation.

I believe in God, who made of one blood all nations that on earth do dwell. I believe that all men, black and brown and white, are brothers, varying through time and opportunity, in form and gift and feature, but differing in no essential particular, and alike in soul and the possibility of infinite development.

The first line is a reference to Acts 17:26 when Paul preached at the Areopagus in Athens. He said that God “has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.”

Paul was preaching to people who thought their race, way of life, and culture was superior to others. They viewed the gospel as “foolishness.” And many considered Paul a mere “babbler.”

The fact is that the first century Mediterranean world was divided socially, economically and racially. The New Testament documents the prejudice between Jews, Gentiles, Samaritans and Hellenists. Of course, within the Jewish system there were divisions of Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essences. Now there were Christians, regarded by Rome as just another sect.

Christianity came to break down the barriers between ethnic groups, social classes, political allegiances, economic designations, and gender bias. Paul affirmed, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).

We are all of “one blood” created in the image and likeness of Jehovah God. In Christ, we are all brothers and sisters regardless of our race, national origin or the color of our skin. We are united by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will break down the barriers that divide us as Paul affirmed in Ephesians 2:14-18. Men and women of all nations, races and cultures can be “reconciled to God through the cross.” Or as the apostle put it in Colossians 1:19-20. “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

And so our plea is the same as issued in James 2:1 “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”

In the fellowship of our local churches, let us look at each brother and sister with the “one blood” mentality. May we greet visitors with the same spirit. And evangelize a lost world knowing we are all of “one blood” and that each soul needs cleansing by the blood of Jesus.

As adults may we imbibe and apply the spirit of the popular children’s song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children.”

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

One blood.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman