Tearing Down Walls

This past Monday, November 9, marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. How did the wall come to be? Following the fall of Nazi Germany near the end of WWII, most German territory, including the city of Berlin, was split into 4 parts, with each area coming under the control of one of the four Allied forces (United States, Soviet Union, Britain, and France). As time passed, tensions grew between the Soviets and the west, ultimately resulting in what became known as the “Cold War.” The city of Berlin became a flashpoint in the ideological battle. In the early 1950’s, multiplied thousands began to emigrate from areas under communist control in East Germany for freedom in the West. The resulting loss of human economic and intellectual capital became a serious problem for East Germany. Eventually, in an effort to stem the tide of those leaving, a physical wall began to be constructed in Berlin in 1961. With the completion of the wall, most East Germans were no longer permitted to travel freely. For the next three decades, the Berlin Wall was a highly visible symbol of battle between communism and capitalism. But due to the internal strain and ultimate collapse of Soviet domination of Eastern Bloc countries, the Berlin Wall eventually came crashing down. November 9, 1989 is commemorated as the day to celebrate its historic collapse.

The Bible speaks of another wall that needed to be torn down. I’m speaking, of course, of the wall separating the Jews and the Gentiles. This division had been fostered by centuries of exclusivism and hatred. Most Jews had built a mental boundary that excluded Gentiles from participation in God’s kingdom. But Jesus Christ (through His death, burial, and resurrection) completely demolished this carefully constructed wall (Ephesians 2:11-16).

In honor of our Lord’s accomplishment, can you think of any walls separating you from a brother or sister in Christ that need to be destroyed? Like our Savior, let’s be known for tearing down dividing walls instead of building them.

God loves you!
Mike