It has become common for postmodern social justice advocates to demonize the immigration of Europeans into the Americas. This view represents a narrow and contextualized view of human history. From a biblical perspective, human migration is the command of God – humans were to cultivate the earth, and propagate the species. When humans sought to settle in the plains of Shinar, God scattered them across the globe.
From a scientific perspective the first humans evolved in the lands of Africa. From Africa, humans migrated into Europe, Asia, and into the Americas. Regardless of one’s perspective, human migration is essential to the flourishing of the species.
When one considers the various histories of human migration, some human civilizations flourish, others suffer. From an evolutionary perspective, as homo sapiens flourished, Neanderthals went extinct. Throughout history, the migration of one civilization often has profound consequences for other civilizations. The rise of one empire occurs in the shadows of those before. Sadly, humans are a predator species.
Because humans are fallen, migration is too often accompanied with violence, warfare, and the spread of disease. In the 14th century the Black death, bubonic plague, killed 1/3 of the population of Europe. Before reaching Europe, the black death killed millions of Asians. The cause of the plague is attributed to the migration of the Mongols (aka conquest of China) which wiped out farming and led to rodents spreading across the continent. The plague made its way to Europe via human commerce with Constantinople.
This is not an effort to deny the tragedy of native American peoples, nor is it an effort to justify European aggression. My desire is to place the story of European migration into the Americas in proper context – the history of humanity.
My own DNA tells the story of migration/invasion and violence. My DNA is a combination of British Isles and Scandinavia. How so? The Viking invasion of the British Isles (8-9th century). Eventually, the invading Northmen and Brits intermarried.
The violence and destruction associated with human migration are symptoms of original sin. Whereas God desired that the earth be ruled by humans who represent God’s glory; fallen humans have ruled the earth for their own corrupt purposes. All have sinned, all suffer the penalties of sin, and all need to be redeemed.
So, for me, Columbus Day is a reminder of human purpose, human failure, and the hope for New Creation in which all the tribes and tongues of humanity shall coexist in peace as the one people of God and confess Jesus as Lord.
