How globalization is affecting the spread of the gospel

[James Nored]

I just finished reading GloboChrist: The Great Commission Takes a Postmodern Turn by Carl Raschke. It is a very interesting book that, among other things, explores the impact of globalization on the spread of the gospel.

Globalization has been received in various ways. Trade unions are against it, and anyone who has had his or her job outsourced probably is not a big fan. However, globalization has also helped lift millioins of people out of poverty in India, China, Africa, and other places around the world. It has also made most goods in the US and other Western countries much cheaper.

Whether one is a fan or not, however, globalization is here, and it is an unstoppable force. If companies do not globalize, not only do they miss out on market share, but they also will fail to be competitive and may go out of business.

One might think that globalization would have a positive affect on the spread of Christianity, as Western thoughts and Western technologies flow into non-Western countries and people groups. And it has had a positive effect--but not for the reasons that we might think.

Western culture is moving away from Christianity at a rapid pace. Europe has done so for some time, and the US--while founded with spiritual dimensions and retaining a spiritual vitality--has moved in this direction as well. Filling the void of Christianity has been secularism, consumerism (pursuit of material things), and hedonism (pursuit of decadent pleasure).

According to Raschke, the reaction of the "Global South" to globalization and the exporting of Western values has been a strong move towards religion, as these forces have been seen as a threat to their values and way of life. The two religions that these countries are turning to are radical Islam and devoted Christianity. While these religions are obviously very different in terms of theology, they share a common vitality and all-encompassing worldview that inspires their adherents.

This helps explain the phenomenal growth of the gospel in continents like Africa. In 1910, after colonialism with its enforced, non-indigenous expression of Christianity, there were only 108 million Christians. By the mid-1980s, however, Christianity had grown to be the majority religion in Africa, growing at the rate of 6 million new adherents per year. (p. 43) Radical Islam has grown significantly during this time as well, resulting in events like 9/11.

One of Raschke's most interesting--and scary--points is that anemic, consumeristic Christianity as is so typical in the West does not have the power to compete with the fire and passion of radical Islam. It is seen as the product of a corrupt, consumeristic West. Only the "real deal"--a passionate, Christ-centered Christianity offers a real alternative to the appeal of Islam. As globalization brings eastern religions and Islam backflowing to the US, they may have great appeal to Americans. Indeed, Wicca and Islam are currently the two fastest growing religions in the US. Churches that offer weak, add-on Christianity to a consumer lifestyle will suffer attrition to churches--and other faiths--that offer a more devoted, comprehensive worldview.

GloboChristianity is a fascinating read for anyone interested in globalization, Islam, and the spread of world-wide Christianity. i recommend it.

What do you think of Raschke's conclusions?

[James Nored]

Nell, you say that globalization will force churches to grapple with what they believe and why. Cross cultural experiences often do this, do they not? I think this is a pathway not only to mission for others, but to our own spiritual formation.

[James Nored]

Jonathan, we do indeed need to work with local churches around the world as our equals. We may do some things well, but there are other things we do very poorly. We can learn a tremendous amount from churches and Christians in the "Global South" and around the world.

By the way, do you know Ryan Newhouse? He is from High Pointe and served as a missionary in Santiago, Chile. He led a LST there this year as well.

[Jonathan Hanegan]

Samuel Escobar, a Peruvian theologian wrote a book entitled The New Global Mission: The Gospel from Everywhere to Everyone (IVP, 2003). After a chapter on God as a missionary God, he writes about a "new way of looking at the world." He notes that a new global partnership must be made between churches. No longer can the North American and European sending churches see themselves as the ones who set the agenda and make the decisions. In a number of years, the center of most Christian practice will be the global South.

North American church planting organizations and universities need to rethink how they train their missionaries. They must teach them to work more closely with the local leadership as equals and to not only worry about their own local work, but to take into consideration the work of the church as a whole. In summary, we need a paradigm shift.

Another interesting thing that Escobar notes is that now missionaries and sending churches are all over the world, not just in North America and Europe. Despite the economic, not spiritual poverty of many churches in the Global South, many are sending missionaries to other countries including the United States.

Just a few weeks ago I sat at a table in Santiago, Chile with four Americans, a Mexican couple, a Colombian couple, a couple from Uruguay and a couple from Chile while we were eating at an Argentine steakhouse. We were all there working with the churches in Santiago, a cosmopolitan city of over 6 million. We worked together as equals - there was not a North American agenda but a global agenda - a Kingdom agenda.

Just as God used the expansion of the Roman Empire for the spreading of the Gospel, I believe God can use Globalization to further spread the Gospel in our world today. But we must start thinking globally.

[Nell Green]

Without a doubt globalization has changed all manners of working, thinking, sharing. But one advantage to a global world that has caused cultures and religious views to collide, is that Christians in the West will be forced to grapple with what they believe and why they believe. When faith is shared it will be authentic, thought out, and alive. Christ sharing will be not just about conversion but transformation. As one who works to help churches become intentional about reaching out to Internationals, this is good and long over due.