The Evils of Globalism?

I was just reading an article about the relationship between Obama and the Catholic Church. Although I ignored much of what the article had to say, one question did pop into my mind: why do many Christians so oppose globalism?

In reading authors, like the one who wrote this article, I see a common assumption that somehow, pursuing multilateral intervention, or seeking to increase support for the U.N. is "unchristian." For some reason people tend to think that any centralization of power in the world is unbiblical and evil. In fact, within many evangelical circles simply the word "global" carries negative connotations. While I will refrain from stating my ideas about globalism (that could become a very lengthy discussion), I do find this "conservative Christian" aversion to it fascinating.

In particular, I think this attitude is due to two main factors of evangelical Christianity in America today. First, the prominence of dispensationalism provides a major source of motivation. After all, if the Antichrist is going to come to power via a "world order," then any attempt to centralize power on the global level must be in direct opposition to God. It's the work of the Antichrist, right? However, as a side note, I find this quite confusing. Shouldn't we want this since it means we'll get "raptured" sooner? Why don't we pray for this global power to arise so we can get out of here? But anyways...

Second, I think this attitude is a byproduct of our worship of America. We're so nationalistic that we hate seeing power go to other authorities or countries besides our own. Yet, while I love America, I cannot find where in the Bible I'm to place her sovereignty above the purposes of God. Sadly, many Christians today believe that U.S. sovereignty should be protected at all costs. But, what if we could lessen violence by sacrificing some sovereignty? Isn't peace one of the characteristics of the Kingdom? Perhaps we love U.S. sovereignty because of the benefits it gives us. After all, if no one limits our power, then we can always go to war and crush by might any power that might oppose our way of life. Maybe we as Christians find comfort in that kind of power.

Whatever the exact reason(s), we need to examine our assumptions. Is globalism evil de facto? If we think it is, why do we feel that way? Regardless of our conclusions about the kingdoms of the world, it is imperative that we at least recognize that the Kingdom of God is global:

"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes..." (Rev. 7:9)

Learning from Nietzsche

Nietzsche! Surely nothing good for a Christian can come from Nietzsche! After all, this is the man who boldly proclaimed that "God is dead." How can we learn anything from his nihilism?Whenever many people (especially Christians) hear Nietzsche's name, that is a typical response. The name itself carries connotations of evil and rebellion against the way things are. Yet, perhaps there is still something to be gleaned from what this German philosopher had to say.

Recently, I read Nietzsche's essay, On Truth and Lies in a Nonmoral Sense. Indeed, the essay begins on quite a negative tone as Nietzsche laments "how miserable...and transient, how aimless and arbitrary the human intellect looks" given the fact that humanity must one day perish. After this, he goes on to discuss why "truth" is nothing more than a "social arrangement" perpetuated by the desire for power. In essence, what we call "truth" is only true because society defines that as "true."

Nietzsche's main reasoning is taken from the nature of language. Language, being a human invention, is arbitrary by nature. There is no direct correlation between words and the objects they represent. Thus, although I call my the thing I read a "book," there is absolutely no reason why I could not call it a "dog." The only reason I call it a "book" is because that is what society has decided is true. Nietzsche takes this idea further to argue that ALL of reality must be interpreted and described by words. Thus, because language has no direct tie to reality's essence, any description of truth is simply our version of reality. In the end, reality's essence can never be understood. Even if a transcendent truth exists, we can never grasp that truth.

So how does a Christian respond to this? Because, the fact is, I would agree with his observations on the nature of language. Must I accept that we can never understand or express a transcendent truth?

While I do not agree with Nietzsche's ultimate conclusions, I think that there is something important for us to glean from his work. Namely, we need an attitude of humility. Nietzsche has a good point when he argues that everyone filters reality through the lens of their own experiences and preconceptions. So, in one sense, none of us have a perfect objective view of the world. None of us have the same view of reality as the person next to us. We each have our own perspective that we work through.

I cannot help but think of Paul's words that "now we see in a mirror dimly...now I know in part" (1 Cor. 13:12). We must each recognize that, no matter how knowledgeable we are, we can never fully understand the reality before us. There will always be aspects that surpass our understanding. Therefore, this requires humility in all our interactions. If we are not all-knowing, then we must always be open to the possibility that we are wrong.

Nietzsche also railed against this assumption that our versions of truth were correct. While I disagree with his notion that truth is purely a social construct, I do agree with his frustration over people assuming they are correct. If a transcendent truth does exist, and if we can only ever see in part, then it is all the more important to make sure that we never sacrifice that truth for something that we have constructed for ourselves.

"Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse...but [they] exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures." (Rom. 1)

What have we assumed is true that is only our own creation? Do we ever think that we could be wrong? May God help us maintain humility so that we can see more fully.