globalization: a sign of the end of times?
globalize verb: develop or be developed so as to make possible international influence or operation
Sometime after the flood a number of people decided to rebuild a city and erect a tower where its top reached the heavens. Their stated purpose was to make a name for themselves. God was displeased with their motives and put an end to the project by confusing their tongues; thus, scattering the builders far and wide. The narrative (Genesis 11) ends by revealing the name of the city: Babel.
Last weekend Steve Eriksson and I spoke to a Slovak doctor in Mexico who is working at a hospital in America. While we spoke I came to realize how small the world has become. I guess globalization is true even for us ministers.
Unlike previous generations we have an unprecedented opportunity to interact with other countries and cultures. New political associations are forming like the EU, which are bonding languages as well as economies. As one author as said, "The World is Flat."
I heard a commentary once on NPR comparing globalization with Babel. Humanity is coming together again under one tongue in order to make a name, or dollar/euro, for ourselves. I'm sure you can see where the commentator was going.
Look out! Babel is back!
My question is simple: is globalization a sign of God's impending judgment? As God judged Babel will He soon judge our world? Or, is globalization a sign of the end?
I understand that no one knows the day or hour of the return of Christ (Matthew 24:36). And yet, just before this statement Christ Himself says that we should be able to read the signs of the end (v. 32), one of the most important being the proclamation of the gospel to the entire world (v. 14). Perhaps God hinged the global proclamation of the Gospel onto the great harlot called globalization. a la "What you meant for evil God meant for good."
Speaking of harlots, when Revelation talks about the end it speaks about God's judgment upon the great harlot Babylon. (Revelation 17:1)
Question. Who or what is Babylon? Is Babylon symbolic for some future city? Is Babylon symoblic for Rome?
Now let me add some more fuel to the fire. Babylon is derived from the word Babel.
But wouldn't that make the Babylon mentioned in Revelation the world?
Jesus says that the judgment comes upon the world in Matthew 13:38-39.
Globalization.
Babel.
The end.
There seems to be a connection.
I'm just synthesizing thoughts. What do you think?
3 comments:
It's possible that there's a connection. I wonder this sometimes, but I think it's wrong to say that we should engage in globalization activities because it's like Babel. (I know this is not what you were saying, but it could be a next step in that line of thinking - and one which some Christians take.) I want to look at globalization as an opportunity to serve the world in a new way and a new way to engage with faith.
As one that was invovled in the highly charged political arena under the First Klinton Reign of Terror, and found myself awash in information that would totally freak out the public at large, and know seeing and understanding things from a biblical perspective - I think that one of God's good old fashion judgements is at hand. I do believe and can articulate that there are groups of men that collude to create the apparent scenarios of Revelation. This is a masterful piece of propoganda. There is a massive group of Christian's, that instead of going out and doing God's work, are sitting around waiting to be "raptured out."
Regarding the first comment, what if God used a concept like this to bring more missionaries and disciples into the mission field?
Why would it be wrong for Christians to want to engage in globalization activities because it's like Babel? This could be just the push that they need in order to get off the bench and into service for God! It's unfortunate that it couldn't happen another way, but God uses many things to motivate His people.
Regarding the post, I think there is somewhat of a connection, but globalization to me is a sign of a progressing world and that we as disciples have the opportunity to piggy back on it in order to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. It seems to me that God in all His wisdom used this opportunity in order for us to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel.
This thought is similar to what you mentioned about what man meant for evil, God meant for good. However, that brings us to the thought of whether man really did mean something like this for evil. The "world" outside of solid christians is unaware of what is evil or offensive. Also, is globalization really evil? Is wanting to connect to others of differing cultures considered evil by God? It appears as though many EU countries are post-communist countries, which benefit from this union, though. I guess that would depend on motives.
I'm deviating a bit from your intent, but I think it may be difficult to connect Babel, a truly evil activity of wanting to be like God, to globalization. Though, it is a possiblity.
So, is globalization a sign of the end? Quite possibly, but does it change what we should already be doing as Christians (being ready for Christ's second coming)? Not at all.
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