Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Toward a Godly globalization
Toward a Godly globalization
Apr 2, 2025 3:30 AM

Globalization is routinely decried for its disruptive effects, particularly as it relates to the health of our social relationships munity enterprises and institutions. Even as it’s proven to drive significant economic growth, questions remain about its steamrolling influence on the culture and society.

But what about the opportunities?

In a lecture at the Faith@Work Summit, Tim Liu, a healthcare administrator and CEO, reminds us of the potential for a “Godly globalization,” noting that amid the disruptive effects, we also see an enduring pursuit of individual identity, cultural distinction, and human connection — not to mention a range of new channels for social collaboration.

“It is a phenomenon that is highly paradoxical,” he says. “We understand the McDonaldization of the globe…but there is an opposing force of the need to localize…There is a need for people to continue to retain their unique identity, as much as globalization e across the globe.”

While I disagree with several of Liu’s observations about the severity of e inequality and the overall trajectory of economic progress (the picture is far rosier), he points to a range of legitimate risks and challenges that we continue to face, whether tangible (e.g. high inflation, job disruption) or spiritual/social (e.g. isolation, disconnection). Yet the paradox remains.

It’s up to the church, Liu continues, to ride these tensions without subscribing to an “either-or” mindset. It’s up to us to use our newfound interconnection not for increased idleness or passive detachment, but for increased collaboration and deeper, more expansive munity, and economic transformation.

This requires a healthy theology of work and a holistic view of Christian mission, but just as important, it requires an economic imagination that understands the role of that work and Christian service plex global economy.

“Even those who see this workplace ministry and hold to it strongly, they work almost as individuals,” Liu says. “But in the globalized world, we need to work within a system and network, because the problems that we deal with in the city and across the globe are interconnected.You need governance. You need businesses to work together. You need to use technology to enable things to get done. You need to munities around them. You need to build the financial infrastructure. You need to build the physical infrastructure.”

Liu focuses more specifically on forming intentional Christian partnerships, but we’d do well to expand our imaginations toward much more. The globalized economy offers plenty of channels and networks that already exist, from informal trading relationships to more sophisticated supply chains, and the opportunities to engage and serve are closer and smaller and more numerous than many of us think.

One of the key benefits of globalization is that Christians have the opportunity transform the munity from wherever we are, even if our tasks don’t feed directly into the grand global architecture. Indeed, the majority of our creative service should be more occurring from the bottom up, among neighbors and friends, managers and coworkers, clients and customers, and so on.

When we view our globalized world through in such a way — through the lens of fellowship and connection — we begin to realize that the path toward a “Godly globalization” is right in front of us.It’s up to us to cultivate the culture accordingly, creating for munities and serving our neighbors in the day-to-day economic order — from the bottom to the top, from near to far, and back again.

Image: gfpeck (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Todays Verse   Commentary on Psalm 90:12-17   Read Psalm 90:12-17   Those who would learn true wisdom, must pray for Divine instruction, must beg to be taught by the Holy Spirit and for comfort and joy in the returns of God#39s favour. They pray for the mercy of God, for they pretend not to plead any merit of their own....
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Todays Verse   Commentary on Proverbs 15:4   Read Proverbs 15:4   A good tongue is healing to wounded consciences, by comforting them to sin-sick souls, by convincing them and it reconciles parties at variance.   Proverbs 15:4 In-Context   2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.   3 The eyes of the Lord are...
Verse of the Day
  1 Corinthians 3:18-20 In-Context   16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?   17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.   18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards...
Verse of the Day
  Isaiah 61:7 In-Context   5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.   6 And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.   7 Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion,...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Todays Verse   Commentary on Proverbs 22:4   Read Proverbs 22:4   Where the fear of God is, there will be humility. And much is to be enjoyed by it spiritual riches, and eternal life at last.   Proverbs 22:4 In-Context   2 Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.   3 The prudent see danger...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Todays Verse   Complete Concise   Chapter Contents   Exhortations to obedience and faith. 1-6 To piety, and to improve afflictions. 7-12 To gain wisdom. 13-20 Guidance of Wisdom. 21-26 The wicked and the upright. 27-35   Commentary on Proverbs 3:1-6   Read Proverbs 3:1-6   In the way of believing obedience to God#39s commandments health and peace may commonly be enjoyed and though...
Verse of the Day
  Hebrews 11:6 In-Context   4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.   5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: He could not be...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Todays Verse   Commentary on Psalm 37:1-6   Read Psalm 37:1-6   When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers, that flourish and live in ease. So it was seen of old, therefore let us not marvel at the matter. We are tempted to fret at this, to think them the only happy people, and so we are...
Verse of the Day
  1 John 4:20 In-Context   18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.   19 We love because he first loved us.   20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does...
Verse of the Day
  Galatians 2:20 In-Context   18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.   19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.   20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved