Globalization and the Gospel

We live in a world that is shrinking at an exponential rate. Global communication is becoming easier and easier. Many countries are becoming economically interdependent. Institutions, like the European Union, are making an effort to unite an entire continent, asking states to respond to a higher authority without domination by an authoritarian regime. With all of these things going on, how should Christians respond?

I think that there are two general responses that followers of Christ can choose from.

1. Isolate ourselves
2. Use opportunities for the sake of the Gospel

You can see where this is going. I just had a conversation with my mother about the state that the world is in. She asked if I was seeing things that would make me think that Christ's return was imminent. She was obviously referring to things that she had been hearing about globalization.

Here is the response to the question that I think is wrong: Yes. Christ's return is imminent. Globalization is a sign of it. I will not engage the world in any capacity and essentially isolate myself from the world.

Here is the proper response: Yes. Christ's return is imminent. Globalization may be a sign of it. Now is the time to act. Use the tools that are in place through the global communication process to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Send God-glorifying emails. Make God-glorifying websites. Write God-glorifying blogs. Do God-glorifying business in the global marketplace. Learn about other nations that you have the ability to communicate with like never before and communicate with them in a God-glorifying way.

Now, there will be objections to these things I am sure. For example: As Christians it is wrong to engage the world by the means of global communication, primarily the internet. This is because the internet makes pornography available and is a tool used by terrorists. I disagree heartily with this logic. If this is the argument then we must do away with all forms of communication all the way down to the post office. Pornography and anthrax both can be sent through the mail, but would we be so quick to do away with this service? The internet, as a communications platform, is no different. Very few people would probably make an argument against the post office, a means by which potentially carried Scripture from Paul's hand to his church-plants in the Roman Empire.

Globalization, or "international integration" in its literal sense, is important and glorifying to God. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19)... The Gospel is meant to be integrated into all nations.