Globalization and the Church

Globalization and the Church

Globalization. A word that, when used by some, means an enlightenment of culture and peoples throughout the world as everyone everywhere begins to become more and more interconnected. When used by others, it stands for a force of destruction that runs down local customs with the spread of a more Western ideal. But what does this mean to the church? Is this driving force called globalization something that helps or hurts the church?

First off, let's get a better understanding of what globalization is. According to D. Samuels, globalization is "the spread of political, economic, and cultural dynamics among governments, groups, and individuals beyond the borders of any one particular country" (Samuels). In terms of the church and globalization, this would mean that the spread of the church across the globe is just one more part of globalization. As borders fall to the effects of globalization, through new technologies, or the actual ability to now enter countries that had previously been closed from the inside, the church can ride the wave and go into those new areas, spreading the gospel as prophecies of old had predicted, “(the) Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing… till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (Smith). This quote lends to the idea that the stance of the church is one in favor of globalization, then, due to the fact that the gospel is then able to enter into diverse lands and be taught to people where the gospel had originally been non-existent. But does globalization have any adverse effects on the church?

Globalization has led to people becoming more homogenized. “Due to the increasing "social and cultural homogeneity" among churches, denominational loyalty is shrinking as ever (Robert Wuthnow 1988). What this means for the church is that people are beginning to see more things as good and less things as black and white. Positive or negative. With more people thinking that more things, like churches, are good, and less along the lines of one church over them all, people are more likely to become less active in church attendance. This is one aspect of globalization that definitely hurts the church.

While the debates of globalization rage about its force in the world, for good or evil, I still think that it is good for the church. With the ability to now reach more people, the gospel will continue to go forward, and more people can learn about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Works Cited

Smith, Joseph. History of the Church. N.p.: Deseret Book Co., 1991.

Samuels, David J. Comparative Politics. N.p.: Pearsonn.d.

Yong, Ed H. "The Rise and Fall of the LDS Church." http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/riseandfalloftheldschurch.htm.