Globalism and Capitalism – A Missiological and Christian Response

The Challenge of Sermon On The Mount Economics

In Our Current Economic System

My former Sociology Professor at Geneva College, Dr. Russell Heddendorf was tirelessly known for reminding his students that: "There is always a reality beyond the one that you perceive." To perceive is to interpret [what appears to be] reality. What we determine to be as reality is what in turn predicates our behavior. The general thought is, that the better we are in perceiving reality the more informed we become when it comes to choosing the proper behavior. This is no less true those of us who intend to go into professional ministry. In like manner, understanding our ministry context (perception) is crucial if we are to be faithful in our ministry endeavor (behavior). The enveloping reality of the globalism phenomena is upon us, and its tentacles extend deeply within the Christian ethos. It's affects on the world in which we live are becoming all pervasive and will affect everything from fundraising to our missiological strategies within socio-political contexts.

Thus, we must see the vital need for all who are Christian to understand the phenomena of "globalism" in our world today. Here are the four essential things that must be understood: 1. The formal, comprehensive and objective study of the nature and dynamic of globalism itself, as a phenomena, 2. The ability to articulate thoughtfully and in non- hysterical fashion it's pernicious affects upon individuals, culture and the Church, 3. The development of an intelligent and compelling prophetic voice within the Christian community, in the critique of Globalism, 4. The ability to work intentionally, effectively and redemptively within and through a globalistic milieu.

In short, in a related sense, much like the like the phenomena of Post-Modernism.(1) it would seem that Globalism is an emerging and all encompassing ideology. Friedman notes in his book The World is Flat:

"The driving idea behind globalization is free-market capitalism – the more you let marketforces rule and the more you open your economy to free trade and competition, the more efficient and flourishing your economy will be. Globalization means the spread of free-market capitalism to virtually every country of the world…(Friedman pg. 9)

If on a global scale the production of capital is the highest good and the most sought after virtue, then all other ideologies become subordinate including cultural distinctives, mores and customs. This will be justified and legitimized by arguing the initial and obvious advantages that capitalism brings, such as, employment, higher standards of living, technology and the intoxicating allure of the entertainment industry. These things are not bad in and of themselves, if they are a result of capitalism being used as a means, rather than as a natural result of capitalism being exercised as an end. This distinction is of vital consequence.

Unwittingly or not, it is clear that Christians, Pastors and Christian Non-profits (or non-prophets?) find themselves deeply and inextricably immersed within the dynamic of hyper and pan-capitalism itself. It is a condition from which there are no simple solutions. If this Recession has reminded us of anything it is that the less people spend on "stuff" – even nonessential stuff - the less people work; the less people work (here and abroad); the less they [can?] give to non-profits organizations like churches, missions and world health organizations. This very same dynamic affects government taxes as well. The less spending, the less work, the less tax and the less collected in taxes, the less government can do because fewer taxes have been collected from goods, services and salaries/wages.

And yet this conundrum gets worse because this very same hyper, pan-capitalism that causes significant reactions and even violent responses within other cultures – particularly Islamic ones – when they encounter this strand of capitalism as a worldview. So on the one hand, we have become utterly dependent upon hyper-pancapitalism for jobs, living and giving; and yet on the other it acts as a destructive foil in and against certain cultures that in turn illicit violent responses against us. Parabolically, speaking economically:

'A butterfly flaps its wings in Europe and it storms in Southeast Asia.'

It would appear that our immersion in hyper-pancapitalism is so complete, that the stark reality is: Were the 60+ million [alleged] Christians in our culture, to suddenly live faithfully according to the Sermon on The Mount it would destroy the economy and millions would suffer and probably starve. And yet we must find a way….

In light of the sheer pervasiveness of the globalistic phenomena, Christians must become adept in developing a tri-focal lens ⁽²⁾ through which they perceive and work effectively in the ministry contexts in which they find themselves. They must become good at addressing the four aforementioned goals listed in the beginning of this essay. Christians who want to do ministry and mission, must come to grips with the notion that the inter-relatedness of all things will no longer be determined through the filters of religious and political ideology, ⁽³⁾ but rather through the burgeoning ideological kaleidoscope of hyper-pancapitalism.

1. These two are in fact very much related. One of the distinctives of Post-Modernism is the leveling of the playing field of all ideologies, as well as, the blending of cultural uniquenesses throughout the world. The often times feverish drive, on the other hand, to establish capital, demands in pragmatic fashion, that if cultural particularities cannot be assimilated, then they must be de-emphasized – if not laid aside altogether. This dynamic is frequently the root of much of the anger aimed at the West, especially the USA.
   
   
2. The three pieces of the tri-focal lens are: A. The top lens (macro), which provides the big picture of the world around us – the horizon as well as the periphery a.k.a. the interrelatedness of globalism throughout all cultures B. The middle lens (meta), which provides an intermediate view of the world around us – it focuses on those things that are emerging and eventually connect us to the big picture a.k.a. how those cultures affected by globalism are impacting us C. The bottom lens (micro), which provides us with the everyday matters and issues that are constant a.k.a. relationships, work and family lifestyle.
   

   
   

3. Capitalism is inherently empirical in the cost benefit analysis in the individual's assessment of personal quality of life. Communism for example, failed not because communists woke up one morning, changed their mind and declared it defective; but because as an ideology it couldn't consistently provide them with the basic necessities of life such as food and shelter… let alone all of the unbelievable perks enjoyed by most capitalists from the West. In like manner, "religion" may end up being treated in the same way. People in the world will be sorely tempted to make the comparison between the eventuality of future promises associated with their faith, with the and immediate pleasures and advantages connected with hyper-capitalism. Some Christians will work to have both, but as we all know, you cannot serve two masters… eventually, in an effort to park our Lexus under the shady confines of the Olive Tree, we will inadvertently back over it and feel a need to move on.
   

EDUCATION -

When I was growing up in Washington Pennsylvania several decades ago the necessary "bench mark" for educational outcomes was much different that what it is today. To the best of my recollection, when blue collar industry was at it's peak, a High School education was often all that was necessary for most of us. School Boards chose curriculum, hired teachers and approved programs with the idea that most should be educated well enough to be competent in basic life skills and competitive for local or regional jobs and vocational choices. College was important to many as well, but the lions-share of my fellow students who pursued post-secondary education enrolled in a local college typically without much in the way of national distinction. This was the way it was in Industrial Western Pennsylvania in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

Today the purpose for which we educate our children is and must be, much, much different. The Blue Collar Industrial Complex for which many worked and made a good living is all but gone. NEVER to return... The global economic matrix mandates this. The American culture has not only become addicted to low cost goods manufactured from other countries, but utterly dependent as well. Our household budgets are predicated on our ability to purchase low cost goods made from far-off lands sold in the myriad of discount stores dotting the landscape of our county. Ironically enough most of the very people who mourn bitterly the loss of our industry in Western Pa, make almost daily pilgrimages to Walmart, Costco and Target etc. Not only do we give those retailers money out of our pocket, but that same money is now destined for international governments. We do in fact give our money away twice.

The ability for the China's and India's to produce quality goods, at a rapid rate and low cost is clearly connected to their exponential leap educationally. THEIR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS have caught up; and have in many cases surpassed our own educational system in the USA. Amazingly many communities, like mine, are still educating our students to compete with those from their own locale, region or even the USA (let's say at most 300 million others)... Conversely countries like India and China are educating their students at a tremendously high level to compete with the almost 7 Billion people on the planet. It has been reported for example that India, has no less than seven universities that rival our Princeton's and Harvard's. And their graduating students are in many cases not only better educated than our students; but they are willing to be compensated for a fraction of what ours would be, doing the same job. This distinction cannot be overstated.

Our pedestrian approach to education is largely responsible for: Jobs being outsourced internationally, while on the other hand international workers are moving in to the USA because corporate America" is really America (becoming globally) incorporated. The employment of Illegal Aliens and paying them low wages is in part our pathetic economic response to compete economically with workers from other nations like India and China. Our fading ability to compete globally with our labor is making us dangerously dependent on other governments that will love us only until we have no more dollars to give and resouces to hand out.

Its imperative to see that we live in a time when it is almost impossible to overspend on education. Our ability to compete economically with the rest of the world is directly connected to our commitment to educating our children to be more than competent in the workforce for decades to come. Education and being economically viable is what will continue to produce jobs, grow our communities and provide for our national security. We can either keep spending money (I.e. Education) on the grain for The Goose-That-Lays-The-Golden-Eggs; or we can foolishly eviscerate ours and extract what we suspect might be left in there. If we kill ours, not only is our Goose cooked, but now we become the grain that feeds theirs.

Thomas Friedman notes in his best selling book, The Earth is Flat the following:

"We know the basic formula for economic success - reform wholesale, followed by reform retail, plus good governance, education, infrastructure, and the ability to glocalize (export good comprehensively).


He goes on to say regarding economic development and renewal need two things:

1. A society's ability and willingness to pull together and sacrifice for the sake of economic development and

2. The presence in a society of leaders with the vision to see what needs to be done in terms of development and the willingness to use power to push for change rather than enrich themselves and preserve the status quo


Economically depressed communities like mine, and short-sighted School Boards like the Ambridge City Schools, appear to be determined to kill the goose. Modern buildings, safe and inspirational learning environments, current technology, up-to-date books and competent teachers are non-negotiable investmets if we are to keep competitive, not only as individuals but as a nation - in a world that has become incredibly aggressive economically. While its true that many of those who live on fixed incomes can be hurt from the revenues necessary to keep all of the above in place... the truth of the matter is that for most its a matter of giving up a Flat Screen T.V., Laptop and/or Vacation for a year or so... Bottom line: We either produce fodder to feed our Goose, or we become the fodder to eat for their Goose. The choice is ours...