Are Christians globalists?
The term globalism did not exist several generations ago. At that time, it was not uncommon for men to prioritize their commitments as follows: God, family, nation, and employee loyalty. Today things are quite different. We live with godless secularism, fluid definitions of family, and soulless corporations for employers. A particularly noticeable change is that a growing trend toward globalization seems to threaten national identity.
Globalism means different things to different folks. However, both its advocates and its detractors concur that the concept relates to the internationalization of political, economic, cultural and even religious movements or systems. The fact that Christianity exists around the globe raises the question: are Christians globalists?
One might understandably think so. For the better part of two millennia the Nicene Creed, which textualizes the tenets of the faith, includes the claim that the Church is one, holy, apostolic and ‘catholic’. Here, ‘catholic’ signifies inclusive and universal or – as one might deduce – global.
But, while it exists around the world, the Church is not an international organization. It is the Mystical Body of Christ. As such, it is more than a religious organization, more than a spiritual movement, and certainly more than a humanitarian cause. It may be all these, but quintessentially it is theological. Jesus Christ is its head, and the Holy Spirit is its vivifying force.
The baptized are members of the Church, a Church which exists beyond national boundaries and – as with the community of saints – outside of the limits of time and space. Its purpose is to promulgate the Good News of our salvation and through sanctification to bring us and the world closer to God. The ceaselessly irrepressible impulse of the Church is charity, charity which indistinguishably is both love of God and love of man. One cannot be without the other.
As instant communication evaporates the delays of time and distance and we become more fully and immediately aware of global needs, it is of course our basic humanity that prompts us to help others around the world to the extent we can. While this sentiment may imply international outreach and therefore be considered globalist, it is not Christian unless it is rooted in the love of God. Consider the words of Eugene Boylan, the Trappist monk who eighty years ago wrote in his book “This Tremendous Lover”:
“Love is an act of the will wishing one well. Further, what passes as fraternal charity is often not really Christian. Modern civilization is full of a humanitarianism which is not Christian charity, for its motive is not the love of God. It may be love of man, though it is more often a love of management….But for a healthy Christian life, all a man’s work must be done with God, for God, and in God; the love of God is at once its source, its end, and its principal value.”
According to its etymology, the word ‘philanthropy’ indicates love of man. Catholic philanthropy – indeed any philanthropy rooted in theology – has a deeper significance as is demonstrated by the philanthropy of NCCF’s donors. NCCF is an organization with global outreach. A significant percentage of the distributions requested by our donors are made to overseas organizations. While this philanthropy has a global outreach, it is not globalist. Rather it is Catholic because it is centered on love of and for God, and as such resonates with the pulse of the Mystical Body of Christ. Its steady rhythm advances the Kingdom.
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