Christian Imperialism

Given our action in Venezuela, perhaps it’s time for Christian nationalism to give way to Christian colonialism, or even Christian imperialism.

There have been Christian colonizers and empires in history, just as there have been Christian nations.

A good case can be made that when Christian nations colonized (and at least to some degree, Christianized) other nations, it was a net benefit all the way around.

Empires, like nations can be good or bad. This is one the lessons of Daniel: God set up a series of empires, including the Roman Empire. The Pax Romana provided the context within which the gospel spread — and after Constatine’s conversion, the Roman Empire began to undergo a process of Christianization. Later, the Pax Britannia provided safe passageway for the gospel to spread to the ends of the earth. The Pax Americana has as well.

Another form of imperialism, colonialism (such as Pax Britannia mentioned above) did great good, and essentially amounted to massive humanitarian program and, to some degree, Christianization program, for much of the world. Nations that got colonized by Western, Christian powers were much better off than those nations that did not. The biggest problem with colonialism was that it ended too abruptly — largely because the colonies were simply too expensive to maintain and cultures views towards other cultures were shifting from a “white man’s burden” view to an egalitarian, multicultural view.

This is not to say there are no downsides to empires or colonialism. A modern form of imperialism has given us the scourge of globalism. But what makes globalism especially wretched is that it operates out of progressive gay-racism worldview, as opposed to a Christian worldview.

An American Christian empire could do the world much good. Sadly, we are in no position to be that force for good.

ADDENDUM: “Weren’t the empires outlined in Daniel’s prophecies uniformly evil? Doesn’t that mean empire is always bad?”
The empires were generally evil – they were beasts that needed to be tamed by a New Adam (which we see will happen in Daniel 7 when Jesus ascends to heaven). But it also happened in a couple instances even in the old covenant era – look at how Daniel 4 and 6 end, with imperial rulers confessing that Daniel’s God is the true God. The magi who brought gifts to Jesus and worshipped him were Daniel’s spiritual descendants. It also happens in the book of Jonah when the capital city of the Assyrian empire, Nineveh, experiences mass conversion. The book of Nahum shows it didn’t last long, but it did happen.

God set up and used these empires to fulfill purposes – even when that purpose included bringing judgment on his own people, Israel and Judah.

Of course, Daniel’s visions/prophecies point to a coming messianic empire, inaugurated in history when Jesus comes preaching “the kingdom of God is at hand.” King Jesus will bring the kingdoms of this world into his own kingdom.

Obviously empires can be good or evil. But the same is true of nations. My point is that empire is not always and only a bad thing – old covenant and new covenant history both testify that good empires are possible. The colonial era gets bashed today, but when Western Christian powers colonized much of the world, those parts of the world greatly benefitted. The biggest problem with Western colonialism was not that it happened but the way it ended – all too suddenly.

I’m not saying America should have colonial or imperial aspirations today – though if we were in better shape as a nation spiritually and otherwise, it might make a lot of sense.

ADDENDUM: It is popular to bash colonialism because of the rise of egalitarian multiculturalism, but it did bring material and spiritual blessings to many people around the world.