Why did God allow the British Empire?

[mindlight]

Assuming the sovereignty of God over the rise and fall of Empires and also a positive purposeful God who intervenes in the affairs of mankind, what was the purpose of the British Empire? Many who drove it considered it a purely financial project that ended when it was no longer economically viable but these kinds of motivations are superficial compared to the deeper direction of God's Sovereign will. At its height it covered a quarter of the globe but what was it for? The question is pertinent now as the previous subjects of the Empire seek compensation for years of "exploitation and oppression" and build distorted and self-serving narratives relating to the history of the Empire.

Some suggestions:

1) To abolish slavery
2) To promote the idea and ultimately the practice of free societies and as a counterweight against brutal tyrannies like Imperial Russia/USSR, Kaiser/Nazi Germany, Mughals, Ottomans, Qing Dynasty China, Shaka and the Zulus
3) The spread of Christianity down newly formed globalized trade routes - Much of sub-Saharan Africa is now Christian and it is hard to envisage that having happened without the British.
4) To break entrenched, false, and dysfunctional cultures and religions and prepare the way for the new e.g. abolition of Sati (widow burning)
5) Scientific, medical, technological, and Infrastructure improvements - e.g. the building of irrigation systems, railways and city infrastructure in India.
6) To end petty local wars and dismantle the fiefdoms of local warlords
7) To provide a model of law and order to societies that previously lacked that but which they now follow as independent nations.

 

[Apple Sky]

Assuming the sovereignty of God over the rise and fall of Empires and also a positive purposeful God who intervenes in the affairs of mankind, what was the purpose of the British Empire?

IMO God allowed Satan to build the B Empire to test the nations & at the present God is giving back what Satan took away, like he did with Job.

 

[mindlight]

IMO God allowed Satan to build the B Empire to test the nations & at the present God is giving back what Satan took away, like he did with Job.

Daniel 2:21, Proverbs 21:1, Acts 17:26, Romans 13:1 . Empires rise and fall by God's appointment.

Why do you think that the abolition of slavery, the rule of law, the providential preparation of free nations, the spread of Christianity, etc were the work of Satan?

 

[Apple Sky]

Daniel 2:21, Proverbs 21:1, Acts 17:26, Romans 13:1 . Empires rise and fall by God's appointment.

Why do you think that the abolition of slavery, the rule of law, the providential preparation of free nations, the spread of Christianity, etc were the work of Satan?

I don't think the abolition of slavery was done by Satan, this was done by God but the start of slavery was caused by Satan.

 

[Aaron112]

this was done by God but the start of slavery was caused by Satan.

No.
God gave rules for slaves and for slave owners (not at all like those in the usa or other countries usually associated with slavery. )
Both slaves and slave owners were directed to treat one another properly as servants/ brothers/ fellow members in Christ Jesus.

Many who became slaves thousands of years ago would have died of starvation or thirst otherwise.

 

[Aaron112]

Whether it is/was the main purpose or not, it clearly showed what happens when greed controls men. and desire for power over others.

what was the purpose of the British Empire?

 

[KevinT]

Assuming the sovereignty of God over the rise and fall of Empires and also a positive purposeful God who intervenes in the affairs of mankind ...

I would question this starting point. God clearly didn't want Adam and Eve to fall away in the Garden of Eden, and He didn't want Cain to kill his brother Abel. When Cain left the area and established his own mini-empire in the land of Nod, I would disagree that this was all in accordance with God's ideal will.

Yes, God is all powerful, and thus anything that happens is because He allows it to happen. But just because He didn't stop Cain killing Abel, doesn't mean that God wanted and willed or ordained for it to happen.

I see God as a teacher of a large class of disobedient, hardheaded and unruly kindergartners. They push and shove each other, showing all kinds of self-centeredness. The teacher makes sure that no one is seriously hurt and He carefully and lovingly shows them the proper way to be kind to each other. With time and proper education, the little brats for the most part grow up to be actual helpful members of society. And if asked about that time Billy was given a black eye by a punch from Johnny, they would both be embarrassed by their prior behavior. But they wouldn't blame the Teacher.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Kevin

 

[Lukaris]

I believe God set up an understanding for us to live in this world to know what we are to rend unto Caesar and unto God. St. Paul explains this in Romans 13:1-14. Empires, governments, nations etc. come and go which I believe Solomon explains much of in Ecclesiastes.

Under the law, the preacher reiterated the basic instruction for life ( Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). The Lord Jesus Christ gave us salvation which was not completely known or possible under the law. He fulfilled the law and told us to keep His basic commandments ( see John 14:15-18, Matthew 7:1-12, Matthew 22:36-40 also compare Matthew 19:16-19 to Romans 13:8-10).

St. Paul gives us an excellent summation of salvation and living by faith in Colossians 1:1-29. Western Civilization, was good & bad to both extremes, is dead and what follows does not seem encouraging. I think Matthew 24:1-13, tells us God is not overly concerned about particular worldly, secular societies.

What anyone needs to do can be found by Matthew 4:17, Romans 10:9-13, unto Ephesians 2:8-10. Reading Matthew 24 & 25 seems helpful for us in these times.

 

[timothyu]

Why did God allow the current American Empire or any empire for that matter including religious ones? These are not His kingdoms but the results of selfish human behaviour since the beginning of time, each justifying itself in its own era. God wants us to come out of this world, not bring Him into it.

 

[Bob Crowley]

God allows a lot of things He would find distasteful (to put it mildly).

Our modern nation Australia was founded by the British Empire. I'm reading a book "Plans For your Good" by Scott Morrison who was the 30th Prime Minister of Australia. He claims one of his ancestors, William Roberts, was a convict who came out to Australia on the First Fleet in 1788.

The ship he came on, the Scarborough, returned to England and then took part in the "notorious Second Fleet".

On the second fleet there were 420 males and 78 female convicts (some with children and infants). Of the 420 ...

"...more than a quarter died (during transit), more than a third arrived sick, and 124 died soon after arriving.

Reverend Johnson reported .... their heads, bodies, clothes, blankets were all full of lice. They were wretched, naked, filthy, dirty, lousy, and many of them - utterly unable to stand, or even to stir hand or foot."

That was one result of the British Empire's penal code at the time.

God tolerated it and that's about all. Compare this to Christ's record when He was born in a manger, used angels to alert shepherds (who were society's outcasts) to announce the good news, fed people, healed people, drove out demons, talked to tax collectors and prostitutes, got a wedding host out of an embarasssing predicament, and reserved His harshest words for the authorities.

I don't think God has a lot of interest in history per se - I think he's far more interested in how we treat other people.

 

[Yusuphhai]

The Church of U.K. believes that U.K. has an obligation to help establish a just order worldwide. The British took the lead in translating the Bible in many languages. For example, there are many scripts in India, many scripts in Africa, Persian, Arabic, Chinese, Miao（Hmong）, Lisu, Tibetan, Burmese, Thai, and so on. Many British missionaries have a spirit of selflessness, sacrifice, and dedication.

British believes that foreigners can enjoy human rights as well as British people. So some foreigners miss the rule of U.K., The British Empire was not perfect, but as the British rulers said when they withdrew from Israel after World War II, 'May you still commemorate our many years of friendship'.

 

[timothyu]

So some foreigners miss the rule of U.K.,

Presumably Hong Kong recently?

 

[Yusuphhai]

Presumably Hong Kong recently?

Yes. for the relationship between U.K. and H.K. is sensitive, I omitted the word '**'. In translation software, if "the sensitive word miss Britain" is entered, the entire translated text will disappear.

 

[RileyG]

I believe God set up an understanding for us to live in this world to know what we are to rend unto Caesar and unto God. St. Paul explains this in Romans 13:1-14. Empires, governments, nations etc. come and go which I believe Solomon explains much of in Ecclesiastes.

Under the law, the preacher reiterated the basic instruction for life ( Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). The Lord Jesus Christ gave us salvation which was not completely known or possible under the law. He fulfilled the law and told us to keep His basic commandments ( see John 14:15-18, Matthew 7:1-12, Matthew 22:36-40 also compare Matthew 19:16-19 to Romans 13:8-10).

St. Paul gives us an excellent summation of salvation and living by faith in Colossians 1:1-29. Western Civilization, was good & bad to both extremes, is dead and what follows does not seem encouraging. I think Matthew 24:1-13, tells us God is not overly concerned about particular worldly, secular societies.

What anyone needs to do can be found by Matthew 4:17, Romans 10:9-13, unto Ephesians 2:8-10. Reading Matthew 24 & 25 seems helpful for us in these times.

Very well said!

 

[Tom Storey]

This is such a deep question. WHy does God allow humans to commit such acts of evil, and to act in complete rejection of God's truth.

So that we may sin? So that our humanity may reveal itself? So that in the darkness we might see the stars?

In terms of the British Empire, the narrative became that Britain - the name itself implies imperialism? - was doing God's work, shouldering the white man's burden.

In effect, the rich in Britain became a lot richer, and the poor were enouraged to think that they were at least better than the people in the subject countries - so it was a deeply racist program.

Why did God allow this? God gives humans free will. As to whether we learn and progress with this and in the knowledge of history....

Perhaps this thread is cause for optimism.

 

[timothyu]

Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

[stevevw]

The British Empire was the last officiual Empire of many Empires that ruled over time. Though some may say the US became a sort of empire in that it controlled economics and dictated much of world politics.

There are sort of mini empires are such as in Russia and we see the breakup with nations like Georgia and Ukraine having independence. The same with China and surrounding territories. They also buy up control in other nations through buying mineral rights..

So it seems its in our nature to build kingdoms on earth in defiance of God.

Peter mentioned that we as Christians must submit to authorities in power as these are installed by God to keep us safe and ordered. Ideally he says that the authorities would be creating a good environment for Christians to spread Gods word so that more can be saved as God doesn't want anyone to be lost.

As the world has rejected God since Christ it seems it is in humans nature, maybe from the fall, maybe from the seperating of people into nations from the Babel. But we don't see eye to eye and want to fight and take over each other like tribal warfare. Might is right.

But it seems the world powers are so far gone now and out of touch with God that we seem to always be on the brink of some conflict happening somewhere. Instead of one power ruling many we have many nations all in conflict with each other. We need someone to sort this mess out.

 

[The Liturgist]

brutal tyrannies like Imperial Russia

Imperial Russia was no more brutal, and in some respects less, than the British Empire. Compared to the French Empire, the Dutch Empire, the Portuguese Empire or especially the Belgian Empire, which was vicious and purely profit-driven (compare the former French, English, Dutch and Portuguese parts of Africa with the former Belgian Congo lest there be any doubt on this point), the Russian Empire was angelic, and compared to the dark empires of Islamic and Pagan tyrants, well, if Britain existed as a check on Russia, then Russia existed as a check on these. The Ottoman Empire was diabolical and should never have been assisted in the Crimean War - the prolongation of its existence directly facilitated the genocides against the Bulgarians in 1875, and the Armenians, Assyrians and Pontic Greeks in 1915, and other genocidal actions - any time the Ottomans sent in the infamous mercenaries known as the Bashi Bazouks, the results were usually genocidal.

The USSR was, as Ronald Reagan said, an evil empire, but in contrast Czarist Russia, for its faults (especially after the uncanonical and illegal interference in the operation of the Orthodox Church by Czar Peter I), consistently protected Christians from genocide at the hands of Muslims.

The earlier Grand Duchy of Kievan Rus, where Russian and Ukrainian civilization, was a blessed place, the only medieval European country with no capital punishment, and where Orthodox Christianity was not just the official religion but the way of life. Unfortunately it fell victim to the Mongolian invasions, and the Muscovite regime that followed was less idyllic, particularly under the reign of czars like Ivan the Terrible, who was rebuked by St. Basil the Blessed, for whom the cathedral built at the direction of Ivan was later named.

Now this is not to claim the Russian Empire was devoid of faults. It mistreated the Jews and engaged, like the Ottomans, in occasional pogroms. Its secret police devised anti-Semitic conspiracy theories which still result in Jewish deaths at present. It illegally and uncanonically seized control of the Russian Orthodox Church and forced through westernizations under Czar Peter I, and subsequently was responsible for the spiritual stagnation of the country in the 18th century, and it also for a time violently oppressed those opposed to the liturgical reforms of Patriarch Nikon (who would be the last Patriarch until the Holy Synod was restored St. Tikhon was appointed in 1917; he was later arrested by the Soviets and brutally mistreated, dying in prison as a confessor for Christ). Worse of all, the failings of the Russian Empire allowed for the rise of the evil Soviet Union which in turn agitated Europeans causing the rise of Hitler and National Socialism. Had the Imperial government done more to improve the conditions of the urban population and had it refrained from engaging in WWI, that could have been avoided, but then again without the Soviet union it is likely an Islamic movement would have arisen sooner and become more widely adopted, since the existence of the Soviet union engendered a series of pro-Soviet and pro-Western secularist regimes in the Islamic world which were not interested in the enforcement of Shariyah.

 

[Maori Aussie]

I understand that the natives of Alaska fled before British explorer James Cook, because the only other white people they had previously seen were cossacks, and the cossacks were not in Alaska to spread the Orthodox faith....
Oh! Oh my! Russian conquest of Siberia - Wikipedia

 

[The Liturgist]

I understand that the natives of Alaska fled before British explorer James Cook, because the only other white people they had previously seen were cossacks, and the cossacks were not in Alaska to spread the Orthodox faith....
Oh! Oh my! Russian conquest of Siberia - Wikipedia

The Russians did spread Christianity to Alaska, gently and without force. See St. Herman of Alaska, St. innocent of Alaska and St. Peter the Aleut.

As will be verified by my dear friends @prodromos @jas3 @HTacianas and others - there is one particularly expert in this area whose alphanumeric username I cannot recall.