For over a century there has been a movement away from the gospel of a personal heart change to a gospel of society change. Some of this is rooted in prophecy - the eschatology of the second coming of Jesus. According to those of the post-millennium belief, Jesus returns after the world gets better and is then Christianized for 1,000 years. In that theology, it is the church's mission to clean up society so to usher in Jesus' glorious kingdom.
Also, the social gospel is predicated on the idea that men are basically good but are held back by a corrupt world around them thus the impetus to clean-up society. Today there are many churches whose theology moves them to make the social gospel “the Gospel" and thus the primary mission.
While addressing homelessness, poverty, health care, clean water, child abuse, sanitation, etc. is not wrong - they are NOT the primary call on the church or on Christians. Rather, the focus is on individuals and their relationship with God.
Jesus taught: He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent, Matthew 11:20. Jesus had healed, fed and helped all types of people - He was active in a "social gospel", but it did not bring the result He wanted - He wanted people to REPENT!
Now note His reaction to an evil/corrupt government and to workplace troubles. Jesus did NOT join a demonstration, form an action group or file a lawsuit. NO! Consider His response: There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:1-5. REPENT!
To REPENT is to recognize one's sin/failures/evil and desire to turn from the old and move to a new. REPENT.
Collaborative International Dictionary of English:
1. To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do.
2. To change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.
3. To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to love and practice sin.
Jesus' call: REPENT AND BELIEVE - "Repent and believe in the gospel,” Mark 1:15.
Believe! To believe is to understand the work and offer of Jesus and to embrace it.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I Corinthians 2:2.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36.
Mark 8:34, Jesus said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Jesus, always doing good (Act 10:38), was foremost about people facing their rebellion toward God and calling them to sorrow over it and embracing His offer of His ransom payment and committing to following Him and thus be pleasing to God. The "social gospel" undermines the priority laid out by Jesus - that individual people repent and be transformed into true followers. Heart-changed followers of Jesus will follow Jesus' example and go about doing good, but we should always first and foremost be about men and women turning into God-fearing followers of Jesus.
Also, the social gospel is predicated on the idea that men are basically good but are held back by a corrupt world around them thus the impetus to clean-up society. Today there are many churches whose theology moves them to make the social gospel “the Gospel" and thus the primary mission.
While addressing homelessness, poverty, health care, clean water, child abuse, sanitation, etc. is not wrong - they are NOT the primary call on the church or on Christians. Rather, the focus is on individuals and their relationship with God.
Jesus taught: He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent, Matthew 11:20. Jesus had healed, fed and helped all types of people - He was active in a "social gospel", but it did not bring the result He wanted - He wanted people to REPENT!
Now note His reaction to an evil/corrupt government and to workplace troubles. Jesus did NOT join a demonstration, form an action group or file a lawsuit. NO! Consider His response: There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:1-5. REPENT!
To REPENT is to recognize one's sin/failures/evil and desire to turn from the old and move to a new. REPENT.
Collaborative International Dictionary of English:
1. To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do.
2. To change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.
3. To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to love and practice sin.
Jesus' call: REPENT AND BELIEVE - "Repent and believe in the gospel,” Mark 1:15.
Believe! To believe is to understand the work and offer of Jesus and to embrace it.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I Corinthians 2:2.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36.
Mark 8:34, Jesus said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Jesus, always doing good (Act 10:38), was foremost about people facing their rebellion toward God and calling them to sorrow over it and embracing His offer of His ransom payment and committing to following Him and thus be pleasing to God. The "social gospel" undermines the priority laid out by Jesus - that individual people repent and be transformed into true followers. Heart-changed followers of Jesus will follow Jesus' example and go about doing good, but we should always first and foremost be about men and women turning into God-fearing followers of Jesus.
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