The "social gospel"

What is the "social gospel"?  Interestingly, Wikipedia has a concise, accurate definition on its site.  They define it as a "Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was prominent in the late 19th century and early 20th century.  The movement applied Christian ethics to social problems, especially justice, inequality, liquor, crime, racial tensions, slums, bad hygiene, child labor, weak labor unions, poor schools, and the danger of war" (Social_Gospel).  USA Today ran an article in their "The Forum" section on March 2, 2010, indicating that mainline Protestant denominations are in serious decline and searching for the reasons why.  Half of Protestant churches have fewer than 100 members "and in nearly six out of 10 congregations, it's the Church of the Blue Hair. Or No Hair. A quarter or more of their congregants are 65 or older.  That's three times the number for their more conservative Evangelical cousins" (10A).  This newspaper article pointed to the same "social gospel" accomplishments as did Wikipedia, trumpeting and praising their deeds of the past.  But, now, this once majority is now a minority (ibid.).  Their answer is to delve further into social issues, broadening their "reach" by championing gay and lesbian clergy, environmental issues, and postmodernism.  But is it broadening or a further watering down of their message?

May I suggest that the ultimate result of the social gospel is death.  As it is usually associated with changing the changeless message, it is certainly spiritual death.  But a toothless, conviction-less message also leads to its earthly demise.  The social gospel concerns itself with feeding and clothing the body,  but it avoids matters of the soul.  It is un-evangelistic such that it is extremely averse to "proselytizing" anyone who is a "person of faith" and shy about reaching out to unbelievers.

The first century church was interested in its community and "doing good unto all men" (cf. Gal. 6:10).  But, Jesus left them their primary mission in what we often call "The Great Commission" (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47).  The first and greatest order of business was to teach the gospel to the lost, and they did so even at great personal risk and ostracism.  Their communities often misunderstood them and rejected them, though the early Christians did such deeply impacting work that they were said to "turn the whole world upside down" (Acts 17:6).  The gospel was preached to every creature under heaven (Col. 1:23).  Peter and John told a beggar they could not address his physical needs, but what they gave him was eternally better (Acts 3:6).

We need to reach out further and deeper into our communities, but to what end?  Let us meet benevolent needs as we can, but let us remember our mission is to seek and save the lost.  That was Jesus' (Lk. 19:10).  Otherwise, we will gradually rust and crumble from decay until we are dead and gone.  If we doubt it, let us consider Protestant denominations as "Exhibit A."

Neal Pollard