The Relevant Disciple

The social gospel is defined as the following: “The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The movement applied Christian ethics to social problems, especially poverty, inequality, liquor, crime, racial tensions, slums, bad hygiene, child labor, weak labor unions, poor schools, and the danger of war. Above all they opposed rampant individualism and called for a socially aware religion. Theologically, the Social Gospel leaders were overwhelmingly post-millennialist. That is because they believed the Second Coming could not happen until humankind rid itself of social evils by human effort.”
This idea has moved across Christianity and has led to extreme problems in theology. Most who now follow the social gospel would be considered liberal in the theological world. Their desire is not to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ but to focus on helping people overcome the evil circumstances of life. That is all well and good; however, the real problem is not overcoming earthly afflictions but overcoming the sin that destroys the soul.
I am not opposed to helping people. As a matter of fact, our church sends over 25% of its budget to missions. We are continually helping people who are hurting and in need. We have an emergency membership aid set aside to help our community and members in times of crisis. We are a conservative Baptist church that has not forgotten the unfaltering foundation on which the Church was built; the Spiritual Gospel of Jesus Christ. What do I mean by Spiritual Gospel? It is the presentation of the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who are lost sinners and need Jesus Christ as Personal Lord and Savior. It is important to help people in physical need, but the Church must never forget to help their spiritual need. (Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14 NIV)
The problem with following the social gospel is the forgotten truths of scripture. More focus has been placed on personal physical needs while spiritual needs have been forgotten. We have moved toward universal salvation where the belief is, God will allow people into heaven who have lived by the golden rule. This is unbiblical, misleading and extremely sad. (And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 NASB; For by grace are we saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
There is room for both helping the physical need and the spiritual need. Yes, we can do both at the same time. While physical needs deal with “today”, spiritual needs deal with “eternity”. Spiritual needs should have priority. Church, do focus on helping those who are in physical need. Feed the hungry, cloth the naked, and shelter the homeless. But above all share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost. Eternal salvation cannot be obtained by any other means than salvation by Grace through Faith.