Tag Archives: Social Gospel

Opinion?

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Will you help a beggar in the street?  Will you look the other way when you see a drunk?  In your opinion, what is the difference between the two?

Are not both bodies in a posture of weakness?

You praise the soldier whose pride lets him run toward the enemy, mindless of death.  And you agree with the average Joe who is proud to say he does not worry about the coming judgment.  In your opinion, what is the difference between the two?

Are not both of them bent on self reliance?  Do you think death cares?

Do you fear God?  Do you think the fear of God is a matter of opinion; as if it’s okay to let another man think he has a choice.  As if God has said he is willing to give eternal life to those who refuse to love him.  Or do you realize that that man will surely die?

All day long, everyone of us are witness to people who despise the teaching of God.  When you see them, do you realize you’re looking at a dead man?  Or do you just say to yourself, “It takes all kinds to make the world go around”?

Do you shake your head in pity when you consider what people are doing in this world?  Are you doing anything to bring the judgment of God to your fellow man?  Is shaking our heads in pity putting an end to the violence in our streets?

Do you know what the Bible says about the coming judgment?  Do you use the Gospel simply as a motivator for social righteousness?  Do you honestly believe that’s all it is? 

“Getting There”

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One afternoon, I turned a corner on the sidewalk.  I saw a great commotion.  The flavor of the people was excited and happy.  Curious, I ventured to the crowd.  I could see parts of a beautifully shiny convertible car sitting in the middle of the crowd.  Bold, as was my demeanor at the moment, I went through the crowd and asked the driver what all the hub bub was all about.  “I’m going to heaven!”  He answered.

It was a fast car, yes.  But tires need road.  In my perception, arrival in heaven needs more than a road and tires.  So I was curious about his means.  I didn’t say anything more.  I just stepped back to watch.

The driver waved at the crowd and started the engine.  The car purred with obvious power.  At the signal of his hand, eight strong men came toward the car.  Each one put his hands under the sides of the body and lifted the car.  They all turned their head toward the front of the car and began to carry the car!  All the while, the driver revved the engine up and down.  Everyone in the crowd was shouting with joy.  Applause went up from them like cracks from a large fire.

After a few steps, the men put the car back down.   The driver shut off the engine.  And stepped out of the car.  He was greeted with great enthusiasm.  The entire mass of men was full of great joy.

I was at a loss here.  My mind thought it must be some kind of circus act.  But they all looked to sincere.  I had to ask the driver what the deal was.

He looked at me with puzzling eyes.  “How is it that you don’t understand?  No one gets to heaven without friends to help him.   Accountability, boy!  It takes accountability to keep a man on the straight road.  These men carried me into dedication.  This is a sign of my vow to do what is good.  And by their testimony, I will be accounted as one who has faith.”

I just stood there speechless.  He was as serious as a spider bite.

Isn’t this what the social gospel promotes?  “If we just all get along, God will recognize our righteous intent.   If we do good for one another, God will surely praise our hearts.”  Yep.  That’s what it says.

“Wazzam Shazzam!”  We don’t need Jesus!”

It’s just too bad that Jesus was so amazingly mistaken.  He didn’t need to die on a cross to save our souls.  He didn’t need to suffer at the hands of men.  All he needed to do was praise our intentions.

Quiet Please

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“Hey!  Keep it down over there.  What are you trying to do, raise the dead?”  So says the social gospel to those of The Faith.

What comes back, as an answer to all?

 

YES I AM!

“The Way”

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This way ...

This way ... (Photo credit: tmblue)

Some mock Christianity.   They say there is nothing to this Jesus teaching and worship.  They think the mind and the habitual glorification of man is of better stock.  After all, what we have is the culmination of centuries of evolution of man.

Some play dress up, as though it is appearance which wins favor from the Living God.  They dress their words, their social standing, and their knowledge of the traditions of the Church.   They think the Church has evolved past the teachings of holiness and the coming judgment.

Some moan under the oppression of their conscience and remain in a deep and cold cave of hopelessness.  They are dressed in their own rebellion, and loathe their clothes.  Yet the two above have considerable weight in their decision to remain as they are.

And there are some who recognize the intense warfare within the soul that Jesus came to ignite.  They take their clothing (that is, they take their conscience, thoughts, and actions.) to the Lord of Life so that He can examine them and give direction, help, and renewal.  These are walking “The Way”.

Jesus spoke of “The Way” in these words:  “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.  Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” (John 7:17)  In this the fourth group prove the validity of Christianity.  They know the hatred for the ways of this world, the folly of the social gospel, and the utter contempt for groveling in our sins.  These will testify of both the power and difficulty of “The Way”.

It becomes very clear to them, the meaning of Peter’s words:  “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:18)  The last group have, within themselves, a testimony which the other three rarely ask about.  And this is why they flounder in their confusion.  It is far easier to remain drawn to sin even though men suffer under horrible oppression.  Yet, though “The Way” is most difficult, it is by no means above us to accomplish the Father’s Will in Jesus.  For we are given strength from moment to moment so that we can over come.

Lead Them to Life.

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A copy of Barclay’s Amoy translation, opened t...

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I lived my life for the first 30 years with no one to guide me into what is eternally right.  Like most folk, I wandered around doing whatever I pleased.  Some days I would consider righteousness and try to do it.  Other days (most days) I would simply try to gain for myself whatever I could lay my hands on.  Drugs, stealing, lying, and social suicide were my tools of trade.

At 31 I began to read Proverbs.  It’s a very simple-minded approach to the wisdom of God.  It was while reading that little book in the Bible that I began to become familiar with the fact that there is a wisdom beyond what is socially acceptable.  And a couple of years later I had read the entire Bible, found a little church, accepted the Lord, and sat at the feet of a wise elder.

I mention all this to draw attention to something.  Where are those who know the Lord?  Are they making themselves available to someone who is looking for the Lord?  I think of how the world is going insane with sin.  Lies abound.  Greed is the order of the day.  The media holds it’s “church” twenty-four hours a day.  And the world flocks to the “mass” hysteria of waste.  Where are those who know the Lord?

The mainstream church is partially to blame for this lack of mentors in Christ.  They teach a social Gospel lately.  Their Gospel is more in line with an office with a couch.  “If you want victory over this and that, just do this or that.”  Where is the power of God?  Who is dispensing the Glory of God revealed in Jesus?  Where is the Christian who is actually ready to reach out to the sinner with truth, no matter how it will be received?   By “ready” I mean seeking an oportunity.

I present this post for consideration.  I don’t want to offer answers.  I think the questions speak for themselves.  If you’re one of the active lovers of God, then wonderful (and thank you).  If you’re just a pew sitter/sinner, consider what you’ve just read.  Bottom line is: if you don’t like the society you’re living in, remember that shutting up the true Gospel of Christ is key to the problems we’re witnessing today.

By His Grace.