True Gospel vs. Social Gospel

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True Gospelvs.Social Gospel

• Romans 115-17

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Understanding the Social Gospel

• Has as its beginning a desire for popularity
• Makes the message more attractive to man
• Minimizes or eliminates the parts of truth which
  offend or are unpopular
• Maximizes or adds elements which meet the current
  desires of people
• Adds non-biblical elements of popular appeal
• Success or failure judged by the numbers
  attracted to participate

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But What About The Church The True Gospel?
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Church Has Spiritual Mission Proclaim the Truth
of the Gospel

• Equipping of the church shows nature of its
  mission Ephesians 411-16
• Description of the church shows its purpose 1
  Timothy 315
• Record from book of Acts confirms this spiritual
  work was the central focus of first century
  churchs purpose

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What Gospel Was TaughtIn The First
Century?Romans 115-17

• Pauls coming to Rome was advertised on the basis
  of preaching the gospel
• Paul kept this focus of attraction because he was
  not ashamed of gospel
• Gospel seen as Gods power to salvation
• Those attracted to gospel are drawn by the
  righteousness revealed therein
• What is drawing power of another focus?

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What Gospel Was TaughtIn The First Century?1
Corinthians 118 - 25

• Paul acknowledged most would reject gospel
  message when it was the focus
• Gospel was the power of God
• Gospel was the wisdom of God
• When presenting the gospel, power of gospel was
  stressed, not appeal to man
• Gospel not changed to enhance appeal

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What Gospel Was TaughtIn The First Century?2
Corinthians 41-5

• As Paul had obtained mercy though the gospel,
  even so he continued declaring it
• Renounced crafty or deceitful handling of the
  word of God
• Did not handle in a way to trick hearers
• Did not draw with one substitute another
• No bait switch tactics of advertising
• If gospel veiled, image of God not seen
• Attraction not in man, but in gospel

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Gospel Has Offensive Elements

• Condemns immorality (1 Cor. 69-10)
• Convicts all of sin (Rom. 323)
• Speaks of eternal punishment of wicked in hell
  (Matt. 2541- 46 Rev. 218)
• Warns of false doctrine and false teachers (Gal.
  18-9 2 Jn. 9-11 2 Tim. 215-18)
• Many elements of the Gospel message were and are
  offensive to those in the world

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Nevertheless, Pure Gospel Must Be Preached In Its
Entirety

• Example of Paul in Ephesus affirms such (Acts
  2020-27)
• Charge to Timothy confirms the same thing (2
  Timothy 41-5)
• Why were those teaching first century Gospel
  persecuted if message could be altered to avoid
  offense?

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Gospel Preached to Thessalonians

• Historical account Acts 172-4
• Pauls recounting of his preaching
• 1 Thessalonians 13-10
• 1 Thessalonians 23-6, 9, 13
• 1 Thessalonians 31-13
• 1 Thessalonians 41-8
• 2 Thessalonians 213-15

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History of Social Gospel

• Darwins theories affected elite clergy
• Faith lost in spiritual mission of church
• Had institution seeking another purpose
• Became place to address social ills
• Had to attract large numbers to succeed
• Done by entertainment popular appeal of message
  (P.M.A. Movement)
• Attracted people with popular methods replaced
  the Bible as focus of appeal

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Denominational Entertainment

• Stryper "We are rock-n-roll evangelists.
  Stryper is a modern-day John the Baptist crying
  in the world of rock for those who don't have the
  life of Christ to turn on the light switch."
• Mylon Broken Heart concert promoted as action
  packed event with explosive light show and
  58,000 watts of state of the art digital sound
  reinforcement by Peavey.

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Denominational Entertainment

• Greg Fast (program director for a "gospel pop and
  rock" radio station) "We don't play trashy
  lyrics or tell dirty jokes. We give you fun and
  good clean songs without hitting you over the
  head with the Bible.
• Steve Taylor (Gospel rock artist) "The people
  who buy my records like danceable, modern music,
  but they don't want to feel guilty supporting
  music with trashy lyrics.
• Rock music in, psalms spiritual songs out!

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Examples of the Social Gospel Among Institutional
Churches
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Johnson Street - Alvin, TX

• Flyer says they are endeavoring to follow the
  pattern and teaching of the original church built
  by Jesus Christ almost 2000 years ago. What is
  included in pattern?
• Pacesetters - senior citizen activity group
• Social activities for the youth group
• First Place Christian Weight Control
• Lil Lambs Lollipops Preschool program

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Los Angeles Area Churches

• A.C.U. Alumni Association, Camarillo Church of
  Christ Los Angeles area churches present
• SOUL LIFT WEST YOUTH RALLY
• At Six Flags Magic Mountain
• 17 admission (15 if under 4 feet)
• Excitement Youll Flip Over!

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Twickenham Church of Christ

• Community Class Series free to public
• October 20 Woodcarving Window Treatments
• October 27 Wallpapering
• November 3 Basket Making
• For Men Only! Featuring Dr. James Flatt Fun
  Facts About Your Prostate

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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Southwest Central Church(Houston, Texas)
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Bering Drive - Houston, TX

• YOUTH ALIVE IN JULY
• July 14-16 Whitewater Rafting Trip Retreat
  (45 per person)
• July 22 City Wide Sports Day (softball,
  football, track, soccer volleyball)
• July 29 Concert with Chris Christian
• 1977 Grammy winner
• performed on American Bandstand

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Bering Drive - Houston, TX
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An Expression of Concern

• In the late 1980s, about 200 institutional
  preachers signed published joint statement
• We are deeply disturbed over the liberalism that
  is so evident in the brotherhood today.
• The typical emphasis of the denominational world
  on recreation, entertainment, solving the
  social ills of society has been incorporated into
  the thinking and programs of many congregations,
  supplanting the God-given work of meeting the
  desperate spiritual needs of those within
  without the body of Christ.

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Dont Like Liberal 300 Foot Hot Dog! But they
liked it fine as a 6 inch hot dog in their church
kitchen or fellowship hall
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Trends AmongNon-Institutional Brethren
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Meeting in Kirkland, WA
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Youth LectureshipWest Side ChurchIrving, Texas
MTV Style Video Clip Advertisement
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Rock Music An Expedient?

• Justifications from the preacher who designed it
• Music videos are very popular today -- we chose
  that format because it speaks to young people.
• Why rock music? Because it gets young people's
  attention. It helps us get the lectures noticed.
• So I am going to argue that the music in the clip
  is an authorized expedient. I do believe it helps
  us to preach the gospel because it sets the stage
  for the clip, makes it have the look and feel
  (and sound) we want it to so that young people
  will pay attention to it.
• Liberal brethren make same argument for their
  gyms kitchens -- expedient gets them there

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What Must We Do?

• Preach the pure gospel of Christ
• Practice that first authorized by Scripture
• Do not change gospel for popular appeal
• Do not change the work of the church away from
  the spiritual towards the social
• Keep focus on the real need of all SALVATION
  FROM SIN
• Live in a way which shows our focus the
  importance of the gospel to us