Influence of the Social Gospel

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Influence of the 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 PreachingWhat Do Denominations
Want In Preacher?

• Time (Sept. 29, 1980, p. 85) article entitled A
  Pallid but Personable Faith?
• Article reviewed study conducted by the
  Association of Theological Schools
• The study was to determine what kind of
  "ministers" the denominational "laity" desires
• The subtitle summed up findings "Study says many
  Protestants want pop psychology, not theology
• The following are quotes from the article

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Pop Psychology, Not Theology

• The most desirable traits
• Open, Affirming Style (as opposed to preaching
  which contained negative or condemning elements -
  HRO)
• Caring for Persons under Stress (with no
  mention of any religious content)
• Congregational Leadership
• To a striking extent, many people put appealing
  personal qualities well above traditional
  pastoral concerns for doctrine and spiritual
  life, or otherworldly values based on the
  teachings of the Bible.

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Pop Psychology, Not Theology

• For example, members of the huge (though
  declining) United Methodist Church... want clergy
  who are 'open, accepting, self-critical, patient,
  participatory and exemplary.' All these qualities
  involved with psychological jargon, interpersonal
  relationships and group dynamics.
• According to the study, Episcopalians tend to
  have little interest in the Bible as a source of
  specific moral guidance. Parishioners' approval
  of a minister depends not so much on his faith as
  on how well he gets along with people.
• The United Church of Christ... is noteworthy in
  how little interest its members displayed
  concerning a pastor's religiosity, biblical
  faith, evangelism, piety.

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What Do Denominational Churches Want In Preacher?
Man Who Has Good People Skills...
But Does Not Use The Bible All Of The Time
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Effect on Denominationalism

• After giving up dependence on Bible teaching and
  authority, every imaginable gimmick has been
  tried to attract people uninterested in spiritual
  matters
• Mainstream denominational churches became
  churches for people who do not like church
• Focus on here now (physical), not the
  here-after (spiritual)
• They accepted all the social gospel trappings
• No longer think of church as spiritual in nature

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Examples of the Social Gospel in Denominational
Churches
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Free Meal!!!
Baptist Church Annual Fish Fry with Hush-Puppies,
Fries Slaw!!!
No Preaching!!!
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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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Power Team
Weightlifting Exhibition Group
Testifying to the power of Jesus in their lives
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Ice Chopping for Christ?
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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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Dear Young People, We would like to invite you to
a weekend young peoples study. On May 9-11 Ralph
Walker, of Tampa, will be leading some helpful
and interesting interactive sessions entitled
Storm Warnings. It promises to be a great time
for anyone who comes. Parents and others are of
course welcome to come as long as they understand
that this event is not going to be geared for
their interests or needs. Those of us who are
older will be able to listen to Ralphs
presentations, but will not participate in the
discussion sessions. We are targeting the
sessions to high school and college age people
with the following goals in mind To introduce
Christ and our congregation to students attending
the local high schools and colleges. To edify
the young people who are members at Lakeview
Church of Christ and help to equip them for
difficult times in their lives. To encourage
young Christians throughout the area to know that
there are many others standing for truth and
righteousness. Great News! Ralph Walker has
agreed to preach Sunday night at 500 p.m. as
well. He will bring a lesson for all ages
entitled Who Moved Pauls Cheese? (What do you
do when things arent as you expect them to be?)
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Meeting in Kirkland, WA
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Any Sermons On Immodesty Planned?
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Financial Peace University Denominational
Ministry with Radio Program (Nashville, TN)
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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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                            February 21-23
Do you ever feel discouraged? Depressed?You
know, like the world has become a desert around
you? God will give you peace. Lev 266It often
sets in after an "emotional rollercoaster." Or
after a great physical challenge. Sometimes even
after a great spiritual experience. God is a
refuge in time of trouble Psalm 99When you feel
let down, do what is necessary to restore your
inner resources. Whoever drinks of the
water... Come to Refresh your spirit. And
remember, God has a purpose and a plan for
you. that I shall give him shall never thirst
John 414 The Friday Oasis is tailored for high
school and college ages, Saturday and Sunday
Oasis is family oriented.
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Come be refreshed Spend the night. Spend the
weekend.Bring your sleeping bag.Bring a
friend.Meet old friends. Make new
friends. Physicist, Hill Roberts, is flying in
from Alabama and his work with NASA for a free
forum of questions and answers about "God,
Physics Stuff," It's your chance to ask all
those "hard" questions you've always wondered
about. He will reassure and refresh your spirit
about God by using the very science that wants to
deny Him.
Then it's Midnight At The Oasis!It's a surprise,
but you're gonna love it! Immediately following,
it's more midnight madness with the Magical World
of Arthur. He has performed from Hollywood to
Puerto Vallarta and now he's in Coppell because
"laughter doeth good like a medicine." (Proverbs)
And the rest of the night is filled with all
sorts of fun and fellowship, too
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After an all-nighter of refreshment for your
spirit you've got some free time Saturday morning
to "freshen up" your body before an afternoon of
praise and fellowship--there's even a field trip
planned. That evening we're going to "Light the
Fire" with a laid-back devotional and old-fashion
bonfire.
It's early to bed on Saturday so we'll all be
refreshed for worship Sunday. Hill will present a
short lecture that afternoon and the whole
weekend reaches it's peak with A Cappella Praise
Worship. You don't want to miss that--if you've
never experienced it, now's the time. Come be
refreshed.
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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

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Schedule of Future Classes
June 3 Contending for Faith vs. Needless
Controversy
July 1 Unity of the Spirit vs. Unity-In-Diversity
(Presented by Tom Roberts)