The Social Gospel A Series 1 Gospel is

The Social Gospel A Series 1. Gospel is a Redemptive Message 2. The Distinction in Individual & Church 3. History of the Social Gospel Movement 4. What Builds Faith, Edifies, & Causes Growth 5. Dangers Among Us

ie v Re w 1 # - Gospel Message Is A Redemptive Message I. Gospel Addresses Man’s Need: Sin II. Gospel Gives A Remedy: Christ III. Gospel Has A Message: Salvation IV. Gospel Does Not Address: Social Needs

w e i v Re -# 2 Distinction in Individual & Church I. Individual & Church Are Not The Same II. Blurring The Lines III. Maintaining The Distinction

w e i v Re 3 # - History of the Social Gospel Movement I. Background of Modernism II. Impact on Denominations III. Impact on the Church

A Great Shift Spiritual Social

Slide 7 w e i v Re 4 # - I. Faith II. Edification III. Growth IV. Feelings

The Social Gospel A Series 1. Gospel is a Redemptive Message 2. The Distinction in Individual & Church 3. History of the Social Gospel Movement 4. What Builds Faith, Edifies, & Causes Growth 5. Dangers Among Us

Dangers Among Us

Dangers Among Us I. Forget How Apostasy Works

I. Forget How Apostasy Works A. Comes Slow & Gradual (Heb. 2: 3)

Hebrews 2: 1 “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (NKJV) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (KJV) Footnote KJV “run out as leaking vessels”

I. Forget How Apostasy Works A. Comes Slow & Gradual (Heb. 2: 3) B. Illustrated in 1800’s – Instrumental Music

Gradual Steps Toward Apostasy 1. Change in attitude 2. Talk about new ideas - long before suggested. 3. Slowly introduce questionable practices 4. Full innovation Mid 1800’s Midway, KY

Instrument Introduced Slowly

I. Forget How Apostasy Works A. Comes Slow & Gradual (Heb. 2: 3) B. Illustrated in 1800’s – Instrumental Music C. Some Don’t See Any Problem – Until Full Apostasy 1. Long before – were attitudes 2. Long before – was drifting 3. Long before – was changing

I. Forget How Apostasy Works A. Comes Slow & Gradual (Heb. 2: 3) B. Illustrated in 1800’s – Instrumental Music C. Some Don’t See Any Problem – Until Full Apostasy D. Any Shift Today – Subtle & Slow

A Great Shift Spiritual le i h w t a e h h t t All lding ery o V h l s l I i l t a S t u t n i r a i t or Sp p Im Social

Dangers Among Us I. Forget How Apostasy Works II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s)

II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) A. Orphan’s Home 1. Question of Bible Authority (2 Jno. 9) 2. Confusion of individual & church a. Took passages directed to individuals & applied to church (Jas. 1: 27; Gal. 6: 10) b. “Whatever the individual can do – the church can do”

“The church is composed of Christians; what the church does, Christians do; what Christians do, the church does, generally speaking. We cannot separate the Christian's work from the work of the church. . Actually, we may say that whatever is the duty of a Christian is the duty of a congregation of Christians. ” V. E. Howard, "Institutionalism, Orphan Homes, and Church Cooperation, " [1958] pp. 6 -7

“They make a difference between Christian duties and church duties, Christian responsibilities and church responsibilities, Christian work and church work, all of which is absurd on its face. ” G. C. Brewer, [1948] The Harding College Lectures, p. 113

“Any good work which the individual, as a Christian, is obligated to support financially, the church is equally obligated to support financially. ” Batsell Barrett Baxter, “Questions and Issues of the Day”, [1963] p. 23

Individual “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them…” (1 Tim. 5: 16) Church “. . . and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows” (1 Tim. 5: 16)

II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) A. Orphan’s Home B. College in Church Budget 1. First issue before Orphan’s Home 2. Orphan’s home used to sell the College… 3. Confuse the individual & Church

II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) A. Orphan’s Home B. College in Church Budget C. “Social Gospel” 1. Church kitchens & fellowship halls 2. Church recreation (multi-purpose blds) 3. Confuse individual & church 4. Goes further & further

Issues that Separate Us Now

Issues that Separate Us Now

Issues that Separate Us Now

Issues that Separate Us Now

II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) A. Orphan’s Home B. College in Church Budget C. “Social Gospel” D. Know What The Real Issue Was

Common Meals – Individual Matters 1 Cor. 11 20 When ye come togetherefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. More than an abuse of the Lord’s Supper!

Eating In The Building The Issue: Was Not: Was & Is: Is the bld sacred? Can the church have a common meal for social and recreational purposes? Can one eat inside the Building? Can one eat on church property?

II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) A. Orphan’s Home B. College in Church Budget C. “Social Gospel” D. Know What The Real Issue Was When we don’t know our history, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes! • Belshazzer did (Daniel 5) • Brethren did (forget 1800’s – repeated 1950’s)

Dangers Among Us I. Forget How Apostasy Works II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) III. Fail To Distinguish- Individual & Church

III. Fail To Distinguish- Individual & Church A. In Our Teaching 1. Assume – all understand (cf. Deut. 6) 2. Fail to teach principles 3. Fail to teach history 4. Raise a generation don’t know (Jud. 2: 10)

III. Fail To Distinguish- Individual & Church A. In Our Teaching B. In Our Talk 1. “Church group” going…. . 2. “Church Potluck” – “Church pitch-in” 3. “Church team” 4. “Our church gets together & plays ball”

III. Fail To Distinguish- Individual & Church A. In Our Teaching B. In Our Talk C. In Our Advertisements

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Dangers Among Us I. Forget How Apostasy Works II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) III. Fail To Distinguish- Individual & Church IV. Argue That Social Is More Important

IV. Argue That Social Is More Important A. Would Not Say That – In Those Words B. But Look For Social – While Compromise The Spiritual

ü • Preach truth • No error • Not Deal with…. • Non-Distinctive • Interesting speaker • Tells lot of stories Tolerate Sin Tolerate Teachers of Error Lot of Social Activities • Preach truth • No error • Do Deal with…. • Distinctive • Dry speaker • Gives a lot of scripture Conservative Stand - Sin Not Tolerate. Teachers of Error Social Activities But not as much as others

Dangers Among Us I. Forget How Apostasy Works II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) III. Fail To Distinguish- Individual & Church IV. Argue That Social Is More Important V. Argue That Social Builds Faith

V. Argue That Social Builds Faith A. How The Argument / Contention Goes: 1. Not say: “Social relationships / actions is what builds my faith – not the word” 2. “Need a church with more social activities” 3. “Can’t grow without more social” 4. “Need this kind of good fellowship (eating / playing) to be stronger”

V. Argue That Social Builds Faith A. How The Argument / Contention Goes: B. Gives A False Sense Of Security 1. While involved in social – I’m being spiritual 2. Those who really socialize are really strong, spiritual people 3. If do a not with other Christians – I’m strong!

V. Argue That Social Builds Faith A. How The Argument / Contention Goes: B. Gives A False Sense Of Security C. If Social Activities – Essential To Spiritual Growth – Why Can’t Church Be Involved 1. Edify? – make it a church activity? 2. Build faith? – make it a church activity? 3. Such argumentation – one step away from church sponsored meals, recreation, games, etc.

Dangers Among Us I. Forget How Apostasy Works II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) III. Fail To Distinguish- Individual & Church IV. Argue That Social Is More Important V. Argue That Social Builds Faith VI. Overreaction In Either Direction

VI. Overreaction In Either Direction A. Danger when social activities are lacking – give overemphasis for the need. 1. Rather than fill in a missing link – get a different chain! 2. Emphasize the social – to neglect of spiritual! 3. Emphasize the social – raise it to level of assembling with saints!

VI. Overreaction In Either Direction A. Danger when social activities are lacking – give overemphasis for the need. B. Knee – Jerk reaction – belittle, minimize, even eliminate the social relationships 1. Overreact to another overemphasis! 2. Social relationship are important • Early disciples ate together (Acts 2: 46) • Kept company (mixed together) (1 Cor. 5)

Dangers Among Us I. Forget How Apostasy Works II. Forget What The Issues Were (1950’s-1960’s) III. Fail To Distinguish- Individual & Church IV. Argue That Social Is More Important V. Argue That Social Builds Faith VI. Overreaction In Either Direction