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Comparing The Social Gospel With The Gospel Of Christ

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Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

The purpose of the social gospel that we often hear from the mouths of television evangelists, is designed to improve social conditions here on earth. It deals with secular societal problems relative to economics, politics, education and poverty.

Conversely, the gospel of Christ emphasizes the spiritual welfare of man — the salvation of man’s soul (Matthew 18:11; John 3:16-17). In fact, the church is the instrument through which the saving gospel is to be preached (Ephesians 3:1-11).

The social gospel would rather see the material welfare of man emphasized — a gospel relative to this world only. It ignores the spiritual, the eternal, the divine, and the world to come. It is not the pure saving gospel of Christ!

The social gospel has not been an overnight innovation. Over a long period of time, Satan has patiently developed it through almost imperceivable trends and tendencies, and that is why it is so dangerous. To many Christians of the “new generation,” the church has “always” been involved with the social benefit of brethren and the world.

Unless this generation is properly taught by the standard of God’s word (Matthew 4:4; John 17:17; cf. Psalm 119:142; Psalm 119:151), many will continue to think that the social gospel is the real gospel of Christ, and discontinue teaching those who are in need of salvation.

In writing to the Roman brethren, Paul exclaimed, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16). To the church in Corinth he wrote that the gospel would save them “if you hold fast that word which I preached to you” (1 Corinthians 15:2).

Like many Christians today, it seems that the Galatian brethren did not hold fast to the gospel of Christ. Paul warned them, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel” (Gal. 1:6). He further warned “If we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8).

This solemn warning should motivate us to make sure that as faithful followers of Christ, we are not afraid to boldly preach the undiluted and unadulterated gospel of Christ (Ephesians 6:18-19; cf. Acts 20:17-27).

With each passing generation, individuals must compare the religious teachings he or she has received with the teaching from the inspired Scriptures (Acts 17:11). This is the only assurance against teaching a perverted social gospel (Gal. 1:7).

When the social gospel is compared with the simple gospel of Christ, its error will clearly be evident.

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