The Social Gospel is not the gospel of the Bible.

It sounds good. It looks good. And it’s very seductive to those who refuse to repent of their sins and come to Christ.

It has become the go-to strategy of Evangelical leaders who want to attract, influence, or in some way reach the modern culture. A culture saturated in the Secular Humanist philosophy of Social-Justice or Whatever-Justice is vogue at the moment.

A Replacement Gospel

It is also very attractive to those who are ashamed of the biblical record. Who will talk about love for others and love for Jesus; but will not stand upon biblical inerrancy, accuracy, and authority.

It is also very appealing to those unwilling to accept the literal record of a 6-day creation. Of a world-wide flood. Of the creation of an individual named, Adam, and his fall into sin and death. Or of the miracles of Christ and other supernatural events from the scriptures.

The list goes on and on of those things that the Bible teaches as plain fact which modern intellectuals are unwilling to accept. And which many popular, professing Christians are boldly declaring are not necessary to accept in order to be saved. 

But this is an old strategy.

Teaching men to deny the clear and plain teaching of scripture; to allegorize the meaning, to symbolize the meaning, and to focus on doing good to others, in Jesus name, living out the message of Jesus.

To preach a replacement gospel where loving others and doing good equals being born again.

Which is not the gospel of Christ.

It is what Paul called, “another gospel“. (Galatians 1:6-9)

A Choice Before Us

We are at a crossroads in the church.

Although the Lord will always keep those who know Him and who trust Him as their Savior, the Lord warned us that those will be few.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Did you catch that?

A few will find salvation. That is sobering. That is terrifying.

And, the visible church, as an organization or association or as some other kind of a group, may not always be clearly recognizable in the world. Especially as the world becomes more and more intolerant of the biblical gospel in its midst.

Very much like the current, growing, pagan culture of the United States.

Running Out of Time

Now, more than ever, the church must grow up.

The church must wake up to the fact that we are not here to be commandeered or re-routed to some other pursuit. Led aside by clever men who would lead us down the paths of social engagement or social action or social justice.

The church must preach the clear gospel. The clear gospel of faith in Jesus Christ alone, by faith alone, according to the word of God alone.

Only in this way can men come to know the salvation of Jesus Christ.

Not to a social salvation. Not an economic salvation. Not a cultural salvation. Not some collective salvation. Not to a false salvation according to Liberation Theology, Marxism, Socialism, or some Leftist religious ideology.

We are here to know the Lord, to know His word, to believe His word, to keep His word, to feed His sheep, and to glorify Him.

If, as we focus on these priorities, we are also given an opportunity to help someone in a personal and tangible way, wonderful!

As we do the First Things First.

Time is short. There is no time to mess around with faddish distractions.

Eternity approaches swiftly.

Image by Vania dos Santos vvaniasantoss from Pixabay

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