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Author
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Topic: The Shameful Social Gospel
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Keeper
Advanced Member
Member # 7675
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posted
Ohhh, don't pay any attention to me. I was saying Do you have to get off onto the Rapture again ?
We have been going round and round over that subject with no conclusions that agree so finally someone got smart and just deleted the whole thing. Whew.
It is not a good subject. I was just teasin ya.
Posts: 481 | Registered: Apr 2009
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yahsway
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Member # 3738
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posted
okay, now i am confused. what do you mean k
Keeper about "going off onto that again"?
Whats wrong with the scriptures that were laid out there? Just wondering what you meant. Thanks
Posts: 1238 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Aug 2004
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Keeper
Advanced Member
Member # 7675
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posted
Did you have to get off onto that again?
hehe
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becauseHElives
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Member # 87
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posted
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36
to me there is no mistake this is speaking of the Rapture.... it ties in with the parable of the 10 virgins......and Revelation 16:15, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walks naked, and they see his shame".
and Revelation 19:7-8, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come to pass and His wife has made herself ready. And it was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white -- which is the righteousnesses of saints".
I believe some Christian, true born again believers will miss the rapture, they will be left behind and their only way to the Throne at that point will be martyrdom......
Rom 13:11-14
And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].
I believe the Bride of Yahshua will be only those that make the Rapture.....
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36
this warning is not for people that are lost
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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Betty Louise
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Member # 7175
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posted
I believe that the Catholic Church will play a major role in the One World Religion. This said, I realize that there are Christian Catholics. I don't understand how a Christian can stay in a Church that adds to the Gospel, but there are some that do. After the rapture the only people in any Church will be those that were not saved at the moment of the rapture. At that point they will have to choose to accept the true Gospel or the One World Religion. The Bible makes it clear that serving the Lord during the tribulation will be harder then it is today. So much better to accept Jesus now, before the tribulation begins.
But you are right the Pope and his leaders are on shaky ground and are misleading their people.
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
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becauseHElives
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Member # 87
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posted
The Bent Cross Crucifix versus the Traditional Crucifix
Pope John Paul II -- Bent Crucifix
Please notice the Crucifix that Pope John Paul II is holding up to the people, at left. Study it closely, and you will realize that it is not a Traditional Crucifix, as we show below. Rather, this Crucifix is known as a "Bent Cross". But, what does that mean? For the answer to that question, let us turn to a Roman Catholic author, Piers Compton, writing in his book, "The Broken Cross: Hidden Hand In the Vatican", Channel Islands, Neville Spearman, 1981.
This Bent Crucifix is "... a sinister symbol, used by Satanists in the sixth century, that had been revived at the time of Vatican Two. This was a bent or broken cross, on which was displayed a repulsive and distorted figure of Christ, which the black magicians and sorcerers of the Middle Ages had made use of to represent the Biblical term 'Mark of the Beast'. Yet, not only Paul VI, but his successors, the two John-Pauls, carried that object and held it up to be revered by crowds, who had not the slightest idea that it stood for anti-Christ." (p. 72) On page 56 Compton prints a picture of the current Pope, John Paul II, holding this bent or broken cross, just as we have shown, at left.
Therefore, Pope John Paul II is telling all the occultists the world over that he is not a Traditional Pope, but a Pope that is committed to carrying out the role of World Religious Leader as called for in the New World Order Plan. Another Roman Catholic author, Malachi Martin, makes this same claim - that Pope John Paul II is committed to the New World Order Plan in his book, "The Keys To This Blood".
Crucifix
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we have printed the Traditional Crucifix, to the right. As you can see, the cross here is not bent in any way, top or bottom. Further, the picture of Jesus Christ is a full figure without any kind of distortion or disfiguration! The Traditional Roman Catholic Crucifix is very, very different from the "Bent Cross", above.
True Christians have always objected to the Traditional Crucifix, because it holds Jesus Christ up to continual shame, which is forbidden in Hebrews 6:6. Indeed, this is the basis upon which we Protestants object to the entire Mass, but that is the subject of another article.
As you can see, the Crucifix which Pope John Paul II is holding up to adoring crowds is not the Traditional Crucifx, but is the Satanic Bent, or Broken, Cross! This Bent Crucifix was created by Satanists to depict Antichrist and his Mark of the Beast! Very soon, you will see the appearance of a global leader, calling himself The Christ, who will claim to be Jesus Christ returned, the Jewish Messiah, and the Avatar figure for which all the major religions are awaiting, all in one man. This will be Antichrist. Then, very quickly thereafter, a global religious leader will step forward to aid the Antichrist; this religious leader will possess the same miraculous power of Antichrist. At this moment, the prophecy of Revelation 13:11-14 will be fulfilled; this global religious leader will be the Biblical False Prophet.
The New World Order Plan calls for this global religious leader [False Prophet] to be the Roman Catholic Pope, and certainly, John Paul II's use of this Satanic Bent Cross is consistent with this part of the Plan. But, if it is Pope John Paul II who steps forth to aid The Christ [Antichrist], you will know the truth about this Pope and his entire Roman Catholic Church.
You have been forewarned. A picture is worth a thousand words, and this Bent Cross picture labels Pope John Paul II.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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Betty Louise
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Member # 7175
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posted
Don't feel badly, Keeper, this was one of my mix-uped moments. It seems with the Catholic Church they want to keep Jesus on the Cross and with some nondenominational Churches they want to leave the cross and Jesus' blood out of Christianity because it offends some.
The cross is still important but we need to remember Jesus is no longer on the cross but in Heaven.
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
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Keeper
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Member # 7675
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posted
Sorry I didn't make myself clear.
My point was that Catholics have it all set up so they don't need to depend on Jesus to get to heaven. After all they have his replacement here with us now.
For safety sake, they get baptised at a very young age. If they sin while growing up they confess to their local holy father. If that doesn't work out and they die, they can work off any left over sins in purgatory.
According to our belief, it does no good to pray to the dead because they hear nothing. The Catholics do however, especially, Mary.
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KnowHim
Admin
Member # 1
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posted
Catholic's need to come know only Jesus Christ and not Mary and all the other rules they think will save them. Only Jesus can give them salvation and until they come to know this they are lost.
"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2)
"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14)
"Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:4)
quote:
Originally posted by Keeper:
Well, One in Christ, I assume that you have not witnessed or brought that subject up with a Catholic. Talk about getting someone upset !
This is off the subject entirely but what do you think about people displaying crosses with the body of Christ on them ?
My first thought is "Isn't He Alive?"
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Posts: 3276 | From: Charlestown, IN | Registered: Jun 2002
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oneinchrist
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Member # 6532
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posted
Hi Keeper,
In reference to your statement:
"I assume you have not witnessed or brought that subject up with a catholic"
Could you please be more specific about what you meant by the above statement?
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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Keeper
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Member # 7675
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posted
I think it is quite interesting how someone can ask a question and within the following post the question can get distorted completely.
The question was: What do you think about people displaying crosses with the BODY of Christ on them?
It was suggested that Feel Good Churches don't display crosses. I don't agree with that but unless you are in a catholic church, you hardly ever see one with Jesus hanging on it.
Does seeing Jesus on the cross sadden me? Of course it does, and brings tears to my eyes. Why should I enjoy seeing an object on display that symbolizes where Jesus was murdered for me?
I can think of NO church where the cross is not on display of any Protestant churches. None with Jesus hanging there, blood streaming down, spikes in his flesh.
Sorry I asked.
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Betty Louise
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Member # 7175
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posted
The Shameful Social Gospel want a cross that only use is decoration.....
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Sadly you would be hard press to find a Cross in many Churches today. Thinking about the suffering Jesus endured on the Cross, upsets people and in today's feel good religion, there is no room for the Cross.
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
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becauseHElives
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Member # 87
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posted
The cross is not a decoration to be worn or used as wall ornament !
The cross is the means of Salvation....
Yahshua was hung on it to pay for the sins of the world....the cross was not the end of the story...He was place in a tomb, and was the first to raise from the dead....
to the believer the cross is also part of Salvation...I am not talking about works...."For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor 1:18).
As Yahshua demonstrated his obedience to the will of his Father by death on the cross, so the believer does so by giving himself or herself unconditionally to the following the command of Yahshua to take your cross and follow Him. We are to be little Christs to our neighbors, for in so doing we fulfill our true identity as children of God.
Matthew 16.....
Then Peter took Him aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You!
But Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].
For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].
The Shameful Social Gospel want a cross that only use is decoration.....
The True Gospel understands and teaches the Cross is a vital part of Salvation!
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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Jeremiah333
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posted
I cringe when I see someone with a cross with Jesus still on it.
He is Alive! He has Risen! He is not on the cross anymore! Death could not hold him. He overcame the cross... He overcame death!
Maybe that's just me. I wouldn't wear a cross with Jesus on it.
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JoAnne's Prayer Closet
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Keeper
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posted
Well, One in Christ, I assume that you have not witnessed or brought that subject up with a Catholic. Talk about getting someone upset !
This is off the subject entirely but what do you think about people displaying crosses with the body of Christ on them ?
My first thought is "Isn't He Alive?"
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becauseHElives
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posted
The Shame of the Gospel being accepted today is that "Yahshua can not expect all of the life He has purchased!
Did Yahshua get all He purchased when He purchased you?
Daniel, good point quote:
who am I to be able to tell the difference between the ones who do it out of love towards God/Jesus and the ones who are trying to "work" their way into heaven? God is the only one who can tell the difference for He sees into the hearts of men.
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
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oneinchrist
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posted
Hi Wild B,
Ok, now that I have read your post I think to myself.............yes, it is true that there are many people out there in the world who are doing good things for others.....BUT, who am I to be able to tell the difference between the ones who do it out of love towards God/Jesus and the ones who are trying to "work" their way into heaven? God is the only one who can tell the difference for He sees into the hearts of men.
We, in the body of Christ, are to encourage one another into doing good things, for that certainly is the will of God. If we hear someone proclaim that there is a way to earn your way into heaven, then we should adress the issue; otherwise, we should not assume that someone is trying to earn their way into heaven just by virtue of the fact that they are doing good things.
With love in Christ, Daniel
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Found in Him
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posted
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Romans 1:16
The Bible has a pretty basic model for preaching. It can be summed up in two words, REPENT and BELIEVE. Now you might think that this smacks of old-timey fire and brimstone preaching that is outdated and, well, Guess again.
Matt 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
But aren't we supposed to preach the Love of Christ? Aren't we supposed to be "non-judgmental"? Haven't we been taught that the Holy Spirit "woos" sinners to Himself in love? Well, not according to Scripture:
John 16:8 And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
But, you might say, doesn't God love everyone? That's why He sent Jesus, to redeem the whole world. We all know that God hates the sin but loves the sinner, right? Not really.
Actually, the Word clearly says that God HATES the wicked. That's right. HATES. And furthermore it is acceptable to hate the enemies of God (not YOUR enemies). This is not an emotional hatred, but a strenuous opposition. I know this sounds radical according to modern Christian teaching, but when in doubt, let's go back to the Holy Word.
Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psalm 5:5,6 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
Proverbs 6:16-17 These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Psalm 139:21, 22 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
God gives the wicked the opportunity to REPENT and turn to God if he believes in His death, burial and resurrection-His redemptive work on the cross. But be it known that He requires holiness (be ye holy even as I am holy). He is a "jealous God that will have no other Gods before Him". And if you continue to "willfully sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there is NO MORE sacrifice for sins, just a fearful looking forward to of the fiery indignation that God has reserved for his enemies" (Hebrews 10:26).
What about "name-calling?" Is it right for preachers to get on the corner and call people "wicked sinners, fornicators, sodomites, adulterers", etc.? The apostles did. "And God added to the church such as should be saved."
The problem seems to be cowardliness, ashamed and lack of allowing The Holy Spirit to BOLDLY speak through today's pulpit.
Those of you who preach the True Gospel and The True Jesus-- AMEN to you!
Those of you who don't... You don't have the power of God to change a mouse!
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~To Him That is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy...to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.~ Jude 24
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WildB
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posted
McMahon, T.A.
August 27, 2008
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Romans 1:16
For various reasons, Christians of different sorts have tinkered with "the gospel of Christ" as though it needed adjustments. Not major alterations, most will tell you, but just some minor tweaking here and there. The changes often begin by one's declaring that there is no real change involved, simply a shift in emphasis. Yet, no matter what the rationale may be, the end result is being "ashamed of the gospel of Christ."
To be "ashamed of the gospel" covers a number of attitudes from being totally embarrassed by it to thinking one can improve upon it a bit to make it more acceptable. One example of the former is the recent claim by an Emerging Church author that the teaching regarding Christ's paying the full penalty for the sins of mankind through His substitutionary death on the Cross is irrelevant and viewed as "a form of cosmic child abuse." More subtle examples include trying to make the gospel seem less exclusive, and the "softening" of the consequences from which the gospel saves mankind, such as the wrath of God and the Lake of Fire.
Prevalent among many religious leaders who profess to be evangelical Christians (i.e., Bible-believing Christians) is the promotion of a gospel that is acceptable to, and even admired by, people throughout the world. Today, the most popular form of this is the social gospel.
Although the social gospel is common to many new movements among evangelicals, it is not new to Christendom. It had its modern beginning in the late 1800s, when it developed as a way to address the various conditions in society that caused suffering among the populace. The belief was, and is, that Christianity will attract followers when it demonstrates its love for mankind. This could be best accomplished by helping to alleviate the suffering of humanity caused by poverty, disease, oppressive work conditions, society's injustices, civil rights abuses, etc. Those who fostered this movement also believed that relief from their conditions of misery would improve the moral nature of those so deprived.
Another driving force behind the introduction of the social gospel was the eschatological, or end times, views of those involved. Nearly all were amillennialists or post-millennialists. The former believed that they were living in a (symbolic thousand-year) time period in which Christ was ruling from heaven, Satan was bound, and they were God's workers appointed to bring about a kingdom on earth worthy of Christ. Post-millennialists also believed they were in the Millennium, and their goal was to restore the earth to its Eden-like state in order for Christ to return from Heaven to rule over His earthly kingdom.
The social gospel, in all of its assorted applications, helped to produce some achievements (child labor laws and women's suffrage) that have contributed to the welfare of society. It became the primary gospel of liberal theologians and mainline denominations throughout the 20th century. Although its popularity alternately rose and fell as it ran its course, it was often energized by the combination of religion and liberal politics, e.g., Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Midway through the last century and later, the social gospel influenced developments such as the liberation theology of Roman Catholicism and the socialism of left-leaning evangelical Christians. It is in this present century, however, that the social gospel has gotten its most extensive promotion. Two men, both professing to be evangelicals, have led the way.
George W. Bush began his presidency by instituting the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. His objective was to provide government funding for local churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious ministries that were providing a social service to their community. Bush believed that programs run by "people of faith" could be at least as effective as secular organizations in helping the needy, and perhaps more so because of their moral commitment to "love and serve their neighbor." As he prepares to leave office, he has declared that he considers his Faith-Based program to be one of the foremost achievements in his tenure as president. Presidential candidate Barack Obama stated that, should he win the election, he will continue the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
Rick Warren, the mega-selling author of The Purpose-Driven Church and The Purpose-Driven Life, has taken the social gospel to where it's never been before: not only worldwide but into the thinking and planning of world leaders. Warren credits business management genius Peter Drucker with the basic concept that he is executing. Drucker believed that the social problems of poverty, disease, hunger, and ignorance were beyond the capability of governments or multinational corporations to solve. To Drucker, the most hopeful solution would be found in the nonprofit sector of society, especially churches, with their hosts of volunteers dedicated to alleviating the social ills of those in their community.
Warren, acknowledging the late Drucker as his mentor for 20 years, certainly learned his lessons. His two Purpose-Driven books, translated into 57 languages and selling a combined 30 million copies, reveal the game plan for what Drucker had envisioned. Warren had local churches implement this vision from his books through his enormously popular 40 Days of Purpose and 40 Days of Community programs. To date, 500,000 churches in 162 nations have become part of his network. They form the basis for his Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan.
What is his P.E.A.C.E. plan? Warren's presentation of the plan to the church is found at www.thepeaceplan.com. On video, he identifies the "giants" of humanity's ills as spiritual emptiness, self-centered leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy, which he hopes to eradicate by (P)lanting churches, (E)quipping leaders, (A)ssisting the poor, (C)aring for the sick, and (E)ducating the next generation.
Warren uses the analogy of a three-legged stool to illustrate the best way to slay these giants. Two of the legs are governments and business, which have thus far been ineffective, and, just like a two-legged stool, cannot stand. The third very necessary leg is the church. "There are thousands of villages in the world that have no school, no clinic, no business, no government—but they have a church. What would happen if we could mobilize churches to address those five global giants?" Warren reasons that since there are 2.3 billion Christians worldwide, they could potentially form what President Bush has termed a vast "army of compassion" of "people of faith" such as the world has not yet experienced.
In addition to the Christian version, Warren has an expanded inclusive version of the P.E.A.C.E. plan that has drawn support and praise from political and religious leaders and celebrities worldwide. At the 2008 World Economic Forum, he declared, "The future of the world is not secularism, but religious pluralism...." Referring to the ills besetting the world, he declared, "We cannot solve these problems without involving people of faith and their religious institutions. It isn't going to happen any other way. On this planet there are about 20 million Jews, there are about 600 million Buddhists, there are about 800 million Hindus, there are over 1 billion Muslims, and there are 2.3 billion Christians. If you take people of faith out of the equation, you have ruled out five-sixths of the world. And if we only leave it up to secular people to solve these major problems, it isn't going to happen" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGytW4yh0C8 ).
To accommodate working with people of all faiths Warren has revised the "P" in his P.E.A.C.E. from "planting evangelical churches" to "(P)romoting reconciliation" and the "E" from "equipping [church] leaders" to "(E)quipping ethical leaders." Warren has elsewhere acknowledged his practical shift to pluralism: "Who's the man of peace in any village—or it might be a woman of peace—who has the most respect?...They don't have to be Christian. In fact, they could be Muslim, but they're open and they're influential, and you work with them to attack the five giants [to which he has added global warming]." He quotes a secular leader who affirms what he's doing: "I get it, Rick. Houses of worship are the distribution centers for all we need to do."
Warren has joined the advisory board of Faith Foundation, established by former British prime minister and recent Roman Catholic convert Tony Blair. The Foundation's goal is to further understanding and cooperation among the six leading faiths: Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jewish. How does the Cross fit into this ecumenical gathering? It doesn't. Critical to achieving that ecumenical goal is the elimination of the problem of exclusive religions, a concern articulated by one of the World Economic Forum panelists: "There are some religious leaders in different religious faiths who, in seeking to affirm their own faith and its authenticity and legitimacy...deny other people their faith with its legitimacy and authenticity. I don't think we can keep going like this without...spawning the kind of hatred we are all here to try and solve. I think it's up to us to hold the clergy's feet to the fire of whatever faith. That we insist that we affirm what is beautiful in our own traditions while at the same time refusing to denigrate other faith traditions by suggesting that they are illegitimate, or consigned to some kind of evil end."
The Bible declares all the religions of the world to be "illegitimate" and "consigned" not to "some kind of evil end" but to their just end. Only belief in the biblical gospel saves humanity: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved;...He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (Acts 4:12; John 3:36).
The history of the social gospel is, in nearly every case, a sincere attempt by Christians to do those things that they believe will honor God and benefit humanity. In every case, however, the practical working out of "benefiting humanity" has compromised biblical faith and dishonored God. Why is that? God's Word gives no commission to the church to fix the problems of the world. Those who attempt to do so are starting out under a false premise, "...a way which seemeth right unto a man," not God's way. So where can it go from there? "The end thereof are the ways of death," i.e., destruction (Proverbs 14:12). Furthermore, the problems of the world are all symptoms. The root cause is sin.
What percentage of the "people of faith," who comprise all religions and make up five-sixths of the world's population, understand and accept the gospel—the only cure for sin? Or how many of the 2.3 billion "Christians" in the world believe the biblical gospel? The numbers tumble down exponentially. "Yes, but...they are a massive volunteer force and distribution outlet of resources for slaying the giants of world suffering!" What does it profit the billions of "people of faith" who may alleviate some of the world's symptoms yet lose their very souls?
The social gospel is a deadly disease for "people of faith." It reinforces the belief that salvation can be attained by doing good works, putting aside differences for the common good, treating others the way we want to be treated, acting morally, ethically, and sacrificially—and that doing so will endear humans to God. No. These are self-deceptive strivings that spurn God's salvation, deny His perfect standard, and reject His perfect justice. Salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast." In fact, it is "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus declared Himself to be condemned humanity's only hope for reconciliation with God: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). There is no other way, because God's perfect justice demanded that the penalty for sin for every human ("for all have sinned"-Romans 3:23) be paid. Only the perfect, sinless God-Man could and did pay that infinite penalty in full by His death upon the Cross. Only faith in Him reconciles a person with God.
The shameful social gospel today not only promotes "another gospel," it helps prepare a kingdom contrary to the teachings of Scripture. "For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20). He will return from heaven (John 14:3) to "rapture," or catch, those who believe in Him (His bride) up into the clouds and take them to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The kingdom that remains on the earth will be the kingdom of the Antichrist.
Consistent with its amillennial/postmillennial beginnings, the efforts of the social gospel are earthbound in their attempted restoration of the kingdom of God. Eugene Peterson has infiltrated that heresy into his Message Bible: "God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again" (a perversion of John 3:17).
Rob Bell, in his book Velvet Elvis, reflects the "fix the earth" eschatology of nearly all Emerging Church leaders: "Salvation is the entire universe being brought back into harmony with its maker. This has huge implications for how people present the message of Jesus. Yes, Jesus can come into our hearts. But we can join a movement that is as wide and as big as the universe itself. Rocks and trees and birds and swamps and ecosystems. God's desire is to restore all of it....The goal isn't escaping this world but making this world the kind of place God can come to. And God is remaking us into the kind of people who can do this kind of work."
For Emerging Church leader Brian McLaren, this is the future way of life for the Christian. In an interview July 28, 2008, on ChristianPost.com, he said: "I think our future will also require us to join humbly and charitably with people of other faiths—Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, secularists, and others—in pursuit of peace, environmental stewardship, and justice for all people, things that matter greatly to the heart of God." No, what matters to the "heart of God" is "that all should come to repentance" and believe the gospel.
Anyone who puts his hope in this social gospel, which employs "people of faith" to make "this world the kind of place God can come to," needs to heed the words of Jesus in Luke 18:8: "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" People of all faiths, yes, but certainly not "the faith," for which Jude exhorts true believers to earnestly contend. Lord, help us all not to be ashamed of Your gospel! TBC
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That is all.....
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