The Social Gospel

It has become a “mark of Christianity” to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, fix the broken, build houses for the needy...but was that the “mark of Christianity” for the original Church?

I think the Church has been hoodwinked by the “Global Planners” to do its bidding for them. “World Servers”, “World Federalist Assoc.” and other One World Order groups have suckered the Church world into its humanistic cause. The Church, because of the Lord’s mandate to “love our neighbor as our self”, has allowed itself to be guilt ridden into yet another false condemnation.

An evangelist, passing through our church one day said:

Humanism- says man is capable of self-fulfillment and ethical conduct without God’s help. (the pride of life)
Materialism- is the concept that possessions, comfort, pleasure and wealth should be high priorities in life. (lust of the eyes)
Sensual ism- The idea that excessive indulgences in bodily or sexual pleasure brings personal fulfillment. (lust of the flesh) Apologies to the evangelist for not remembering which one you were.

Some have suggested our weakness for these things because they relate to our core: body (lust of the flesh), soul (lust of the eyes) , and spirit (pride of life).

Who is the father of humanism? Some will tell you the history of Humanism from the Renaissance period in Italy...but that doesn’t answer the question. The fallen LIAR from heaven, the former Lucifer, now Satan, is the great humanist. Look behind the curtain and see the pushers of the social gospel are New World Order core groups. The United Nations is a humanist institution. Any religion accepted (except religious exclusiveness, which must be extirpated-killed-according to Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of Green Cross, and other One World Organizations. Apparently,  Islam is being excluded from this philosophy. )

Humanism ties all humanity together as one body, just as Christ ties all BELIEVERS together as one body. Humanism tries to make us all responsible for all. Christ makes BELIEVERS responsible to and for one another.

John 13:
34. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.'' (not for feeding the dead)

1 Cor.12:
12. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14. For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,'' is it therefore not of the body?
16. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,'' is it therefore not of the body?
17. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18. But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20. But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

25. that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Jesus taught that the church should care for its own members, not that it is responsible to take care of the whole world. We don’t even effectively take care of our own, why should we be burdened with the lost- dead world also, except to get them delivered from that state of lost deadness? Get them to LIFE, then take care of them. Or allow them to assist our taking care of each other- the temple of God, His BODY.

It is called BODY MINISTRY by many. How did the first church understand this concept of BODY MINISTRY?

In the Old Testament- the tithes were to be brought into the storehouse (temple) so that there would be provision for the priesthood.

Since we are the temple, Paul wrote to the Corinthians
1 Cor. 16: 1. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:
2. On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. ( no mention of tithes)
3. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters, I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem.

Acts 2: 41. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45. and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. ( among the believers only)

Again in Acts 4
32. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35. and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Does anyone really believe that the Church was feeding the unbelieving world with these sacrifices?
In Acts 6, as the Church grew-charity began to become a strain on the elders, so deacons were appointed to continue in this much needed ministry TO THE CHURCH:
1. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
3. "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4. "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.''

Acts 11:
27. And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
30. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

1 Peter 4:
3. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles when we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
4. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
5. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead,(in trespasses and sin) that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7. But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
8. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins.''
9. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
14. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.
16. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
17. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18. Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?''
19. Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

But what about Matt.25? Let’s look at Matthew 25.
31. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
32. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
33. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34. "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, `Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35. `for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36. `I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
37. "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, `Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
38. `When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
39. `Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40. "And the King will answer and say to them, `Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
41. "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, `Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
42. `for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
43. `I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'
44. "Then they also will answer Him, saying, `Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'
45. "Then He will answer them, saying, `Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
46. "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.''

I believe Jesus was talking strictly of BODY MINISTRY. We are NOT ordained to FEED the WORLD. We are ordained to tell them the TRUTH. We are commanded to feed one another. By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, because ye have love one to another!

1 Cor.6 19. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Paul ended his writing to the Corinthians in his fist letter with this admonition: 16: 22. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!

Matt.8: 21. Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father.''
22. But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.''

The spiritually dead can take care of each other, the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Ghost must take care of itself.

1Tim. 5: 8. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (infidel-kjv)

I think we need to re-examine our priorities. Even among church members, it is spelled out how charity should, and should not be indulged.

1 Tim.5: 9. Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
10. well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
11. But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry...

To reiterate:Humanism ties all humanity together as one body, just as Christ ties all BELIEVERS together as one body. Humanism tries to make us all responsible for all. Christ makes BELIEVERS responsible to and for one another.

The Church certainly has a duty to love, and to care for the needy. First of it’s own household of faith, then the larger community of believers, the persecuted church, etc. We will never run out of Godly charitable targets. We need not feel condemned into also feeding the unlimited poor, godless masses. Prayerfully consider these things.