The document discusses the concept of the "Social Gospel" and authority in the church. It provides definitions and examples of the Social Gospel movement from the 1800s-1900s that applied Christian principles to social problems rather than focusing on spiritual matters. The document argues that the Social Gospel goes beyond the authority and purpose described in scripture for the local church, which is to teach the truth through preaching and assembling together. It cautions against churches engaging in activities like providing meals, classes on wealth building, and community outreach that are not biblically authorized for the church.

1. AUTHORITY
• This last lesson will examine what is generally
known as the Social Gospel which is engaged
in by most religious organizations in some
way or another.
• Paul in Colossians 3:17 states that all things
that we do must be done “in the name of the
Lord”, meaning by His authority.
• We will show that the Social Gospel is not
what the Lord authorizes His church to do.
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2. AUTHORITY
• Matt 28:18 And Jesus came to them and
spake unto them, saying, All authority hath
been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
ASV
• 1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a
prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord. KJV
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3. AUTHORITY
• 1 Cor 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have
in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos
for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not
(to go) beyond the things which are written;
that no one of you be puffed up for the one
against the other. ASV
• We have no authority from the Lord to go
beyond what His written words say.
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4. AUTHORITY
• Rev 22:18-19 18 For I testify unto every man
that heareth the words of the prophecy of
this book, If any man shall add unto these
things, God shall add unto him the plagues
that are written in this book: 19 And if any
man shall take away from the words of the
book of this prophecy, God shall take away
his part out of the book of life, and out of the
holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book.
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5. AUTHORITY
• Eph 3:10-11 10 to the intent that now unto
the principalities and the powers in the
heavenly (places) might be made known
through the church (assembly) the manifold
wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal
purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus
our Lord: ASV
• 1 Tim 3:15 “the church is…the pillar and
ground of the truth.” The truth is taught
through each of the Lord’s local churches by
its members.
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6. AUTHORITY
• John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this
world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my
servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews:
but now is my kingdom not from hence.
• Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;
but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
• 1 Cor 11:22 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.
• 1 Cor 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home;
that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the
rest will I set in order when I come.
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7. AUTHORITY
• The Lord’s kingdom is a spiritual kingdom,
not a worldly one.
• Consequently, its work is spiritual, not
worldly.
• The local church’s work does not include
providing common meals. Those are a
function of the home and are to be done
there, not where the church assembles
publicly, according to Paul.
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8. AUTHORITY
• The Social Gospel – The Gospel of Health,
Wealth, Fun, Food and Frolic
– The Social Gospel movement was a Protestant
intellectual movement that was most prominent
during the time period of 1880-1940 in the
United States and Canada, during the third great
awakening. It applied “Christian” principles to
social problems, especially poverty, inequality,
liquor, crime, racial tensions, slums, bad hygiene,
poor schools, and the danger of war.
Conservapedia – on line
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9. AUTHORITY
• It should be noted that the word “Christian”
is a noun that is used only 3 times in the
Bible – Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16.
• Peter says per 1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak,
let him speak as the oracles of God;…….KJV
• God’s Word does not speak of Christian
principles, Christianity, Christian schools, or
in any other way using the word Christian as
an adjective and applied to anything in that
way.6/9/2018 9

10. AUTHORITY
• The Social Gospel – The Gospel of Health,
Wealth, Fun, Food and Frolic
– “A movement in American Protestant Christianity
initiated at the end of the nineteenth century
and reaching it’s zenith in the first part of the
20th century, and dedicated to the purpose of
bringing the social order into conformity with the
teachings of Jesus Christ”
– Webster’s Third New International Dictionary –
The Social Gospel
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11. AUTHORITY
• The term “Protestant Christianity” is a term
that describes the man-made churches that
did not exist in the first century such as the
Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian,
etc. churches.
• The Lord’s church was established on
Pentecost in about AD 33 as described in Acts
Chapter 2. It is not included in what is
described as “Protestant Christianity”.
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12. AUTHORITY
• Movement Leaders
– Richard Ely (1854-1943) - “I take this as my
thesis ... Christianity is primarily concerned with
this world, and it is the mission of Christianity to
bring to pass here a kingdom of righteousness
and rescue from the evil one and redeem all our
social institutions.”
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13. AUTHORITY
• Movement Leaders (cont’d)
– Walter Raushenbusch (1861 – 1918) – He stated
“The Kingdom of God is humanity organized
according to the will of God … The Kingdom of
God is not confined within the limits of the
Church and it’s activities. It embraces the whole
of human life. It is the Christian transfiguration of
the social order.”
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14. AUTHORITY
• Herbert Wallace Schneider (1892-1984) – A
denominational preacher who stated in 1952,
“The central idea of the Social Gospel is that
of the redemption or salvation of mankind
collectively, the regeneration of the social
order, is the ultimate goal of religion.”
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15. AUTHORITY
• Examples of the Social Gospel
• St Paul’s United Methodist Church – Houston Texas
• The four primary focus areas of this committee at St. Paul's are
• Environment
• Health Care
• Immigration
• Interfaith. St. Paul's often hosts speakers of other faiths and the
interfaith community, and members often participate in interfaith
opportunities, including Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues and
Congregation-to- Congregation . To be involved, contact Interfaith liaison
Nancy Jarmin.
• For more information about how to get involved with Social Justice
activities at St. Paul's, contact staff liaison Kim Mabry or chair Leah
Barton.
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16. AUTHORITY
• Examples of the Social Gospel
• Bethel Baptist Church – Westminster, SC
• Local Missions Sites
• Go Teams is an outreach into the community around our church
facility. It meets on the third Sunday of every month.
• Good News Club is an outreach to Fair Oak Elementary School from 2:30
to 4:00 on Tuedays for 24 weeks.
• Samariatans Hope Chest is an outreach to those who are struggling in
our community. We utilize a food pantry, clothes closet, deliver
Thanksgiving meals, and give out Christmas presents.
• Visitation Mission Team consists of 3 teams: Baker Team, Delivery Team,
and a Telecare Team. These teams reach out to our first time guests.
• We also have many mission opportunities throughout the year.
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17. AUTHORITY
• First Baptist Church – Sumter SC
• Classes at First Baptist
• Sundays at 5:30 P.M.
• In 13 action-packed lessons, you'll learn how to
beat debt, build wealth, find bargains, invest for
the future, give like never before, and much
more! This information will change your life!
• Call the church office to find out more - (803)
773-3732
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18. AUTHORITY
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19. AUTHORITY
• First Church Of God – Sumter SC
• Upcoming Events
• FRIEND DAY - Sunday, November 13
• Morning Worship @ 10:30 am
• You are invited to a barbecue lunch
immediately following our morning worship.
Bring a friend!
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20. AUTHORITY
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First Church Of God – October 29, 20116/9/2018

21. AUTHORITY
• St Andrews Rd Church of Christ – Columbia SC
• June 6, 4pm Bridal Shower, Jessica Arlington
• June 6, 5pm Deacons' Meeting - Room 207
• June 10, 6:30pm Ladies' Night Out - Gilligan's June
17, 6:30pm Mens' Night Out - TBA
• June 19, 5:30pm Father's Day Dinner - FH
• June 22 Teen Time, 8th - 12th Grades
• June 25 Church of Christ Day, 6th - 12th Grades June
27 - July 3 Palmetto Bible Camp - SAR Week
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22. AUTHORITY
• Long Creek Church of Christ – Columbia SC
• Then the King will say..."Come, you blessed of My Father,...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; I was naked, and you clothed Me...."
Matt 25:34
• Our deacon, Al Scott, is responsible for this vital ministry. With his
coordination, the congregation provides clothing, supplies and monetary
donations to Southeastern Children Home, an orphanage which cares for
hundreds of children from across this region. We also give canned goods
to the Harvest Hope food bank and temporary monetary assistance to
members and strangers who are in dire need. By meeting the physical
needs of those less fortunate, we demonstrate faith in action, to God’s
glory.
• Note: Matthew 25 refers to the final Judgement and applies
to individual actions, not actions of the local congregation.
NOTE: James P. Needham’s explanation of the Social Gospel
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23. AUTHORITY
• James P. Needham explains the Social Gospel
• “ THE SOCIAL GOSPEL is a philosophy in religion that the
church should concern itself with worldly problems rather
than spiritual ones. It is more interested in ecology, biology,
psychology and sociology than in theology. It is more
concerned about preserving the whooping crane and
alligator than about preaching Christ the emancipator. It
spends more time fighting earthly pollution that MAY
damage the body than with fighting spiritual plagues that
WILL certainly damn the soul.”
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24. AUTHORITY
• “THE SOCIAL GOSPEL is more interested in feeding
the body than in nurturing the soul. Its goal is
education, not salvation; recreation, not
sanctification; fraternity, instead of eternity. It
concerns itself with the ``new morality'' rather
than with immortality; birth control rather than
self- control; ministering to the ``inner city'' rather
than seeking the heavenly city; slum clearance
rather than with spiritual perseverance.”
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25. AUTHORITY
• “THE SOCIAL GOSPEL philosophy is more
interested in helping men make a living than
in helping them make a life. It is more
concerned with civil rights than with spiritual
fights; civil laws rather than spiritual flaws;
revolution rather than revelation; civil
disobedience rather than spiritual obedience;
communism rather than faith, repentance
and baptism.”
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26. AUTHORITY
• “ THE SOCIAL GOSPEL is a lame duck spiritually
because it is without the power to fulfill the lasting
needs of the human race. It preaches Christ as a
great social reformer, rather than as a spiritual
savior. It limits His work to earthly benefits for
mankind; and Paul said, ``If in this life only we
have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable'' (I Cor. 15:19). Social Gospelism can only
leave man spiritually naked! “
-- Via The Old Path II (April 30, 1995)
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27. AUTHORITY
• PLAZA CHURCH OF CHRIST
• Youth Activities
• Lads to Leaders & Leaderettes Program
This program encourages young people to be involved in Bible-related
activities include Bible reading, Bible Bowl, puppets, and song leading
For the national link, click here.
• Bible Camp
The Palmetto Bible Camp is offered in the summer For more information,
contact beenjamin@hotmail.com, 706-210-5577 (home), 706-855-0801
(office), or 706-830-3229 (cell)
• The Good Samaritan Project
The Youth Group collects aluminum cans for cash to give to the
Southeastern Children’s Home.
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28. AUTHORITY
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PALMETTO BIBLE CAMP
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29. AUTHORITY
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30. AUTHORITY
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31. AUTHORITY
• The Gospel of Christ The Social Gospel
– Deals with sin …………………. deals with social ills & activity
– Deals with individuals…………. deals with groups &
issues.
– Focuses on faith,
love and hope ……………………. economics, politics, etc
– Heaven the ultimate
object………………………………….. limited to this earth.
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32. AUTHORITY
• 2 Tim 4:2-4
• 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine.
• 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears;
• 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and
shall be turned unto fables. KJV
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33. AUTHORITY
• Rom 1:16-17
• 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek.
• 17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The
just shall live by faith. KJV
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34. AUTHORITY
• 2 John 9
• 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not
in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He
that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath
both the Father and the Son. KJV
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35. AUTHORITY
• Gal 1:6-9 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed
from him that called you into the grace of Christ
unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another;
but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or
an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said
before, so say I now again, If any man preach
any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed. KJV
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36. AUTHORITY
• The Social Gospel is a different gospel from
the gospel of Christ found in the New
Testament. It is a perversion of the gospel of
Christ, a lie perpetrated by Satan, the father
of lies, who continues to deceive people into
believing his lies and doing what is contrary
to what God says in His word.
• Unfortunately, too many have believed his lie
and will suffer eternally for it. Beware!
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37. AUTHORITY
• Mark 8:36-37 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what
shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
• Believe John 8:24
• Repent Acts 17:30
• Confess Rom 10:9-10
• Baptized Mk 16:16
• Be Faithful Rev 2:10
• Heb 5:8-9 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience
by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect,
he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that
obey him; KJV
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