The Dangers of Socializing the Gospel

WARNING: the following thoughts might make you mad. You might lose sleep. You might find yourself opening your Bible trying to disprove the points found in this article. Your comments and thoughts are desired. The point of the article is not to end the discussion, but to start it.

Jesus did not go about feeding the poor.
He went about preaching to the poor.

Jesus did not go around providing counseling for sinners,
but preached the mandatory need of repentance.

Jesus did not provide health care for the sick...
he healed them.

He did not comfort the sinners, but demanded change.
He did not cater to the Confident Critics, but condemned them. He did not choose sides, he was at odds with the conservative and liberals.

Jesus did not bring a social gospel... he came to prepare people for eternity.... feeding the poor does nothing for the eternality of their soul. I believe we would do well to have a heart of compassion for those who are less fortunate. I believe it is important to involve ourselves in the betterment of others. However the church and it's primary focus and purpose is one of supernatural properties and determines eternal consequences.

Feed a man a fish... feed him for a day. Preach to him the Gospel, prepare him for eternity. I believe that it is possible to do both... however we must not lose sight of our primary priority.

The Bono Gospel
I am not sure who said it, but I was told that a preacher got up and said at one of our meetings that Bono has done more for Africa than the Church. I heard that and thought, well I won't tell you exactly what I thought. Hundreds of people have given their life to preach the Gospel to Africa and the out pouring of the spirit is happening in most significant ways in Africa because the Gospel was preached.

Churches by the thousands have given faithful monthly support to provide for these missionary programs in propagating the gospel to virtually every nation in the world. Hundreds of Millions of dollars have been given and spent.

Some would say we have not done enough. That may be true. I know I don't feel I have done enough. However, to discount what has been done is not wise. When you have packed up and went to Africa and dug a well, get back with us.

Helping People is What we Do

I am for helping people. I have spent thousands of dollars helping people in need. I would be willing to get God to inspect the truth of this. I have. I do. I will. I have given till it hurt. I am not against helping the poor, needy or destitute. I have spent a number of years in prison ministry. I have been countless times to the nursing homes. I am making an effort to help people getting out of prison find meaning and purpose. In all of this, my primary purpose is the Gospel... it is the Power of God unto salvation.

My call as a Pastor/Preacher is to preach the truth. The truth that will allow them to see and enter the Kingdom of God is John 3:3-5 as demonstrated in Acts 2:38.

What did Jesus tell the disciples to go tell John?

"...how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached."

These are the hallmarks that Jesus pointed to as a "Successful" ministry.

My experience with Apostolic people is they are generous, caring, helping, praying people. My dad took me to the nursing home to minister to them as a kid. People I knew went to jail and prison services. They honored and cared for the elder saints. People that get hung up beating people down for what the "WORLD" does to help the poor... and say the church is doing nothing is just echoing the voice of hell... whose main purpose is to distract and derail people from what the purpose of God is.

The Purpose of the Church is to "Be the Church."
That Means we as individuals need to be,

Spirit Filled.
Baptizing Converts
Praying for the Sick.
Preaching the Gospel.
Living a Life that is Godly.
Reflecting righteousness in a world of Sin.
Loving Each Other... Loving the world to Jesus.

While we are in ministry mode of visiting, praying, ministering.... our primary product is of eternal consequence.... to introduce them to the opportunity be born again through faith in Jesus Christ. This is illustrated, demonstrated and manifested in the apostolic directive of Acts 2:38

Stephens Ministry

Some would point to the appointment of Stephen and the others "Waiting Tables".

Stephen was a man full of the Holy Ghost and faith. In the ministry of Stephen, the Gospel was not watered down... further, his preaching was so straight... he was stoned by those who rejected his message. He and the others were ministering to the elderly widows. Further to receive care, there was a list of requirements for a person to receive this of the church.

I recieve calls every week from people in need. Light bills, gas bills, grocery money, gas money, medicine money, travel money, doctor money, clothing money... If I was given $10,000 to spend in any way I wanted. I could give $10,000 to legitimate needs in just a few days. However, there are missionaries, Bible Schools, Home Missions... the list is without end of ministry needs whose main purpose is to propigating the Gospel. Given the Choice, based on my priorities, a large bulk of that money would go toward ministry directives. Without a doubt some would go to minister to needs in the community of faith. There are some who have some pressing needs. On many occations we have been compelled to stretch to help those in need.

Our Priority, Our Mission, Our Purpose revolves around propigating the Gospel and contronting our culture with the Supernatural Nature of the Gospel.

Let us not cheapen the Gospel or weaken the church to distract it from it's main purpose. The purpose of the Ministry of the Believer revolves around the eternal qualities and effects of the Gospel on human souls. The Gospel has the power to change people in this life and a promise of Eternal reward in the life to come.

Just some thoughts to provoke a little thinking in my generation that is contrary to much of the propaganda being offered in commercial christianity that is seeking to remove the stigma of sin and extract the exclusivity of truth. If good works equals salvation, then everyone can be saved without the Gospel.

... and with that I will leave you a few scriptures to ponder.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Colossions 2

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:22-24

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.
Romans 1:16

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20


And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Luke 24:47:49

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:15-17

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17


... Just a little rant prompted by Marshall Clack's status update and the great feedback from the original note on this subject. Thanks Marshal and all of you other fine folks for further sharpening my thought process.


"There is NOTHING wrong with allowing social action to be a part of evangelism, but the Gospel is NOT an invitation for us to live a life that simply "betters the world," the Gospel is a message about Jesus' life, death, burial and resurrection. It's a message of conversion, deliverance, and the hope of eternal life!" Marshall Clack II