A Social Gospel

Some believers, probably with the gift of evangelism, are very upset over something they call the “Social Gospel.” It upsets them because it is not focused on evangelism. Of course…

Some believers, probably with gifts of teacher or pastor, are upset that the church is seeming to be irrelevant to the culture it encounters in our towns and cities and schools and states and nations and businesses. Even in situations when we are effectively leading people to Christ, we are not changing their lives or the lives of the people in their communities or families.

It isn’t just a problem that is related to the difficulty differently gifted people have of seeing each others’ points of view and value. It is, at its core, a Kingdom / Church issue. My gift may be pastor, but my work (ministry) might be at a high level of a multi-national business. Or, it may be to a congregation in a remote area of Montana, with 21 members in a community of 38.

When we begin to discover that every believer has an important work to do (ministry), we still have the hurdle to jump of the church leaders of the ages pretending that ministry only happens through church leaders in the church. Don’t be mixing with those unclean unbelievers…

When we are properly led, we will be equipped each to do the work we have been ordained to, in the sphere we have been privileged to influence, and we will change our cultures and communities and families. We will be manifesting Jesus – lifting Him up, and He will draw all to Himself who are willing to receive life that can be spent blessing Him.

The King’s people will be revealing the Kingdom.