THE SOCIAL GOSPEL vs. THE GOSPEL

Bob Myhan

     Many of the Lord's churches have gone the way of modernistic denominations, abandoning the gospel for "another gospel: which is not another" (Galatians 1:6,7). That is, it is another [of a different kind], not another [of the same kind], as if we could choose between two legitimate alternatives. But how do those who preach the “social gospel” differ from those who preach the gospel? There at least five areas of contrast.

     First, there is a contrast in purpose. Those who preach the “social gospel” are concerned with things like disease, poverty, delinquency, race relations, secular education, and common meals, while those who preach the gospel are concerned with the spiritual welfare and eternal salvation of the souls of men (Luke 19:10; Mark 16:15,16).

     Second, there is a contrast in method. Those who preach the “social gospel” treat symptoms trying to make "Christians" through social reform. Those who preach the gospel, on the other hand, treat the spiritual disease [sin--Romans 6:23; Acts 2:38] reforming society by making Christians (Titus 2:11-14).

     Third, there is a contrast in motivation. Those who preach the “social gospel” are motivated by a desire for a better earthly life. But those who preach the gospel are motivated by a desire for an eternal home with God, a desire to avoid the horrors of hell, and a love and gratitude toward God for everything He has done that we might have eternal happiness (1 Peter 1:3-12; 1 Timothy 4:6-8).

     Fourth, there is a contrast in standard. Those who preach the “social gospel” use human wisdom as their standard (1 Corinthians 1:20,21). Those who preach the gospel employ the wisdom of God (James 3:13-17; 1 Corinthians 1:25).

     Fifth, there is a contrast in emphasis. Those who preach the “social gospel” emphasize man’s material well being, while those who preach the gospel emphasize man’s spiritual well being (Matthew 6:33 1 Timothy 4:7,8).

     Those who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and love their neighbor, as themselves will never abandon the gospel for the “social gospel.” The latter is “another gospel: which is not another.” It is the result of the gospel being perverted because of a desire to serve the wrong purpose, adopt the wrong method, extend the wrong motivation, use the wrong standard, and emphasize the wrong side of man’s nature. It is to be hoped that Forest Hills will always stand for the gospel, rather than the “social gospel.”

 

THE CONSCIENCE

Bob Myhan

Introduction: Many of us have heard it said that an individual should be guided by the dictates of his own conscience. Some affirm, “A good conscience is all that is necessary.” But is this the case? What role should the conscience play in one's religious life? It surely must play some role therein, because the Bible says quite a lot about it.

IT CAN BE FLAWED

A.  Conscience is defined as “Inmost thought; also, the internal recognition of right and wrong as regards to one's actions and motives; the faculty which decides upon the moral quality of one’s actions and motives, enjoining one to conformity with the moral law."

B.  It is one's conscience that either approves or disapproves of his actions depending on whether those actions are believed by him to be right or wrong (Romans 2:14,15; John 8:9).

C. Thus what one believes is the moral standard by which his conscience judges his actions.  However, what one believes may or may not be the truth; therefore, one’s conscience should not be followed as an infallible guide.

IT CAN BE EDUCATED

A.  The conscience is the ethical nature of the heart of man (1 John 3:18-22).

B.  But the heart also has an intellectual nature (Matthew 9:4; 13:10-15).

C. It is the truth that shall make us free, not just what we believe to be the truth (John 8:32).

D. We will be judged by the word of God, not merely by our belief of what is right and wrong (John 12:48).

E.  We must obey the truth to have a good conscience (1 Peter 3:13-21).

IT CAN BE SEARED

A.  We must know the truth, rather than believe something to be the truth, in order to be saved by the truth (John 8:31,32).

B.  Some do not want to learn more truth lest they should have to answer to their consciences.

C. When one knows the truth but refuses to accept it, he sears his conscience (1 Timothy 4:1,2).

D. This is the most dangerous state in which one could be.

E.  Consider the contrast between Acts 2:37-41 & Acts 7: 54-58.

F.  The individual with a seared conscience cannot be pricked in the heart (Ephesians 4:17-19).

THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL

A.  He had lived his life "in all good conscience" (Acts 23:1).

B.  Paul obeyed his conscience, even as a persecutor of the Lord’s people, (Acts 26:1-11).

C. His service to God was with a pure conscience (2 Timothy 1:3).

D. He tried to persuade others to have a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:18,19).

Conclusion: Do you have a good conscience, today, or is your conscience convicting you of sin?  If the latter is the case you have two alternatives: obey the truth by meeting conditions of forgiveness, or sear your conscience by refusing to obey the truth.