The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1948-05-26
Studies In
Bible Prophecy

By Evangelist Charles L. Kesser
THE SOCIAL GOSPEL
While rarely called by NAME there modern form Of
postmiennam which gained wide popularity for few
among many underlying this Interpretation
Of Christianity has often been termed he social gospel
social emphasis prominence protest against the in
justices of certain of modern civilization allied itself
with the best science and sought to better the lot of exploited
inequalities and njuces to blot out racial
udces and to establish universal peace and brotherhood
It would be almost impossible to say praise
the ideals Of this social Church No deny
SNUG complacency religion middle
classes MILLIONS the industrial created by
ing to minority racial found no message which dealt with
their specific problems hence began
to the quack remedies of socialism, communism and anarchsm
It was reaction to this condition that few began
to rehnk the OF the san OF the
thinkers began zealousy assert the incompatby
Of 5Gc cal fG1q gs
way. Many will recall the vigorous and advanced position
which John Alexander Dow founder under God of the Chris
tan Catholic Church, took upon these questions.
new fe OF 'ne look on
Thus saith the Lord; three transgressions of
Israel, and for four, will not away the punish
thereof because they sold the righteous for sill
and the poor for pair of shoes Your treadng
is upon the poor and We take from him burdens lex
acons) of wheat they afflict the just, they take
bride, they turn aside the poor at the gate (Amos
2:6; SILL, IL, A. W.
Then will draw near to you for Judgment and
will be swift witness against those who Cypress
the hireling in his wages the widow and the orphan
and those who defraud the resident alien (Mal
achi $685. Am. try
It became clear to those who world conditions that
Christianity which could be complacent the
sums poverty and gross determinations certainly
abomnaon before God They cried with Amos Le justice
roll down waters and Righteousness mighty stream and
they interpreted this did Amos the light the social
Christians where they inelgenty perceive the meaning
of the Gospel must assert the validity of the attack social
evil God hates violently He did in the days of Amos and
Isaiah.
But the mistake in making postmlennial inter-
probation of history based upon this social emphasis That u.s.
of the thinkers who spoke thus began hese
in terms of gradually achieved man-estabshed Kng-
dom of Cod The prophets of Israel who proclaimed the $50
cial gospel did to hghght the sin of mankind which be-
in individual hearts and gradually worked itself out into
the social situation They conrasd the evil of with the
uncompromng ethical Righteousness of God the
conclusion that the individual and social sins of mankind would
result Judgment The modern thinkers proceeded from zeal
social beterment the conviction that the application
human knowledge and effort to the world situation would grad
uay conform it the image of Gods Kingdom The Hebrew
prophets proclaimed that divine intervention necessary
first Judgment the forces which forever nhbt
social justice and then in the positive establishment of right
Kingdom AS have stated BEFORE history has proved