1. Churches of Christ Divided in mid 1800’s
Issues:
Missionary Society (1849)
Instrumental Music (1855)
Result:
Formation of Christian Church (1900)
Later: Disciples of Christ (liberal)

2. Churches of Christ Divided in mid 1900’s
Issues:
Sponsoring Church (Herald of Truth)
Orphan Homes
Colleges in the Church Budget
Social Gospel (Recreation)
Result:
Split among churches ( )
Institutional churches of Christ

3. Divisions Within The Church of Christ
Issues:
1. Missionary Society (1849)
2. Instrumental Music (1859)
3. Colleges in Church Budget (1938)
4. Orphan Homes (1950’s)
5. Sponsoring Church (1950’s)
6. Social Gospel (1960’s)

4. Divisions Within The Church of Christ
The Social Gospel

5. The Social Gospel Defined
A Great Shift
Spiritual
Social

6. A great shift (spiritual to social)
Purpose of Gospel Message—improve social circumstance
Includes Churches involved in:
Colleges
Schools/Day care
Fellowship halls
Bus Ministry
Gyms—ball teams
“Gimmicks” to draw crowd

7. The Social Gospel
I. History Behind It

8. I. History Behind It
A. Born into Denominational Circles in late 1800’s
1. Problems of society following Industrial Revolution
a. Crime
b. Poverty
c. Inequality
d. Drunkenness
e. Etc.
2. Many churches sought to fix the social ills

9. “In the 1870’s and 1880’s the leaders of American society suddenly realized that they were faced with overwhelming social problems. The industrial revolution in this country raised problems in business and political ethics, employer-employee relationships, economic competition and the nature of poverty and its remedy which shocked many American social philosophers out of a well-worn complacency. No less serious were the social maladjustments connected with the unparalleled rise of high cities. Slums, drunkenness, prostitution, organized crime, juvenile delinquency, abject poverty and all other problems sprawling, filthy cities were convincing realities that demanded that something be done.”
Dr. David Harrell, FCC Lectures, March 23, 1960

10. “Out if this setting came the social gospel movement
“Out if this setting came the social gospel movement. Religious leaders were not the first to delve into these social evils but in the late 1870’s and the 1880’s increasing numbers of them from almost every denomination began to offer suggestions for the solution of the new America’s social dilemma.”
Dr. David Harrell, FCC Lectures, March 23, 1960

11. I. History Behind It
A. Born into Denominational Circles in late 1800’s
B. Crept into Restoration Movement

12. “Conservative” Denominations Got Involved In Social Gospel
“By the 1880’s social gospelism had invaded the restoration movement. Leaders of the Disciples of Christ, still Biblically conservative at this junction, such as Isaac Errett, Richard M. Bishop of Cincinnati, and Frederick Power of Washington D.C. participated in the earliest organized efforts of the social gospel leaders in the United States.”
Dr. David Harrell, FCC Lectures, March 23, 1960

13. I. History Behind It
A. Born into Denominational Circles in late 1800’s
B. Crept into Restoration Movement
C. Issues of 1950’s/1960’s Made Two Shifts
Social
Spiritual
Individual
Church

14. The Mirror of a Movement
Churches of Christ as seen through the Abilene Christian College Lectureship
“Although not directly involved with the social gospel tensions in the mainstream of national thought, some of the basic questions of the larger debate were essentially the ones at stake in the Abilene tributary: What is the extent of the church’s social responsibility? How can efforts at social betterment be related to the problems of individual salvation? Will the church forsake its spiritual purposes by becoming inordinately encumbered with social services? Among churches of Christ, these infectious questions gathered, festered, and erupted into one bitter, benevolent issue: In what way can the church scripturally provide for the needs of widows and orphans?”
(pp )
1965
William S. Banowsky, Ph.d.

15. The Mirror of a Movement
Churches of Christ as seen through the Abilene Christian College Lectureship
“The benevolent battle among churches of Christ, then, was very definitely, if indirectly, related to the social gospel war being waged in contemporary Protestantism.”
(p. 328)
“The overtones of the social gospel movement endowed the more sequestered conflict with a flavor of national relevancy. There is ample evidence that the Lectureship was the brotherhood’s most forceful and continuing voice urging a broader conception of the churches social responsibility.”
(pp )
1965
William S. Banowsky, Ph.d.

16. I. History Behind It
A. Born into Denominational Circles in late 1800’s
B. Crept into Restoration Movement
C. Issues of 1950’s/1960’s Made Two Shifts
D. Started with Food and Fun
1. Fellowship Halls
2. Church Kitchens
3. Bus Ministry
4. “Gimmicks” to bring the crowds
5. Fun days

17. Ridgedale Church of Christ Chattanooga, TN

18. 10/01/97

19. E. How Far it has Gone I. History Behind It
A. Born into Denominational Circles in late 1800’s
B. Crept into Restoration Movement
C. Issues of 1950’s/1960’s Made Two Shifts
D. Started with Food and Fun
E. How Far it has Gone

24. Southwest Central Church (Houston, TX)

25. Issues that Separate Us Now

27. Issues that Separate Us Now
Is this spiritual edification?

28. Issues that Separate Us Now

29. Issues that Separate Us Now

31. Fourth Ave
Franklin, TN

34. The Differences Now

35. The Social Gospel
I. History Behind It
II. Problems With Social Gospel

36. II. Problems With Social Gospel
A. No Authority

37. How Authority Is Established
Acts 15
VV – James appealed to direct statement from Amos 9
Command / Statement
V. 12 – Paul & Barnabas appealed to example of their work & miracles
Approved Example
VV – Peter appealed to events at Cornelius’ house – infers…
Necessary Inference

38. Church Involvement in Social, Recreation
and Entertainment
????
NONE
Command / Statement
NONE
Approved Example
NONE
Necessary Inference

39. II. Problems With Social Gospel
A. No Authority
B. Not a social message or mission

40. Not a Social Order Not a Social Gospel Romans 14:17 John 18:36
The Church Is Not
A Social Order
Romans 14:17
John 18:36
1 Peter 2:5

41. II. Problems With Social Gospel
A. No Authority
B. Not a social message or mission
C. Fails to distinguish the individual and church

42. Distinction in Individual & Church
Work
Role
Money
Liberties

43. A difference in the Individual and the Church
1 Timothy 5:16
“If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.”

44. Name Work Finances “Christian” Acts 11:26 1 Peter 4:16
Church of Christ
Romans 16:16
Own
Widows
1 Timothy 5:16
Indeed
Buy & Sell
James 4:13
Free will offering
1 Cor. 16:1-2
Name
Work
Finances

45. II. Problems With Social Gospel
A. No Authority
B. Not a social message or mission
C. Fails to distinguish the individual and church
D. Adds to the work of the church

46. 1. “Equipping of the saints”
a. Means: repair, put in order-make complete
b. Ephesians 4:16—edify itself
2. “Work of the ministry”
a. Means: serve; used of benevolence (Acts 6; 2 Cor. 8/9)
b. Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 5:16
3. “Edifying of the body”
a. Means: build up (ASV)—increase by teaching
b. 1 Timothy 3:15

47. The Social Gospel I. History Behind It II. Problems With Social Gospel
III. Kitchens, Fellowship Halls, and Eating in the Building

48. III. Kitchens, Fellowship Halls and Eating in the Building
A. The issue

49. The Use of a Church Kitchen Not Talking About: A place to prepare LS
Place to wash LS trays
A place for taking care
of needy saints
Are Talking About:
Church providing a
place for meals for
social & recreational
purposes.
Fellowship halls
Family Life Centers
Muti-Purpose Blds

50. Eating in the Building The Issue:
Was Not
Was and Is
Is the building sacred?
Can one eat inside the building?
Can one eat on church property?
Can the church have a common meal for social and recreational purposes?

51. III. Kitchens, Fellowship Halls and Eating in the Building
A. The issue
B. Common meals are individual matters

52. Common Meals— Individual Matters
1 Corinthians 11:20-22
“Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.”
More than abuse of the Lord’s Supper!

53. III. Kitchens, Fellowship Halls and Eating in the Building
A. The issue
B. Common meals are individual matters
C. No authority for the church— social and recreation

54. If there is, where is the passage?
Command
To authorize the church to arrange/support a common meal for social and recreational purposes?
Example
Necessary Inference
If there is, where is the passage?

55. Aids Are Authorized Within the Command

56. III. Kitchens, Fellowship Halls and Eating in the Building
A. The issue
B. Common meals are individual matters
C. No authority for the church— social and recreation
D. Not the work of the church

58. A Church Kitchen Is not the work of Evangelism
Is not the work of Edification
Is not the work of Benevolence

59. III. Kitchens, Fellowship Halls and Eating in the Building
A. The issue
B. Common meals are individual matters
C. No authority for the church— social and recreation
D. Not the work of the church
E. Difference in incidentals and planned

60. Incidentals and Planned
Incidental Matters while at the building
Planned and Sponsored
by the Church
Talk about politics
Sell/deliver sold items
Seek medical advice
Eating on property
Political rally
Church in business
Church hospital/clinic
Church kitchen/dinner

61. The Social Gospel I. History Behind It II. Problems With Social Gospel
III. Kitchens, Fellowship Halls, and Eating in the Building