Though one hears much about political progressivism which advocates the abolition of the constitution– wholly or in part–as the nation’s societal law, the movement lags far behind church progressivism which has already eliminated much of the Bible as her spiritual law.

When social deviance–behavior outside the legally-defined will of the people–is repeated often enough it becomes acceptable (normal) behavior. At the same time, behavior that had previously been considered normal becomes deviant. In political circles, as anti-constitution policies come to be accepted as normal, constitutionally-based policies become viewed as deviant. As a result the constitution becomes less and less a factor in determining acceptable behavior and attitude.

When spiritual deviance–behavior outside the Biblically-defined will of God–is practiced repeatedly by the church it eventually becomes accepted as normal behavior. When this happens, Biblical obedience automatically becomes deviant.  This is the spiritual condition in which the Institutional Church finds herself today. As we approach the end of the age those minutely few believers who believe and obey the Bible, who advocate a return to Biblical plumb are labeled heretics–people totally out of touch with present reality. Just as the constitution is viewed by progressives as being out-of-date for the nation’s politically-enlightened population, the Bible is passe’ in the collective mind of the church’s religiously-enlightened adherents. Just as the Founding Fathers are viewed as irrelevant relics of an irrelevant past, the Biblical Father and Son have become little more than names to be dropped at religiously appropriate times and places.

In this modern era we find the two dominant forces in professing Christendom pulling against each other in a vain attempt at ever more progressivism. In an attempt to erase any remaining vestiges of “plumb” from the collective conscience of the church, the two heads of what calls itself the Body of Christ–Catholicism and Protestantism–are pulling ever harder to the right (central control–Catholicism) and to the left (individual control–Protestantism) in order to wrest control of the church away from God. What the two forces do not realize is that they are already in control of their respective bodies, neither of which is connected to God or His church comprised of His “little flock” of “plumb-ers” who continue to take Him at His Word and obey it. Which brings us to the focus of the modern day Counterfeit Church–the “Social Gospel” which God warned us about in Galatians 1:6-9.

The phrase “social gospel” made its appearance following the Industrial Revolution, a time when America was beginning to rise economically and individual life-styles were taking a turn for the better. As the nation became more prosperous her need for spiritual guidance began to fade. Having become the world’s industrial giant, mighty America began to loosen her moorings from the One Who had made her the colossal powerhouse she had become. By the end of World War II America had become totally self-sufficient. With strict adherence to God’s Word no longer in vogue, church people began to look elsewhere for religiously based activities that would make them feel good about their “Christian walk.” Such people, who eventually became the majority, sought out activities to which they could apply their version of “Christian principles,” works that would substitute for strict obedience to the Word of God. To meed their need for religious gratification they energetically threw themselves into trying to solve social problems such as poverty, homelessness, war, alcoholism, crime, etc. Any activity that took them away from having to obey God’s Word would suffice. Today one can hear a variety of messages relative to the church’s responsibility for the care of the less fortunate. But one will never hear a message demanding obedience to God’s Word. Such messages are summarily dismissed as the infantile rantings of religious retardates. The true message of the gospel, we are told from pulpit and podium, is to seek out the hungry, the sick, the homeless, etc. of the world and meet their needs. In this way, we are assured, we will show God’s love for them.

This in spite of Jesus never having mentioned such a program. His compassion for the down and out was never directed toward serving them in any way other than spiritually. He never advocated programs to feed, clothe, house, medicate, etc. those outside of His church. Jesus issued no command relative to a social gospel. He advocated no food banks, no soup kitchens, no housing programs, no clothing banks, no push for political change, no call for social justice, no anti-war movements, etc. His message was focused on one thing only–obedience to the Father, Himself being the prime example. See Church Generosity.

The social gospel is totally man-generated and man-directed. But its existence is understandable. Religious man having discarded God’s Word as his foundational base, he must do something to make him feel religious. Feeding the hungry then handing them a tract fits the bill perfectly. This followed by a hearty “God bless you” sends one’s religiosity meter into the red zone. Many a waitress has said “God bless you” as she handed me my ticket. For all she knew, I could have been a serial killer. Jesus never said “God bless you” to those who sought Him out for food, healing, etc. The only ones He blessed were those who believed and obeyed His Father. Our job is to “… FEED MY SHEEP” (Jn. 2:15-17). Notice whom His ministers are to feed–HIS SHEEP. And notice what we are to feed His sheep–THE WORD OF GOD: “Man shall not live by bread alone but BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD” (Mat. 4:4). Be sure, the question Jesus will ask each socially-involved churchite on the Day of Judgment will not concern how many people he/she fed, but with what did he/she feed them. L.J.