Churches of Christ Divided In mid 1800s

2. Churches of Christ Divided In mid 1800s • Issues: • Missionary Society (1849) • Instrumental Music (1859) • Result: • Formation of Christian Church (1900) • Later: Disciples of Christ (liberal)

3. Churches of Christ Divided In mid 1900s • Issues: • Sponsoring Church (Herald of Truth) • Orphan Homes • Colleges in Church Budget • Social Gospel (Recreation) • Result: • Split among churches 1955-1965 • Institutional churches of Christ

4. Divisions WithinThe Church of Christ • Missionary Society (1849) • Instrumental Music (1859) • Colleges in Church Budget (1938) • Orphan Homes (1950’s) • Sponsoring Church (1950’s) • Social Gospel (1960’s)

5. DivisionsWithinThe Church of Christ The Social Gospel

6. The Social Gospel Defined A Great Shift Spiritual Social

7. The Social Gospel Defined • A great shift (Spiritual to Social) • Purpose of Gospel Message – improve social circumstance of man • Includes Churches involved in: • Colleges • Schools / Day care • Fellowship halls • Bus Ministry • Gyms – ball teams • “Gimmicks” to draw crowd

8. The Social Gospel History Behind It

9. History Behind It • Born into Denominational Circles in late 1800’s • Problems of society following the Industrial Revolution • Crime • Poverty • Inequality • Drunkenness • Etc. • Many churches sought to fix the social ills

10. “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

11. “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 in 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

12. History Behind It Born into Denominational Circles in late 1800’s Crept into the Restoration Movement

13. “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

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

15. 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. 330-331) 1965 William S. Banowsky, Ph.d.

16. 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 protestant ism.” (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. 341-342) 1965 William S. Banowsky, Ph.d.

17. History Behind It • Born into Denominational Circles in late 1800’s • Crept into the Restoration Movement • Issues of 1950’s /1960’s Made Two Shifts • Started with Food & Fun • Fellowship Halls • Church Kitchens • Bus Ministry • “Gimmicks” to bring crowds • Fun days

18. Ridgedale Church of Christ Chattanooga, TN

19. 10-01-97

20. History Behind It Born into Denominational Circles in late 1800’s Crept into the Restoration Movement Issues of 1950’s /1960’s Made Two Shifts Started with Food & Fun How Far it has Gone

25. Southwest Central Church (Houston, TX)

26. Issues that Separate Us Now

28. Issues that Separate Us Now

29. Issues that Separate Us Now

30. Issues that Separate Us Now

32. Fourth Ave Franklin, TN

35. The Differences Now Were: Orphan Home Sponsoring Church Colleges Are: Orphan Home Sponsoring Church Colleges Fellowship Halls Social Programs Involvement in…

36. The Social Gospel History Behind It Problems With Social Gospel

37. Problems With Social Gospel No authority

38. How Authority Is Established Acts 15 VV. 13-21 – James appealed to direct statement from Amos 9 Command / Statement V. 12 – Paul & Barnabas appealed to example of their work & miracles Approved Example VV. 7-11 – Peter appealed to events at Cornelius’ house – infers… Necessary Inference

39. Church Involvement in Social, Recreation & Entertainment None Command / Statement None Approved Example None Necessary Inference

40. Problems With Social Gospel No authority Not a social message or mission

41. Not a Social Order Not a Social Gospel The Church Is Not A Social Order Rom. 14:17 John 18:36 1 Pet. 2:5 The Gospel Is Not A Social Gospel John 6:26-27 Rom. 1:16-17 1 Cor. 1:18, 21; 2:2-5

42. Problems With Social Gospel No authority Not a social message or mission Fails to distinguish the individual and church

43. Distinction in Individual & Church Work Role Money Liberties Individual Church

44. A Difference In The Individual & The Church 1 Tim. 5:16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

45. Name Work Finances

46. Problems With Social Gospel No authority Not a social message or mission Fails to distinguish the individual and church Adds to the work of the church

47. Threefold Work Edification • “Equipping of the saints” • Means: repair, put into order – make complete • Eph. 4:16 – edify itself • “Work of ministry” • Means: serve; used of benevolence (Acts 6; 2 Cor. 8-9) • Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 5:16 Benevolence • “Edifying of the body” • Means: build up (ASV) – increase by teaching • 1 Tim. 3:15 Evangelism

48. The Social Gospel History Behind It Problems With Social Gospel Kitchens, Fellowship Halls & Eating in Bld.

49. Kitchens, Fellowship Halls & Eating in Bld. The issue

50. 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