The term "social gospel" is one that pops up every few years depending on the political climate of the time. If you Google the term, you will find more information than you will ever want to read. Various dates are given for the start of the movement in America - the earliest usually being around 1870.
When the term comes up, many people associate it with words that have the same root such as society and socialism. For that reason, the "social gospel" will normally ignite anything from a calm discussion to a heated argument.
After the Civil War had ended, America faced the task of rebuilding in a lot of different ways: the South needed a reconstruction, freed slaves needed education and a place in society, the North desperately needed raw materials, and people's nerves and feelings were frayed from the war and many wondered if anything would be normal again.
Particularly, many churches and Christian organizations began to help with things like education, teaching people to read, child care, hospitals, helping the aged, ministering to women, etc. Couple that with people like Booker T. Washington and Washington Carver, whose efforts toward educating and training the black population (both naturally and spiritually) cannot be over emphasized. It seemed that the country was getting back on its feet as people, churches, and organizations were impacting society especially in the urban areas..
Because many churches and Christian organizations were on the forefront of doing and being involved in these activities, it seemed this type of thing came to be a norm of Christian activity. I suppose they would indeed have worn the "WWJD" bracelets if they had existed in those days.
From the Bible, we do not see Jesus Himself doing much of this activity. He ministered the gospel that would change the hearts of individuals. Once that takes place, the works of the kingdom of God begin to be done by those people whose hearts were changed by Jesus coming in. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 ~ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. It is interesting that He was talking to those whose Father was in heaven.
Jesus brought the gospel to individuals and each individual will make a decision about the gospel for him or herself. The people who make Jesus the Lord of their lives and embrace the gospel have the opportunity to impact society in a number of ways.
Part II coming soon.
