Pastor, what are you preaching as you approach Easter? What is the Gospel?
Ed Stetzer blogs each Monday on Missiology. You may read this past Monday’s post here. Ed points out that “With the rise of fundamentalism in the 1920s, the Social Gospel’s counteraction began with painting salvation, not just as transformation in individuals, but increasingly as the annihilation of distorted and prejudiced structures. This trend was evident until a new era of confidence was birthed in the 1960s, ushered in particularly via J.C. Hoekendijk.”
The Liberation Theology movement was fueled by such thought. I recall a D.Min. seminar at SWBTS in the early ’80′s in which the professor, a former missionary to a nation in S. America, extolled the virtues of Liberation Theology. I thought it interesting that because of the way in which the grading period fell, grades were issues prior to our one assignment being completed. We compared grades. Those who had agreed with this professor were given A’s and those who disagreed (myself among these) were given B’s. Later I witnessed the destruction of Liberation Theology in the nation of El Salvador.
Does the Gospel definition include changing the structures of society? Many of them need to be changed. They are oppressive at best.
Are justice issues included in the biblical definition of the Gospel? Is the Gospel more than what we call the plan of salvation (i.e, tracts, etc.)?
It is a question to those of us who preach. What is the Gospel? What are you preaching and how will you preach it on that one day of the year when more people attend public worship services than any other day of the year?
Recent Comments