“I can remember the Evangelical preachers of my youth railing against the purveyors of something they disparagingly called ‘the social gospel’. The ‘social gospel’ was the liberal form of Christianity that had substituted the ‘old, old story’ of mankind’s sin and Christ's sacrificial redemption for a mixture of trendy causes, political activism and ministry to the poor. As far as they were concerned, a missionary’s work , whether at home or abroad, was to preach the gospel. All that nonsense about building hospitals and schools and soup kitchens was just ‘the liberals watering down the faith yet again’.
In a recent commentary, Father Dwight Longenecker (parish priest at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Greenville, SC) reflected on the importance of balance in proclaiming the Gospel message and on the opportunities that are opening up for evangelists through a variety of different media.
To access Fr. Longenecker’s complete post, please visit:
Catholic Online: The Old, Old, Story (30 APR 12)
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