Jesus and the Social Gospel

I have been doing a lot of reading for an upcoming research paper, which includes objectively addressing the opposition to my topic of abortion. Surprisingly, I have found that many Christian denominations support abortion because it can alleviate poverty. As I have read their Biblical arguments, one author quoted a verse that Jesus used to announce His arrival. Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1 from the Hebrew translation, and Luke’s words are translated from the Greek in Luke 4:18-19:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor (emphasis added); he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

However, this author’s version said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Kira Schlesinger, an Episcopal priest from Louisiana contends in her book, Pro-Choice and Christian that “these are not just spiritual realities, but physical realities as well: relief from economic poverty, freedom from captivity, and health for the sick. Jesus lives out this proclamation through his ministry of healing and feeding, of challenging the dominant oppressive powers of his day, and ultimately giving his life. This is the abundant life for which Jesus was born, lived, died, and was resurrected.”

Except that Jesus preached three days to more than four thousand hungry people before He fed them. Matthew 15:32, Mark 8:2

With the feeding of the five thousand plus women and children, He fed them at the end of a full day of preaching and healing. Luke 9:10-17

What did Jesus preach to the sinners and publicans?

Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees:

“But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus preached to those He ate with a message of turning away from sin and living a righteous life. He preached the good news of the Gospel that humble repentance reconciles a sinner back to God.

Let’s look at some things Jesus did not do. He did not march into Herod’s palace and demand that the poor receive monetary help. He did not set up soup kitchens. He did not teach His disciples to make homes for the homeless. He warned men who would follow Him that He didn’t have a place to lay His head.

While many passages in the Bible encourage the care of the poor, Jesus always pairs it with the preaching of the Gospel. Why? Because the Gospel cares for a person eternally, not just temporally. The beauty of the Gospel is that it reconnects man to the limitless provision of God through repentance and faith. And when someone seeks to obey God’s ways, God promises to meet his temporal needs.

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:27-34

With every opportunity, we would be wise to follow Jesus’s example and share the Gospel with any temporal help offered. Those in need of financial relief do not need an abortion, they need to be reconciled to God so that He can provide their needs. The answer to poverty is not more money. The answer that Jesus gave was reconciliation to God, the good news of the Gospel. Sadly, this answer is not the answer many are seeking.

Every person will answer to God for how they used the Word of God. It is wise to study it and obey it carefully. Not everyone who claims to know the Word uses it rightly. Be wise.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26

I hope this is a launching pad for your own study of the Word and some good food for thought. Have a happy weekend, friends.

Erica B.