Articles 2025

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Having the mind of Christ means sharing Christ's perspective, purpose, and plan. It's a gift from God from the Holy Spirit to believers 

After salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer, infusing him with the mind of Christ.
 

That’s how we can understand the truths revealed by God.  

God's Spirit makes it possible for us to understand and believe spiritual things including the destructive remaking of the Jesus into a progressive advocate of social justice or SOCIAL GOSPEL. 

The term Social Gospel is usually used to refer to a movement that came to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was rooted in Marxism.

 

Promoters of the social gospel emphasize social needs while ignoring the doctrines of sin, salvation, heaven / hell, and the future kingdom of God.

RECENT BOYCOTT
 

According to the social gospel, Christians need to concentrate on the world now, not the world to come.

Theologian Niebuhr, H. Richard described social gospel this way:  

“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through a Christ without a cross” 

Social Gospel:

· Betterment of society equals salvation. 

· People are basically good

· Society is gradually becoming more moral. 

· If we feed, educate, dig wells, and redistribute wealth,
then we will see God’s kingdom 

· If we preach love, justice, brotherhood, and goodwill toward men, then the greed and selfishness will give way to goodness.

All these ideas are Biblically wrong!

Jesus Gospel:

· Jesus lived in one of history’s most corrupt and unjust societies but
He did not come to earth to be a political or social reformer. 

· Jesus refused to be an earthly political leader (John 6:15). 

· Jesus did not advocate social change. His mission was spiritual. 

· Jesus didn’t come to wipe out poverty but to wipe out sin 

(John 1:29) 

· Jesus did not advocate fair labor, but to justify people before God
(Romans 4:25). 

· Jesus said that poverty would be a continual problem in this world
(Mark 14:70)

· Jesus said money is not the most important thing (Matthew 6:24)

· Jesus said we should be rich toward God (Luke 12:21). 

· Jesue came to preach salvation and total reliance on Godvs reliance on human institutions. 

· Jesus showed compassion for the poor, sick and outcasts of society. 

(Matthew 11:5) but always, but He prioritized spiritual needs. 

· Jesus healed the paralytic lowered from the roof on a stretcher, and first told him, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20). 

· Jesus healed the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda and told him,
“Stop sinning” (John 5:14). 

· Jesus forgave a sinful woman and told her “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

Jesus prioritized SIN and SALVATION  
not poverty, sickness or social injustice  

Paul warned, with the church turning their ticklish ears from truth to myths and choosing man-made theology over doctrinal facts
(2 Tim. 4: 3–4).
 

Jesus himself warned of future imposters who would mislead many
(Matt. 24:24).

Various church groups believe Jesus is on their side

 

The point is not for any group to get Jesus on their side, but for everyone to get on Jesus’ side.

 

But how do we know if we are on Jesus’ side?
 

The answer is simple – by examining Jesus’ mission on earth

 

From prophet Micah:

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. (Matt. 2:6, cf. Micah 5:2)

 

From Zachariaswhen he prophesied John would proclaim Jesus

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways; to give to his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Lk. 1:76–79)

From the Angel to Joseph Mary’s Husband 

The Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins. (Matt. 1:20–21)

From John the Baptist

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). He also says that this Jesus would baptize with the Spirit and with fire, with salvation or with judgment (Matt. 3:10–12).

 

Nothing in these descriptions suggests a social justice agenda 

From Jesus Himself:

· Luke 19:10
The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

· John 6:38-39
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. This is the will of Him who sent me, that … I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.

 

· John 18:36 My kingdom is not of this world 

· Luke 19:10
The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

· John 12:27
Now my soul has become troubled (before crucifixion); and what shall I say, “Father, save me from this hour”? But for this purpose, I came to this hour.

·  Luke 12:51-53
Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Jesus foresaw spiritual divisions we are experiencing today!  

 Social Gospel focuses on people’s circumstances here on earth.

Jesus” Gospel focuses on people’s souls and eternal destiny.

A sermon about forgiveness included a video of children recalling hurtful things done by classmates: “she called me a baby, he excluded me, he cut in front of me in line, he made fun of my looks, she said bad things about my family, they called me names. . .” 

As they spoke, each one wrote the offense in chalk on a blackboard. Then each child said “I forgave them” while erasing the offense they had written. The sermon cited well known scriptures and parables, including Matthew 18:22 where Jesus said we must forgive 70x7. The sermon said we must release the person "instantly, completely, and repeatedly." 

The sermon was familiar in what it included. It was equally familiar in what it excluded. I call it the CARE factor. Caution, Accountability, Restoration, and Encouragement.

While classroom offenses like name-calling may be easily simplified in a 30-minute sermon; what if these are the offenses:  “They stole my life savings in an investment scheme, he crippled my daughter, he raped me, she beat my elderly mother, he had sex with boys in the church,  she embezzled church money, he committed incest with our children, she murdered my father.”

The problem with most sermons on forgiveness is not that they are inaccurate. It’s that they are incomplete. The Bible requires persons to be accountable for their behavior. Look at these scriptures: 

• Galatians 6:1-5 caught in a trespass, restore, 
• James 1:6 confess your sins one to another
• Luke 17:3 brother sins, rebuke him
• 1 Timothy 3:1-5 pastor must be above reproach
• Luke 12:48 requirements of leaders
• Matthew 18:17 excommunicate the unrepentant 

Forgiveness is only the beginning of the process. CARE is the conclusion. So, let’s examine my CARE acronym:

Caution – Even though you should forgive, that does not mean you should not guard against further harm, notify police, or take civil action. You can and should make sure you and your family are safe and that your environment is protected from the person’s past and possible future actions. Here are some examples: 

• Someone who steals should not immediately be trusted with money or valuables 
• An adulterer should be subjected to medical scrutiny and counseling to address physical and emotional impacts to their spouse.
• A church intercessor who reveals secrets should be removed from positions of trust
• A person who has violated the law in any way (including domestic violence) should be reported to authorities. This is not revenge, it is a moral obligation and, in some cases, a legal requirement. The church often omits this important detail when preaching forgiveness.

Accountability –  This should not necessarily precede forgiveness but should definitely follow forgiveness. Without accountability, there is no real consequence to a person’s wrong actions, and without consequences, there is a high likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. Applying forgiveness alone is like putting a Band-Aid on a severed artery. The Bible makes clear that forgiveness and accountability go hand in hand.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16

It’s not always possible to have accountability, as the offender may be a passing stranger or a former associate. But when the offender is a spouse, close relative, co-worker, church leader or member;  there are methods to facilitate accountability. For example:

• A person who has stolen should be asked to apologize privately and to repay, at least part, either by cash or charitable service.
• A church member who falsely maligns another should be lovingly admonished by church leadership. This is a Biblical mandate that is often overshadowed by the forgiveness message.
• An adulterous spouse should apologize, explain whether it was one-time or chronic, and have pastoral oversight or secular therapy.
• An abusive spouse should face church discipline and possibly legal consequences. 

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” Luke 17:3

Restoration - Without a plan of restoration, especially for clergy and secular leaders, there is no standard for followers.

• The offender should be required to understand the offense, and possibly make restitution as noted in Leviticus 6:1–7. Although these were guidelines for early Jews, the moral implications are still relevant.
• God and civil justice are not mutually exclusive (Romans 13:1–7) and forgiveness does not necessarily imply lack of consequences.

Encouragement -  Lastly, both the offended and the offender need support. “Therefore, encourage (edify) each other and build each other just as you are doing.” (1Thessalonians 5:11). Many times, we fail to realize that even the offending person needs our concern. People who hurt others very often do so as a result of their own pain. Remember the adage “hurt people hurt people.”

• If possible, forgiveness should be complemented by asking the offender what caused their action. Was it due to depression, ego, alcohol or drugs, financial desperation, past trauma, sexual addiction, or was it simply a misunderstanding? 
• Just as Jesus ministered to hurting people, it’s important for us to help all hurting people, even those who have hurt others.

Whenever you think of forgiveness, don’t forget that is just the beginning of healing, and if you preach a sermon on forgiveness, please do so with CARE.