Intro.
A. A few weeks ago, I took a group of young people to a beautiful overlook on the Hudson River in Weehawken, New Jersey, directly opposite of Mid Town Manhattan.
1. One of the most spectacular views of the skyscrapers of Manhattan
2. A big part of my NYC tour and always gets a lot of Oohs and Aahs.

B. As we looked at the immense buildings one began to speculate on how the view would be in 50 - 100 years.
1. One said, "I see a solid wall of 150 foot skyscrapers."
2. The other thought soberly and said, "I see rubble and ruin."
a. "I think the terrorists are eventually going to get through with a nuclear bomb."

C. That thought sent shudders up and down my spine.
1. It would just take one bomb, smuggled in on a shipping crate, large suitcase...
2. All those buildings will be in ruins, our country's economy in ruins, hundreds of thousands dead.

D. Which scenario is more likely? - higher, bigger buildings or rubble and ruin?

E. I thought then, "how does Christ want me to face that possibility?"

F. He wants me to face it, just like first century Christians faced the coming destruction of their culture and large cities.
1. Jesus predicted that they would see such destruction in Jerusalem, that not one stone would be left standing on another (Matt. 24:2)
2. Those who read Revelation knew that the center of their culture would decay and be overcome.

G. What was their attitude in facing this coming destruction?
1. Some sadness for lost souls
2. The need to be ready - 1 Peter 4:7, Luke 21:34
3. But acceptance and even deliverance - Luke 21:28
a. Your redemption is come!
b. Barnes - "Then the power of the Jews will be at an end; they shall no longer be able to persecute you...From that time God will signally build up His kingdom."
c. There would be Spiritual blessings in the midst of social upheaval!
d. The upheaval would be allowed by God, a part of His righteous judgment.

H. How could they look upon the coming destruction of their culture with such acceptance and even anticipation?
The answer is very brief.

I. Early Christians were of another world, they were "other worldly"
A. Interesting that phrase - "other worldly"
1. First time I heard it was in a humanities class describing transformation in art.
a. Prior to renaissance, art was "other worldly," emphasized Bible themes
b. renaissance changed that - for a while still religious themes with artists like Michelangelo, but figures were very worldly, prominent families of Florence and other renaissance cities.
2. Also used in relation to religious groups and their outlook
a. Some are other worldly - emphasize heaven, life after death preparing for it!
b. Most are decidedly this worldly - emphasis on improving things here and now.

B. First and Second century Christians were other worldly
1. Phil. 3:20 "Our citizenship is in heaven."
2. Hebrews 11 talked of sacrifices made particularly by Abraham and Sarah. Left homes, family to wander as God directed them.
a. Why? read Hebrews 11:13-16 - See that other world flavor?
3. I Peter 2:11

C. Notice the concept that they were pilgrims and strangers.
1. When you are traveling through a country, though you may come to have a certain affection for it, you don't feel about it, like you do about your home.
2. We lived in Argentina during a period of great economic upheaval - even worse now.
a. constant devaluations - inflation - I was a "millionaire" many times over in Argentine pesos.
3. How did that affect us?
a. Certain concern, especially for brethren adversely affected
b. But no great desperation... When it hit the hardest, it was just going to be a few months until we were "out of there," back in our own country.
3. That's the way early Christians faced upheaval in their society
a. sadness
b. but no great desperation - wouldn't be long and they would be "out of there." Going home.

D. Non inspired quotes from early Christians
1. Justin Martyr (middle of second century, forty of fifty years after the death of John explained the Christian's other worldly outlook to the Romans,

"Since our thoughts are not fixed on the present, we are not concerned when men put us to death."

2. An unknown elder in second century said,

"Brothers, let us willingly leave our sojourn in this present world so we can do the will of Him who called us. And let us not fear to depart out of this world."

3. Cyprian, a second century overseer said,

"The one peaceful and trustworthy tranquillity, the one security that is solid, firm and never changing, is this: for a man to withdraw from the distractions of this world, anchor himself to the firm ground of salvation, and lift his eyes from earth to heaven."

4. How many quotes like this do you hear from modern religious leaders?
5. 1st century Christians were other worldly -affected their outlook, outlook on politics, warfare among nations, sporting events, destruction of nations and empires.
a. They weren't terribly interested in those things!

II. Christians two hundred years ago, even in depression of past century - were mostly "other worldly."
A. Quotes
1. Barton W. Stone 1841,

"You must not mind earthly things, nor set your affections on them - not to be conformed to the world...Here you have no abiding place, but are strangers and pilgrims seeking a better country."

a. Notice: Other world view, constant reference to scripture

2. They didn't want to get mixed up in politics or in war
3. David Lipscomb said,

"Every act of alliance with or reliance for aid upon the human government is spiritual adultery."

4. Why such standoffishness? maybe to extreme? Christians were "other worldly!"
5. Been through Civil War, seen destruction, wanted a better place.

B. Same can be said of early Protestant leaders
1. Before Civil War, also during the depression emphasis on heaven, rejection of earthly ties among mainstream denominations: Methodists, Presbyterians, esp. Baptists.
2. Entanglement in the affairs of this world condemned as much in denominations as among known brethren.

C. Is it that way now? What happened to emphasis on heaven, holiness, other worldliness?

III. Prosperity - Brought about changes in attitude!
A. Something about affluence, easy life that cause God's people to lose focus on Him, on heaven, focus on the world.
1. Deuteronomy 8:11-14
2. And it happened! - Pprosperity brought on loss of focus on God, more worldliness.

B. Deuteronomy 8:11-14 seen in history of people who want to follow God.
1. In our own country - after Civil War, great economic strides were made, especially in the North
2. Change in outlook. Why talk so much about heaven? Lets improve life now!
3. Did they decide to stop meeting since there were not believing so much in heaven, life after this life?
4. Kept meeting but changed their emphasis.

C. Term "Social Gospel"
1. Movement started in late 1800's by Washington Gladden and Walter Rauschenbusch
2. Main emphasis - changing social conditions in factories and among labor.
3. Might be worthy goals, but what about heaven?
a. Not in style to talk about heaven during roaring economic times.

D. The social gospel's affect on Mainstream churches
1. Less scripture - more political involvement
a. Forerunner of National Council of Churches started in 1906. Today known for political correctness and political stance. Heaven? life after death? personal holiness Never hear a sermon on these issues!
b. focus is entirely - this earthly.
2. In churches Less Bible study - more sewing classes, gymnasiums physical fitness (YMCA, YWCA started in this era), more soup kitchens.

E. It's affect on those who at one time claimed to be just Christians
1. A big issue among disciples in 1890's whether to support YMCA or not
2. Change from emphasis on holiness and heaven to social programs
3. In 1894 Central Christian Church in Des Moines Iowa started a night school.
a. classes: grammar, reading, shorthand, book keeping
b. Bible classes? book of Ephesians? Maybe some, but emphasis was changing

IV. Effect of Social Gospel on Modern congregations that claim to be of Christ
A. After Civil War in South when poverty abounded and during depression, the emphasis was heaven, Bible study

B. After World War 2, prosperity began to invade many congregations
1. Before - poor, building on the wrong side of town, rented building
2. Now - impressive hundred thousand dollar buildings, college educated preachers

C. With prosperity a change in focus - things pretty fine here, heaven less urgent.
1. Deuteronomy 8:11-14 fulfilled
2. Many changes that came about because of a denominational concept of church
a. Local churches were organized into alliances to compete with denominations
b. Did not see church as all saved, known only in mind of God, but rather as a conglomeration of local churches read same papers, had same preachers, same unwritten creed.
D. One of big changes - gradually little less emphasis on analyzing scripture, heaven, more on social programs in the church. Signs:
1. Church supported softball teams
2. Family life centers - gymnasiums, eating halls.
a. What about heaven, spiritual teaching? Oh yes
b. Money diverted, just as in the past century
3. By late 1960's "Guidepost" magazine reported the they Madison church in Nashville had- Kindergarten, Boy Scouts, music, furniture refinishing, art classes, etc.
4. Emphasis in foreign work - medical missions, dental missions, Ch. of Christ ranch, Ch. of Christ hospital.
5. Hospitals and ranches not wrong in and of themselves, but not a work of local church as Christ established it! No sign of such emphasis among early Christians

E. Among those who opposed a lot of the institutionalism, is the social gospel be affecting us?
1. We're affluent
2. Lot of focus on politics, movies, TV, sports, fixing up our house, going to Europe, etc.
a. Some not wrong in and of themselves. What dominates our conversation? Our thinking?
b. email - political entanglements, usually right wing
3. Emphasis on Bible study "lite" with less on analysis of the word.
a. Careful here - Ladies retreats and Bible studies - I think can do a world of good.
b. topics - lite - touchy feely -analyzing your feelings, dealing with unhappy children,
c. Not wrong, sometimes need to be studied
d. But many retreats seem to exclusivelyhave that kind of "lite" topic. An analysis of Titus? A study of Grace and works? Something that requires analysis of the word? Not seen much.
4. Isn't gradually leaving solid Bible study and emphasizing only "lite" topical studies an indication of influence by thesocial gospel?

V. What can we do to protect ourselves from the inroads of the social gospel?
A. The temptation is to just attack symptoms-
1. "We don't have no coffee in the church building," " no family life center here."
2. And yet some who talk that way are so wrapped up in politics, can talk of little else. So obsessed with his hobby can't do much else, or the band, or the football team, etc.
3. If we are wrapped up in this world, we are just as much affected individually by the social gospel as some churches are.

B. We've got to try to root out as much of the world as possible and restore that other worldliness that we see among Christ's first followers and early Christians.
1. That'll help us live here! Focusing on heaven, realizing this is not our home, helps us... get along better with our wives, better home, work better, less stress.
2. But living better here is not reason to try to become other worldly.
3. Should do it because there is a better place than this world. Want to go there.
4. The true gospel helps so much in this life, but only when we focus on the life which is to come!
5. Focus on heaven helps us understand who we are and why we're here, and then we live better here!

C. Practical suggestions: How can we be more "other worldly?"
1. Suffer: How? Go out and try to be ornery? get people mad at us?
a. Share time and energy with those who suffer!
b. Brethren who suffer - In this congregation - cards, telephone calls, visits
c. Hospitals - volunteer, make contacts, help those who suffer. Nursing, service
d. Jails - get correspondence courses into them. Tough
e. Write people overseas - Cuba, China - careful with money
f. Travel to places with poverty stricken brethren - careful with money
g. You can be a great blessing to those who suffer!
h. They can be a great blessing to you - Through their suffering you can see this world for what it is.
2. Give more - Acts 20:35
a. Give until it hurts - sacrifice something you want, stereo system, a little more in debt.
b. Twenty dollar bill can do wonders, even here.
c. When we give we bless others, and we are blessed.
3. Make it a point to talk more about things of God.
a. Not wrong to talk about sports, business, football.
b. Need to talk a lot less about it and more about scripture, how to reach more, how to help, how to go to heaven. How to deal with temptations, challenges work and school, etc.
c. Bring God and scripture more into your vocabulary.
4. Spend more time with Christians (Acts 2:47)
a. Dominican Republic - every evening TV off, spending time with brethren singing, praying
b. The more time you spend with brethren, more you look to go to heaven.
5. Identify more with heaven than with the United States
a. I'm happy, proud for good - travelled to other countries, no comparison, great blessing
b. but it's in decay, "My citizenship is in heaven!
c. The more I realize that, less I stew about earthly citizenship, politics,better off I am.
6. Learn to see the world for what it is: temporary place, lots of suffering, if not here, now, in other parts of the world now, here later.

Conclusion -
A. Then we'll be "other worldly," avoid social gospel other false concepts
B.We'll pend eternity in heaven!
C. Where is your citizenship? Really in heaven? or are you wrapped up in world
D. It can begin to change now! Won't be instant, but you can make a concerted effort to begin to mind heavenly things
1. If haven't been baptized into Christ can do it now - Romans 6:4 "newness of life" new citizenship
2. If become a citizen, but allowed self to become entangled in this life. Cut away.