Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
I disagree with the "social gospel" and the suggestion that the church is for helping the world even though that is an important and noble thing to do.
Jesus never gave such instructions.
The purpose of the church is clear:
Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
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Jesus' words didn't stop at verse 15. His words go on in verses 16-18:-
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
In the early days, miracles were given to accompany the preaching of gospel so as to support the establishment of the gospel.
Jesus Himself, in his earthly ministry, also did not just preach in vacuum. He healed the sick, fed the hungry etc. His good deeds accompanied His teachings and gave it credibility. Similarly, today the Christian's good manner of life is the way they preach the gospel.
1 Peter 2 v 9-10 is well-known "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
How to be a priest? How to declare the praises of Him?
Peter answers this in the verses that follow it (from 2 v 11 to 3 v 13), it is by the good manner of life.