Integral Mission: Is Social Action Part of the Gospel?
This paper evaluates the origin of Integral Mission and argues that the gospel is being re-defined
to require socio-economic engagement, something beyond its biblical definition. A review of Acts and the Epistles of the New Testament demonstrates that although socio-economic injustices were widespread in first-century Rome, the Apostolic church did not establish programs to address social needs as a method for evangelism. Although societal changes may have been brought about by people whose lives were transformed by the gospel, societal change was not the reason that Christians shared the gospel. This paper seeks to elevate the biblical gospel because of its inherent power to change lives, while keeping it separate from human programs and social action, which, although important, are different endeavors.