The Social Gospel Movement and Adventism from Late Ninteenth to Early Twentieth Century in the United States

Seminary Room S120

The Social Gospel is a religious social-reform movement prominent in the United States from about 1870 to 1920. Advocates of the movement interpreted the Kingdom of God as requiring social as well as individual salvation and sought the betterment of industrialized society through application of the biblical principles of charity and justice. The Social Gospel is rooted in American Protestant liberalism, which was largely influenced by the ideologies of the Progressive Era during late nineteenth century. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, while distancing itself from the Social Gospel mainly due to theological reasons, had fought for social issues of its time by implementing a form of social welfare programs as part of the gospel rather than replacing it. Adventists’ primary focus had been on the salvation of the soul of individuals, drawing on the belief that total social redemption is possible only with God who will fulfill it at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.