I recently started reading the December issue of Tabletalk magazine (which is a great magazine -www.ligonier.org/tabletalk/) and in the introduction article, R.C. Sproul examines the perceived conflict between social justice and mercy ministries and other ministries within the church.

He rightly points out that this is a false dichotomy.  We don’t choose between doing evangelism and doing social justice.  The choice for the church, and for Christians, is a both/and proposition.  Yes, the church must do evangelism, and yes, the church must be involved in social justice causes.

The message of the gospel and the New Testament expresses a concern for the condition of  people’s souls and the need for personal redemption through the work of Christ on the cross.  But as Sproul reminds us, the message also is concerned with the suffering and condition of people in the world right now.

I’m thankful for Dr. Sproul in reminding us that we must do both.  Too often, we as Evangelicals have run away from mercy ministries because of its association with Protestant liberalism and the “social gospel” of the 19th century.  This corruption of the church’s mission by liberalism does not negate our responsibility to actively pursue social justice.  As Sproul states, “if we reject either the ministry of personal redemption or of mercy to the afflicted, we express unbelief”

Let’s be diligent to do both and while doing so, believe the whole gospel.