The social gospel refers to a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement applied Christian ethics to social problems, especially poverty, inequality, liquor, crime, racial tensions, slums, bad hygiene, child labor, weak labor unions, poor schools, and the danger of war. Theologically, the social gospel leaders were overwhelmingly postmillennialist, asserting that Christ’s Second Coming could not happen until humankind rid itself of social evils by human effort. For them, the social gospel was a weapon against conservative theological traditions and social injustices.
The social gospel emerged in the late 19th century among diverse groups of Protestant ministers and theologians who sought to apply Christian teachings to contemporary social problems, especially issues of social justice, inequality, and materialism. Many early advocates of the social gospel considered themselves progressives. They called themselves progressives not so much because they held to a unified ideology or political platform but rather because they believed that the world could progress—technologically, morally, and spiritually. While primarily rooted in Protestant Christianity, and aimed at its audience, the social gospel also found expression in Catholic teachings.
Key leaders and important movements within the social gospel included Walter Rauschenbusch and the Settlement movement. While the social gospel shared a progressive social vision, it was theologically diverse and not formally associated with any particular Christian tradition. Theologically and politically, the social gospel crossed a broad spectrum from left to center to right. Major leaders included Richard T. Ely, Josiah Strong, Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, Charles Monroe Sheldon, and Jane Addams.
The social gospel emerged among liberal leaders in Baptist and Methodist churches in response to societal problems that grew out of industrialization, urbanization, and increasing immigration. Rejecting the fundamentalist idea that these problems stemmed from individual sins, social gospel proponents blamed them on exploitive class relationships in society, unrestrained capitalism, public corruption, racism, and nationalistic militarism. The social gospel signaled an optimistic belief that these conditions could be addressed by society, inspired by Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom demanded the regeneration of both individuals and society.
The social gospel was spread through religious gatherings, sermons, books, periodicals, and activities. Theologically, leaders used scripture to legitimize their positions. For example, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount called Christians to pursue justice and righteousness in life. Following Jesus’ example, Christians were called to heal society of its sin and injustice. The social gospel movement led to the formation of new ecumenical coalitions of churches that campaigned for specific social reforms. This led to the eventual rise of the ecumenical Social Creed.
The social gospel can be defined by these key characteristics:
- Emphasis on social salvation – Achieving justice and righteousness in society was seen as key to Christ’s Second Coming.
- Kingdom theology – The Kingdom of God was seen as requiring social as well as individual transformation.
- Critique of individualism – Sin was viewed more as a social problem than individual shortcoming.
- Reformist optimism – Faith in progress towards building the Kingdom of God on earth.
- Focus on imitating Jesus – His life seen as a call to reform society in his name.
In summary, the social gospel was a major Christian response to the social problems that arose during the rapid industrialization, urbanization, and economic upheavals of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It emphasized how Jesus’ ethical teachings could inspire systemic solutions for economic injustice, poverty, inequality, and other social ills of the time. Although a diverse movement, social gospel leaders shared a common belief that social salvation was as important as individual salvation for fulfilling the Kingdom of God.
Key Figures in the Social Gospel Movement
Walter Rauschenbusch
Walter Rauschenbusch (1861–1918) was a Baptist pastor in New York City and the key leader of the social gospel movement. Through his speaking and prolific writings, Rauschenbusch articulated the movement’s core vision and ideology. His 1907 book Christianity and the Social Crisis became the movement’s foundational text. Rauschenbusch defined Christianity as being concerned not only with getting individuals to heaven, but also with transforming society and institutions to align with Christ’s teaching.
As a minister working among impoverished immigrants in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, Rauschenbusch witnessed firsthand the problems caused by urban industrial capitalism. He became convinced that society, not just individuals, needed salvation. Rauschenbusch called on Christians to unite and work towards social reform, envisioning Christ’s Second Coming being contingent on achieving social justice on Earth. Rauschenbusch’s vision inspired many ministers and reformers who became active in the social gospel movement.
Washington Gladden
Washington Gladden (1836–1918) was a leader in the social gospel movement and one of the first clergymen to apply Christian ethics to economic issues in the U.S. As pastor of the First Congregational Church in Columbus, Ohio, Gladden spoke out on issues such as public utilities, child labor, women’s suffrage, and immigration. His 1899 book Social Salvation argued that cooperation, not competition, would solve modern social problems and usher in the Kingdom of God. Gladden also introduced profit sharing for employees at his church and fought corruption in local government. His example inspired many other clergymen to take an active role in applying Christian ethics to society.
Josiah Strong
Josiah Strong (1847-1916) was an American Protestant clergyman and author who helped spark the social gospel movement. In his influential 1885 book Our Country, Strong argued that the United States had a God-given mission to spread Christianity and western civilization throughout North and South America. However, Strong believed that cities were centers of anti-Christianity filled with saloons, prostitution, gambling, political corruption, and immigrant masses lacking moral character. To fulfill its divine national mission, Strong argued that America needed a revitalized Protestant Christianity to reform cities and assimilate immigrants into Anglo-Saxon culture.
Jane Addams
Jane Addams (1860-1935) pioneered the settlement house movement and was an important activist in the social gospel. In 1889 she founded Hull House in Chicago’s immigrant slums and worked to alleviate poverty and related social ills. Addams believed that Christianity’s message demanded active engagement through deeds, not just religious conversion. Hull House provided comprehensive services and became a model for the settlement movement. Addams worked closely with Protestant clergymen, eventually co-founding the ecumenical Federal Council of Churches which promoted the social gospel.
Key Concepts
The Kingdom of God
The social gospel was driven by the concept of the Kingdom of God. Social gospel supporters saw this kingdom as requiring social salvation, not just individual salvation. They believed that the Kingdom of God could only be established by transforming society along Christ’s vision of justice and righteousness. This meant reforming social institutions and economic systems to reflect Christian ethics. The social gospel aimed to build a Christian society as a necessary step towards Christ’s return.
Social Salvation
Most social gospel leaders saw social salvation as being just as important as individual salvation for fulfilling Christ’s vision. They argued that sin was social and systemic, not just personal moral failure. Society’s institutions and structures, not just individuals, needed to be redeemed and brought into alignment with God’s will. By reforming social evils, humanity could achieve a collective salvation that would pave the way for the Kingdom of God.
Social Justice
Achieving greater social justice became a key theme. Social gospel leaders spoke out against economic exploitation, inequality, crony capitalism, and theImpact reform activists could have a real impact in changing these conditions. Social justice was seen as core to Jesus’ message. This inspired activism around issues like poverty, workers’ rights, temperance, and women’s suffrage.
Social Activism
The social gospel encouraged social activism based on Christian teachings as crucial for achieving reform. Rauschenbusch wrote “the only power that can make socialism succeed…is the religious and moral forces that can be brought to its support.” By organizing and acting collectively, Christians could help usher in the Kingdom of God. This led to the rise of Christian activist groups and ecumenical organizations pushing for specific reforms.
Progressive Optimism
Most social gospel supporters embraced a postmillennial eschatology that humanity could progressively reform society to usher in Christ’s return. They rejected premillennialism, seeing it as defeatist. This reformist optimism was influenced by the evolutionary thought and social science theories popular at the time. The social gospel presented an optimistic faith that society’s problems could be solved through Christ-inspired human effort.
Key Issues
The social gospel movement was defined by its engagement with the key social issues of the late 19th and early 20th century industrial age. While specific causes varied, addressing poverty, inequality, greed, injustice and vice were common themes.
Wealth Inequality
Many social gospel writers criticized the vast disparities of wealth being created by industrial capitalism. Some blamed laissez-faire policies for privileging the rich over workers. In response, the social gospel supported reforms like minimum wages, public utilities, and labor regulations to reduce inequality.
Poverty
Urban slums and rural poverty became a core concern. Settlement houses like Jane Addams’ Hull House provided services to help alleviate urban poverty. Some social gospel leaders worked to improve rural access to credit and education. Alleviating poverty was seen as key to achieving social justice.
Labor Conditions
Dangerous factory conditions, child labor, low wages, and repressive anti-union policies led many social gospel leaders to support the labor movement. Some led strikes and boycotts, seeing unions as able to counter corporate power and greed. Improving labor conditions was an important reform goal.
Women’s Rights
Many social gospel supporters backed women’s suffrage as part of expanding human rights and democracy. Leaders like Gladden endorsed feminist goals like access to education and professions, property rights, and voting rights. Women played leadership roles in the social gospel and settlement house movements.
Temperance
Drinking was blamed for many societal problems like poverty, domestic violence, and political corruption. Many social gospel leaders thus embraced the temperance movement to prohibit alcohol sales. For example, evangelical leader Josiah Strong advocated temperance laws as necessary for urban reform.
Racial Injustice
Some social gospel leaders spoke out against racism, segregation, and lynching. However, the movement had tensions around race. While seeking justice, some like Josiah Strong also expressed paternalistic and nativist views on restricting non-Anglo-Saxon immigration.
War and Peace
As pacifists, certain social gospel leaders denounced World War I as antithetical to Christian ethics. However, others saw the war as necessary to achieve moral progress and preserve democracy. These divisions continued through subsequent wars.
Impact on Society
The social gospel left a significant legacy and had an important impact on American society:
- Spread awareness of social injustice and economic inequality.
- Helped inspire a generation of activists and reformers.
- Advanced goals like temperance, women’s suffrage, anti-corruption laws.
- Led to ecumenical Christian organizations uniting around social action.
- Contributed to the rise of the settlement house movement in cities.
- Pushed churches to be more involved in social problems and activism.
- Critiqued the worst aspects of industrial capitalism.
- Supported progressive reforms like minimum wages, labor laws.
- Advocated for expanded rights for women, immigrants, minorities.
- Engaged with major public issues like poverty, inequality, war.
At the same time, the social gospel had its limits and faced criticism from both conservatives and the emerging Christian left. Some saw it as diverging too much from traditional theology and evangelism. However, it remains influential today among liberal Christian groups engaged in social justice activism.
Key Takeaways
In summary, some key takeaways about the social gospel movement include:
- Applied Christian ethics to social problems arising from industrialization.
- Sought both individual and “social salvation.”
- Believed in building Kingdom of God by reforming society.
- Focused on social justice and activism, inspired by Jesus.
- Critiqued laissez faire economics, promoted reforms.
- Led by socially minded ministers and reformers.
- Progressive in theology and politics.
- Interdenominational, encouraged Christian unity.
- Inspired settlement house movement in cities.
- Led to rise of Christian social justice organizations.
In short, the social gospel movement represented a socially conscious and activist interpretation of Christianity that engaged with many of the most pressing social issues of late 19th and early 20th century America. It called for both personal and social salvation through building a more just, equitable and moral society aligned with Biblical values and Christ’s vision of the Kingdom of God on earth.