Not a Protestor But an Ambassador
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel as he moved towards Rome. It was a city of slaves but he would not center his preaching against slavery. It was a city of lust but he would not center his preaching on moral reform. It was a city of economic injustice but he would not center his preaching on momentary palliatives. It was a city built on war's rapacity but he would not center his preaching on pacifism. Anyone who seeks to preach in such directions cannot find his texts in the Bible. It is true, of course, that here and there, there are the verses which show that peace and righteousness and justice are the by-products of the Christian faith, but these must be attained not by centering our preaching on their necessity or their moral rightness, but by setting forth the power which alone can bring them into being and practice in individual lives. To preach a social gospel without the redemptive background of the individ...
