The way we think about Christian witness has been shaped by the controversy early in the century between the social gospel and fundamentalist movements, each a reaction to the Enlightenment. The social gospel emphasized the immanent kingdom expressed concretely in improved human welfare; the fundamentalist put priority on evangelism—calling men and women to prepare for the future kingdom. Since 1945 there has been considerable movement toward a mediating position that holds the two elements together; but this has not resolved the problem. The New Testament model of the kingdom provides the only solution.
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