Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 33:64 (Spring 2020)
Article: Dispensationalism’s Refusal Of The Social Gospel And The Effect Of Its Refusal On The Urgency Of Evangelization
Author: Yoonhee Oh

JOTGES 33:64 (Spring 2020) p. 81

Dispensationalism’s Refusal Of The Social Gospel And The Effect Of Its Refusal On The Urgency Of Evangelization

Yoonhee Oh

Senior Pastor

Saengsoo Church (Living Water Baptist Church)Sherwood, AR

I. Introduction

Modern missions cannot be discussed without also discussing eschatology. This is because how one sees eschatology—whatever system of eschatology to which he holds—will impact how he conducts missions.1 In the same light, one’s eschatology will also form one’s theory of missions.

David J. Bosch accurately discusses the development of each system of eschatology and its influence on missions.2 Besides Bosch, many missiologists agree that there is a connection between each system

JOTGES 33:64 (Spring 2020) p. 82

of eschatology and how its adherents have historically conducted missions.3

An important contribution of Bosch to the discussion is his comments on Matt 24:14. He points out that this verse in the Lord’s Olivet Discourse began to be employed by premillennialists as central to their conduct and theory of missions.4

Commenting on how premillennialists often looked at Matt 24:14, Bosch explains: “Christ’s return was now understood as being dependent upon the successful completion of the missionary task; the preaching of the gospel was a condition to be fulfilled before the end comes.”5

Such an understanding of Matt 24:14 has provided faithful believers with a missionary motivation and encouraged them to adopt an urgency in the area of missions.

This is one facet of premillennialism’s impact on missions. But there were others, such as the emphasis on seeing the spiritual salvation of people.6 Premillennialists have mainly focused on the personal salvation of those they meet on the mission field.

Related to this is dispensationalism. Many premillennialists have historically been identified as dispensationalists. Dispensational

JOTGES 33:64 (Spring 2020) p. 83

premillennialists have been particularly identified as believers who see an urgency in missions that would bring eternal salvat...