Hell’s Kitchen in New York
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always found it a bit distressing that in the gospels Jesus tells us to be generous and compassionate toward the marginalized, even suggesting in the parable of the sheep and goats that it will be a litmus test for getting into heaven. And yet, if you express concern about these issues in any way in many conservative circles, you will earn their suspicion or even derision for being a “liberal” or “unbiblical” or “unchristian.” A prime example of this can be found in the way conservative pastor Rick Warren has been treated by many of his colleagues for suggesting that maybe Christians ought to care about AIDS victims, the environment, and poverty.
So when did this happen? In the first century, the very first formal ministry adopted by the church was to care for the widows and the orphans by providing food and care. And Acts 2 describes the church as sharing everything in such a way so that the church could give to anyone who had need. Try suggesting that in your next church business meeting and you will probably be shouted down as a communist. So how did we go from Acts 2 to where we are to today?
Well, it’s a very complicated issue, but a part of the answer, or blame, can be attributed to a guy I like to refer to as Uncle Walt, or Walter Rauschenbusch.
Uncle Walt was a German-American Baptist pastor who served the Second German Baptist Church on the outskirts of a place in New York known as “Hell’s Kitchen.” No one knows for sure why it was called such. It certainly had the reputation for being among the worst areas for crime and poverty. But one rumor has it that two policemen were patrolling the area and complaining about the heat. The first cop said something along the line, “Man it’s hot as Hell, here.” To which his partner responded, “This is hotter than Hell. This is Hell’s kitchen.”
That beings said, the name stuck. And not because of the summer heat, but because of the stuff that went on in this region.
Gang violence, prostitution, disease, hunger, addictions, spousal abuse and child enslavement were just a few of the social ills in Hell’s Kitchen, and as a pastor, Rauschenbusch faced these evils day after day. And after performing way too many funerals for children, Uncle Walt had a crisis of faith. If church was only about right doctrine and getting to heaven, then what earthly good was it?
With that in mind, he studied the Bible looking for guidance, and found inspiration in the preaching of the Old Testament prophets as well as in Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom. He published Christianity and the Social Crisis in 1907, and it shook the evangelical world to its core.
Eventually the term “Social Gospel” became associated with the movement Rauschenbusch started, even though he didn’t really like the term. To him, it was just “the gospel.” Nonetheless, he became a bit of a celebrity and found himself wrestling with many of the figures and forces he had confronted in his book.
Because of Rauschenbusch’s popularity, it didn’t take long for critics to rise up and attack him, attempting to link him to socialism and liberalism. And though he certainly had friends like Washington Gladden who championed biblical higher criticism, Rauschenbusch also befriended the Rockefellers and D.L. Moody, the iconic figures of capitalism and conservatism of the day.
Nonetheless, the critics won the PR battle, and ever since, caring about the poor has been misunderstood as a “liberal” idea.
But if caring about the marginalized is for liberals, then Jesus was a liberal. And where does that put those who refuse to participate in this endeavor, whatever they like to call themselves?
In a dangerous place, as Jesus warns in the parable of the sheep and goats.
I must, say, though, that I have hope. Because a new generation is rising up, weary of the polemics and name-calling of the past who don’t see liberal or conservative, but people. Broken people in desperate need, and they are expressing a great deal of courage and creativity in reaching out to them.
And so, as we begin the holiday season this week, I thought it would be appropriate for us to reflect on Uncle Walt’s true challenge, which had nothing to do with socialism or communism or liberalism or any other “ism.” It was simply to remember that among the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the marginalized, the thirsty and the naked is Jesus. And if we want to be with Him, we must follow Him there.
A Thanksgiving prayer from Walter Rauschenbusch…
“Our Father, we thank thee for the food of our body, and for the human love which is the food of our hearts. Bless our family circle, and make this meal a sacrament of love to all who are gathered at this table. But bless thou too that great family of humanity of which we are but a little part. Give to all thy children daily bread, and let our family not enjoy its comforts in selfish isolation.”
Listen to a recent interview with Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, the direct descendant of Walter Rauschenbusch here.
Love this. I have never considered before that what we term the “social gospel” is actually the gospel. Funny how we have managed to distinguish the two. Also love the quote at the end
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Amen! I know I feel closer to God’s love and calling when I serve. Liberal and Conservative – phooey. It’s good to be reminded that we are all human an in need of Christ. This reminds me of how Captain America, in the later stories, becomes a “citizen of the world,” not just America.
This is an interesting view on helping those in need. I agree that the new generation may lessen the view of helping others as being liberal. I have never considered helping those in need as a liberal action. Helping others is what we are called to do as Christians. It should be a challenge for everyone to live out Raushenbush’s prayer.
I never thought about this and how the church would see it as communism. I also never thought of us as the “social gospel” either. I love the last quote at the end. This really got me to thinking!
I think the group that equates compassion for the poor with liberalism is dying a slow death, though a few will always remain. The challenge today seems to be helping the church get away from the “Are they deserving/undeserving?” question. While discretion and wisdom play an important role, many who ask that question find most poor undeserving of their help. I’m blessed to be part of a church who takes the command to help the poor quite seriously, but we are wrestling with how to integrate a former sex offender back into the world and the church. Great blog.
I agree 100% with this entry. It’s important to remember the poor and the less fortunate during the holidays simply because we often forget how blessed we truly are.
It is sad that politics taken over so much of our lives that we have complete disreguard for the truths we are taught about Jesus’ life. For someone who have a conservative political view it is sad when you hear of people have a complete disreguard for social injustice, just because it is “liberal” From where I stand it just seems right.
Really like this. I feel like people throw the poor or the sick off to the side. We just drive by or think to ourselves “They have no chance.” When really that is not what were called to do. Challenging for sure.
I never knew people thought that way about it…Interesting!
It is so sad to see how the American church has drifted from the Acts 2 church. It is sad to hear the different conversations about the people that are standing on the corner asking for money and they judge them thinking they will go spend the money on alcohol. It is not our place to judge but to respond to God’s calling and feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison. What a wonderful reminder as we enter the Christmas season and to truly live out the calling that Christ has called us to do.
We all need to try modeling ourselves after Jesus Christ’s example better
What I dont understand is why this is even an issue! If the bible says that we should treat others like they are youre own brothers and sisters and to look out for those in need but people in society think its “unchristian and unbiblical”!! Shouldnt we follow the word of the Lord in our path to Heaven instead of the words and ideas of our fellow man?
This was an interesting blog. I’ve heard of “Hell’s Kitchen” before, but I never knew the context behind the name or how it ever originated. I think it’s unbelievable that the people of this world have changed the meaning of the Bible into something that they consider “unchristian” and “unbiblical” in regards to loving and helping those in need.
i do believe it is very important to give back. sometime we take for granted how good some of us actually have it.
I agree with Alexis, sometimes we turn away from what is really important in life and turn to a materialistic world. I really like this post
It is way important to give back! I love this blog!
Good words, I have recently threw out the politics in anything I do. My goal is to be a brother to the next person I see. I would rather be mugged and robbed of everything than to have to submit to being any political group. Yet I may be categorized in one that doesn’t bother me. I do the richeous thing and that’s not to hoard my money with haughty eyes. Yes I do spend way too much money on people around me but I trust I’ll get through it. I want to sustain from living a Life thats not content wIth anything because I’m too conservative. I do as I feel and trust it is from god and giving the homeless guy my lunch money for the week shouldnlt condemn me as anything I should be honored by others not that I want it but because the encouragement goes a long way.