Is the social gospel out of date? That, obviously, is a loaded question. In fact, it is double-barreled.

First, it is charged with combustible emotionalism that is liable to explode whenever the trigger-term "social" is used. To the fear-conditioned conservative, "social" smacks of socialism. And what could be more dangerous than communism which, they’ve carefully taught, is nothing but socialism in a hurry? To these people the phrase "social gospel" has become a hate term, a scapegoat slogan into which they can put all their resentments at any suggestion of change in the status quo.

Second, it is charged with a derogatory implication by the use of the words "out of date." To hint that anything may be outmoded is, in the eyes of the rigid conformist, to give it the "kiss of death."

The first …