“Most people look only to the renewal of the individual. Most
social reformers look only to the renewal of society. We believe
that two factors make up the man, the inward and the outward, and so
we work for the renewal and Christianization of the individual and
society. Most Christians demand a private life for God and leave
business to the devil. Most social reformers demand justice for
business life, in order that private life may be given to pleasure.
We plead for self-sacrifice in private life, in order to achieve
justice in business life, and for justice in business life that
purity in private life may become possible. Most Christians say,
wait until men are converted, then a perfect social order will be
possible. Most social reformers say, wait until we have a perfect
social order, then all men will be good. We say, go at both
simultaneously; neither is possible without the other. They say
Wait! We say, Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

-Rauschenbusch