And since when is standing up for the gospel (which would include upright moral behavior) not something for the “glory of God”?
It's this "standing up for the moral good" that has to be dashed -- in people's minds in regards to the Salvation through Jesus, the Messiah of Israel.
There's the problem, along with the problem of the "Social Gospel" -- both being a perversion of the true Gospel... which is salvation by faith and not of works... (i.e., no amount of "standing for upright moral behavior").
You wrote:
“It’s this “standing up for the moral good” that has to be dashed — in people’s minds in regards to the Salvation through Jesus, the Messiah of Israel.”
No, I suggest that people merely get it right instead. We MUST be obedient to God and that means avoiding sin with God’s grace. We, therefore, since we must restore all things in Christ (Eph. 1:10), stand up for what is right in the public sphere so that “Christ may be all and in all”(Col. 3:2).
As Pope Pius X wrote in 1903:
“Hence it follows that to restore all things in Christ and to lead men back to submission to God is one and the same aim ... If We, through the goodness of God Himself, bring this task to a happy issue, We shall be rejoiced to see evil giving place to good, and hear, for our gladness, “ a loud voice from heaven saying: Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ.” (Apoc. xii., 10.) But if our desire to obtain this is to be fulfilled, we must use every means and exert all our energy to bring about the utter disappearance of the enormous and detestable wickedness, so characteristic of our time - the substitution of man for God; this done, it remains to restore to their ancient place of honor the most holy laws and counsels of the gospel; to proclaim aloud the truths taught by the Church, and her teachings on the sanctity of marriage, on the education and discipline of youth, on the possession and use of property, the duties that men owe to those who rule the State; and lastly to restore equilibrium between the different classes of society according to Christian precept and custom. This is what We, in submitting Ourselves to the manifestations of the Divine will, purpose to aim at during Our Pontificate, and We will use all our industry to attain it. It is for you, Venerable Brethren, to second Our efforts by your holiness, knowledge and experience and above all by your zeal for the glory of God, with no other aim than that Christ may be formed in all.” http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_x/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-x_enc_04101903_e-supremi_en.html
You wrote:
“There’s the problem, along with the problem of the “Social Gospel” — both being a perversion of the true Gospel...”
The term ‘Social Gospel’ is way too loaded to be understood as meaning one thing to all people. And correct Social Doctrine is never a perversion of the true Gospel but a manifestation of charity and love of God.
“which is salvation by faith and not of works... (i.e., no amount of “standing for upright moral behavior”).”
1) James 2:24 makes it plain that it is not just faith that is rewarded with grace.
2) You are making the almost chronically common Protestant mistake of misunderstanding the role of morals. Again, restore all things in Christ.