America's Gospel

So I've been doing quite a bit of thinking lately about what is the good news for the average american. Many times in middle-class churches we come across what I feel is a mis-applied social gospel, wherein the message is that upon committing your life to following Christ, things will go well for you, you'll be able to guiltless sleep at night, you will find more meaning in relationships, etc. In short, that you will be able to find that extra edge to living life to the fullest. While I will concede that the social gospel is appropriate in certain contexts (i.e. amongst the poor, destitute, oppressed) it is a rather egregious misapplication to those who really face no physical burdens, aside from the phenemonological. 

Lately I've been reading through the minor prophets a bit, and one of the pervasive themes is justice. It could be said that the ultimate reason that the Israelites entered into judgement was through the apostasy via injustice. So, I wonder this concept of Justice and righteousness that comes from practicing justice fits in with the gospel or the good news of the coming of the Kingdom of God. It seems that the content of Jesus' message was that the Kingdom of God was at hand, and that was great news to the poor and oppressed because it meant their liberation. But what is less obvious is what that good news to the poor was to mean to the wealthy, to the oppressors. In my mind, it would seem intuitive that in order for the promises of the good news to come to fruition amidst the down-trodden, there must be some involvement and commitment from those on the top.

What does this mean for those who already have all their physical needs met? Do we take Luke at his literal word that those who are physically poor will be blessed, or do we maintain the traditional american interpretation that coincides more with Matthew's Blessed are the poor in spirit? Is there a large component of our gospel missing? If so, what is it? Also, what comfort is there, then to the middle and upper class?