Final answer:
Reverend Washington Gladden's ideas were aligned with the social gospel, emphasizing active social reform and daily life improvements over focusing solely on the afterlife, inspiring churches to offer practical community services.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that best reflects Reverend Washington Gladden's ideas is that Christians and church leaders should actively engage in social reforms for improving the conditions of daily life in society as opposed to focusing solely on the afterlife. Gladden, a proponent of the social gospel, preached the importance of 'loving thy neighbor' and inspired actions towards societal betterment. This ethos contributed to churches offering practical community services such as gymnasiums, libraries, and classes on hygiene and health care, aligning with the movement of religious organizations like the Salvation Army and the YMCA during the 1870s.