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Why God
Is Not Finished With The Salvation Army
by Captain Pete
Brookshaw
The response was varied. The readership
was huge. The viral nature of a previous article astounded me.
I wrote a piece entitled, 'Why
The Salvation Army is in decline and what we can do about it!'
For different reasons it sparked discussion right around the
globe (especially in the West - and many are right when they
assert that decline is most relevant IN the West). In one
corner people agreed, and in another there was vehement
disagreement. Some sought to sharpen up the original post,
with some clarifying thoughts. Some pointed out that some of
my assertions were general assumptions and not applicable to
their setting.
Well, the dust has settled and I want to follow up that
provocative post with Part 2: Why God is Not Finished with
The Salvation Army.
I am convinced that Salvationists need a sense of urgency of
the need for change, hence my previous post. One does not get
a hair cut until they are dissatisfied with their current hair
style (Ok, I do not speak from experience on that one...). You
know what I mean? We cannot change the course of history by
trying to solve the challenges we have with the same thinking
that existed when the challenge arose. We must think outside
the box. Give new things a shot. We keep what is absolutely
essential to what makes us The Salvation Army, and allow the
Lord to reveal to us new ways of expressing gospel-centered
ministry to a broken world in our rapidly changing global
environment.
So, that's why I have written this post. God is not finished
with The Salvation Army. In fact, I think the best days are
still ahead. No offense, Will and Kate. You did great things.
Though God has planted something within this movement that
desires to do greater things!
We could rewind to the vision imparted to The Salvation Army
from William Booth, found within In Darkest England and the
Way out. The vision was an army pulling people from the
ills of society, and giving them the hope of full salvation.
You can see workers straining to reach out to people in need.
There is a passion for the transformative work of Jesus to
transpire in people's lives.
Today we have Salvationists right around the globe still
working tirelessly to draw people out of addictions, hate,
pornography, apathy, homelessness, loneliness, anger, abuse,
bitterness and the list goes on.
I think of the street ministries of Salvationists and
volunteers that give cups of cold water to those who thirst,
and the community lunches that feed the hungry. I know of a
ministry that provides free legal advice to those on lower
incomes. There are Salvation Army hospitals and schools, and
rehab centres, and shelters from abuse. There are Corps that
are ignited by a passion to lead people to Christ and disciple
them in the process. Some Salvation Army communities of faith
meet in buildings, under trees, in houses, in fields, in large
basketball arenas, in 'mission houses' and even in secret.
There is a passion to do something about our faith!
But one knows only too well, that there is still a job ahead
of us.
This is why I believe God is not finished with The Salvation
Army. See, within this movement is an embedded DNA that says,
while there is still one lost soul, we'll fight. While there
is still brokenness, we'll fight.
We're still fighting.
Until the fullness of the Kingdom of God has come among us, we
will keep fighting.
We may wrestle with what The Salvation Army looks like a
decade from now. We may not be able to conceive of how God
will shape us moving forward. No doubt we'll discuss uniforms
and music and ecclesiastical structures. A commissioner here
and there will make some tough decisions. We'll debate about
how to do effective mission in the world and we'll work at
finding alignment on such issues. But that being said, I know
this: we'll keep fighting.
We'll keep fighting, because there is still something to fight
for. And while there is still something to fight for, you'll
find The Salvation Army.
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