a Biblical thought...
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." (Luke 3:11)
a Book thought...
When we invest in others, we have no idea where God will take them or what he'll do in them. But we can be a part of it, a witness to his work. (p155 Logan & Miller)
a Dave thought...
John Cleary recently said it is not Salvation that makes our movement distinct but rather the fact that we are an Army. Some in our movement are perhaps embarrassed with our military emphasis or just find it irrelevant but unless we believe in our uniqueness we will continue to blend into the spectrum of many other denominations. So in order for us to operate and function like the army God has called us to be we must discover a way to recruit soldiers and officers who are willing to fight. If we don't discover what it means to be an army today and how to function effectively in the 21st century perhaps we should just change our name to The Salvation Church.
John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." (Luke 3:11)
a Book thought...
When we invest in others, we have no idea where God will take them or what he'll do in them. But we can be a part of it, a witness to his work. (p155 Logan & Miller)
a Dave thought...John Cleary recently said it is not Salvation that makes our movement distinct but rather the fact that we are an Army. Some in our movement are perhaps embarrassed with our military emphasis or just find it irrelevant but unless we believe in our uniqueness we will continue to blend into the spectrum of many other denominations. So in order for us to operate and function like the army God has called us to be we must discover a way to recruit soldiers and officers who are willing to fight. If we don't discover what it means to be an army today and how to function effectively in the 21st century perhaps we should just change our name to The Salvation Church.
Just a thought.
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5 comments:
I think this issue was discussed sometime ago on another blog site which I followed with interest. In the past and present many examples of the church shaping itself on a military model and becoming institutionally captive to that model to the point that it effectively reduced the gospel and dilute Christian mission. Examples of can be readily seen in the Crusades, the rigorous militarism of Loyola’s Jesuits, and even ourselves as The Salvation Army. Unfortunately the military model has constantly led the church to move far from the gospel in its appropriation and use of power. While the NT uses occasional military metaphors it is interesting to note that they are not the main metaphors that the early church used to define itself. May be a change to Salvation Church is an idea whose day has come. Graham
Anon- I'm conflicted about the thought that the military model has led our church from the gospel..... people are responsible for that. Salvation of souls is the foundation for what we do as an army.
There are some, especially from the Muslim faith, who do see us as a militaristic movement, therefore directly assoicaiteing us with the early crusades, colonialists and other militaristic "Godly" campaigns.
Is this the way to continue, if we are wanting to become CHrsitians who preach about 'wholeness' and 'salvations for the whole man, every man/"
The rest of the statement "...far from the gosepl in its appropriation and use of power". When this happens we tend to domesticate the gospel and thus find we have more from the gospel.
Our cue for the exercise of power is Jesus. In choosing the use of power he reject the use of power for selfish reason, for sel-grandizement, and the ways of the kingdoms of the world. We need to do the same.
This raises two questions: "what is the Gospel?" And "How is the church (TSA) to give relevant expression and faithful emodiment to the gospel? Both the identity and mission of the church is wrapped up in these questions.
The Gospel is the person and work of Jesus as the salvation event towards which God's mission has been moving and from which that mission now moves into the whole world on its way to the eschatological consummation when God fulfills all his promises. The gospel is not about us - it is about the faithfulness of God. Our identity and mission must be dominated and shaped by the gospel we seek to proclaim. GG
I do believe anon has something here. I notice that with Jesus although his Kingdom of God language was very political and would has resonated with his hearers militarist approach to bringing in the Kingdom, he refused the way of militarism and the militarisation of the gospel, as the way of bringing in the Kingdom and saving souls. May be we need to do the same.
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