Sister Eleanor at the Evening Beaches Blog picked up on the conversation I had wit Graeme on which he blogged over at UK Salvationist. At the same time the discussion about uniform is yet again adressed over at Blod & Eld1. It all comes together in a discussion about our Salvation Army identity.
Here is my reply to the comment on the fact that more uniform wearing will not save anyone. (Translated from Swedish)
The Salvation Army is a Christian subculture, The Pentacostal movement already exists, we do not need to be like them, {{We are The Salvation Army and only by being The Salvation Army will we see people saved.}} This is the mandate we have been given by God!
By trying to become like other denominations we will die, or just become that other denomination, but we will not be The Salvation Army and we will not have the mandate to do what The Salvation Army was raised by God to do.
The real question is not the uniform, but the real question is rather, Did God raise up The Salvation Army and does The Salvation Army still have a right to exist today and in the future?
I say Yes! God raised up The Salvation Army to do a job and God gave us a unique way to do it! Part of our uniqueness is the soldiership, the uniform, the mercy seats, the military metaphor it is what makes us who we are. It doesn’t make us specia, but it does make us The Salvation Army.
Sister Eleanor I will join the party I will celebrate God and His calling to The Salvation Army by being a Salvationist without abandon, I will join you!
- The Swedish Salvation Army Youth web community [↩]
From an outsider’s view, someone who is not in the SA, the discussion on identity is ambiguous. In one way, I can understand that any organisation that has been around long enough must redevelop its identity to find its place and time.
At the same time, the parallell discussion on uniform and who should wear it seems odd. I know wuite a few people whose opinion on the church in general is negative, whose views on Christianity is dubious at best, but who still believes in the cause of the salvation army. “They help people”
As an evangelical movement, TSA must struggle with its purpose. What makes it different than the methodists from which it sprang? What differs it from the modern non-labeled evangelical movements? These might feel like important questions. I don’t agree, personally. As far as the faith and spirituality goes, being Christian is not about being different. It’s not about being something this-or-that. It’s about believing in Christ and serving Him as best one can. This is a mission for every single congregation, for every single individual.
In the encyclical mentioned earlier, Benedictus XVI states three general purposes of the church: 1) To spread the word of God and the evangelical mission to others. 2) To celebrate Christ and come together in his name, and help lay people with a routine for doing this (in Catholicism = holding mass), 3) condut acts of charity for the poor and needy. These three are equal in value, and we are all given various gifts for them.
When Patrik wrote about Kaleb, I thougth of who my personal bible hero was… and there are many to choose from. One of the ones at the top is Stefanos, who was charged by the apostles to lead the work among the poor and needy.
I don’t know if I am even on target in the identity and uniform discussion as I do not know its origins, but I read Matthew 25:34-36 and I think of your organisation. There’s the charge.
To me, and to millions of other “outsiders”, the purpose of the SA, the uniqiueness of it is not in the evangelical message. The evangelical message does not have to be unique – it already is in all its glory. To me, and the other “outsiders”, I think it’s clear what differs you from the methodists and the baptists. They are a church. You are a movement. You both go with God. The difference is – you also go with people.
As long as there is a single crying man under the cardboard boxes in the city, as long as there is a confused and saddened child abused, as long as there is a drinking man fighting to rid himself of his addiction, The Salvation Army has not fought its last battle!
And my personal opinion, by the way, is that you should keep your uniforms on throughout that war. It gives a sense of belonging, a sense of identity. If you want to modernize their looks – fine. But keep the uniforms, as they tell everyone where you are – what you are. Soldiers of Christ, battling the darkness in every shape or form. One bread at a time, one blanket at a time.