Every Salvationist publicly states at the time of their enrolment that they ‘believe and will live by the truths of the word of God expressed in The Salvation Army’s eleven articles of faith.’ In addition every soldier solemnly declares that they “will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, they will show the spirit of Salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution.”
In his well-known song “I renew my covenant with thee’ Will Brand asks the question – ‘have I grieved thee with an ill-kept vow?’
TSA in the UK has a hard-core clique of Officers and soldiers who are openly dismissing (in both practice and public preaching) the following Army beliefs:
- Doctrine 5 – Original sin
- Doctrine 9 – The possibility of back sliding
- Doctrine 10 – Holiness
- Doctrine 11 – The general judgment and eternal punishment of the wicked
In addition we have:
- Officers who baptise new converts
- Corps that regularly hold what can only be described as communion services,
- Officers who question our commitment to total abstinence from tobacco and alcohol,
- Officers who only ever wear their uniform when compelled to
- Officers and soldiers who openly rebel against the instructions of their leaders in these particular areas,
Under the guise of post modernism, cultural relevance, free expression and intellectual freedom these Officers and soldiers are all attempting to serve God ‘with an ill kept vow’ for they are living lives completely at odds with the two covenants mentioned above.
Anyone who disagrees with TSA’s beliefs and practices to such a degree should feel morally obligated to resign their Officership and ask for their soldiership to be cancelled. Once they are not in disagreement with the covenants they voluntarily made they are then free to fight their revolution. To be so at odds with one (and for Officers two) sacred covenants is deliberate sin and dishonours themselves, the Army and most of all God.
Broken covenants are a serious business – either keep your covenants or cancel them but please don’t compromise them – such sin in the camp merely withholds God’s blessing from the Army.
“Have I ceased from walking close beside thee?
Have I grieved thee with an ill kept vow?
In my heart of hearts have I denied thee?
Speak oh speak dear Lord and tell me know.”
Have I grieved thee with an ill kept vow?
In my heart of hearts have I denied thee?
Speak oh speak dear Lord and tell me know.”
Grace and peace, Andrew Bale
9 COMMENTS:
Two areas related to this come to my mind. The Salvation Army is highly regulated and strict. The Salvation Army and God are not the same thing. Also it must be remembered that in most instances (except those that protect the organization as a church-religious organization)The Salvation Army is a mission and movement,not a Church.
I am not thrilled the about the way that two doctrines are worded but I can accept them for what is intended. I also understand, the stand on communion but still think there is irrational reasoning why NOT to practice it.
I am surprised at the open disregard to Army policy and doctrine in the UK. I would think that there would be more disregard and disagreement in the United States.
Intersting information for the least. I had no idea.
USA former
Andrew,
I don't understand. If these people are actively preaching against 4 doctrines and the Army's ban on tobacco and alcohol consumption then what sort of "leaders" do you have who allow them to continue on?
The tobacco thing alone will lead to premature deaths. Also sophisticated 4th generation Salvationists etc. had better be very careful when it comes to their attitudes concerning alcohol. Whatever it was that their alcoholic granddaddy had that led him to the Army in the first place may still be floating around in their gene pools. Could they be THAT stupid?
Are you sure that these people are doing exactly as you say or are they questioning whether or not it is possible to imbibe, etc. and still be a Xian---which of course it is? As long as the Army's position and standard for soldiership is explained and adhered to I see no problem in admitting that people in other fellowships can still be Xians and partake in those activities.
Are you sure that they're having communion services or are they just increasing the number of Love Feasts---which has been condoned by the Army since its beginning?
Though the Love Feast looks an awful lot like a communion service it is always stated during the service that it is not a requirement of nor a sign of salvation.
Could officers who more frequently use the Love Feast see it as a way of attracting and keeping people who grew up in and left other denominations to the Army? Could it be in these officer's minds a way of keeping such visitors from perceiving the Army as cultish? What would be wrong with that as long as the Army's position was stated during the service as it should be?
Btw, in 1969 when I was in the U.S. Navy and stationed for nine months in a small town in the USA Southern Territory not once did I ever see my C.O. in uniform! He even made the renmark that he hoped he could still fit into his uniform in time for officer's councils. His wife wore the old white dress uniform with the red S on the collar on Sunday but no one ever saw her in dress uniform either. Needless to say they weren't in the work for very long!
Daryl Lach
USA Central
"You Must Go Home by the Way of the Cross, to Stand with Jesus in the Morning!"
I have some of the same concerns as Daryl. My thought is that if someone has big differences with the Army they should consider moving on. Often we pick our own battles. Who agrees with everything 100% anyway ? Now many are compromising Christian standards that go beyond The Salvation Army. I see too much worldliness moving into the ranks through many levels.
Do I dare use the word liberal. That was for you Daryl! LOL
USA former
Very interesting and challenging Andrew. I agree with you, we have choices to make and sometimes the more God honouring way would be to be honest and resign and allow The Salvation Army to be Army. However, saying that I recall two cadets in my session who were in my mind very liberal in their thinking and proud of their open-mindedness and strength to think out of the box. I don't know when, at a guess I would say 10 or so years into officership our paths crossed again and wow - they were such changed people, any sense of being 'liberal' was gone and to a large degree it was as if everything had become black or white with no grey areas. I thank God they worked things through, remain to be very good SA Officers and in an appointment where growth, change, conversions and holiness are the norm and the expected.
Andrew, thank you for writing in the brave, open, honest and challenging way you have. God bless you and Tracy in your on-going ministry.
Active UKT
I am concerned that TSA is becoming an institution with set rules and regulations that can not be questioned. It should be a growing, changing 'movement' that stays relevant to the people it is ministering to. Just look at the early Army - how it used whatever was necessary to attract people of the day. Joe the Turk paraded around in fancy dress playing his cornet, one Captain (forgot his name) cottoned on to the psyche of the military environment (country was often at war) and started using military terminology because it was relevant to the day. Other Salvationists musicians used popular music - such as Champaign Charlie, or the Can-Can, or My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean etc. to attract people. Abstinence was preached simply because there were too many alcoholics who couldn't stay off the drink - remember - Booth himself had his shot of brandy every night before bed. And in the very early days of TSA, communion (bread and wine) was a part of TSA services. As Daryl points out - TSA has ALWAYS had communion in it's service - just not the formal 'bread and wine' that other churches have. The love feast - which incorporates the bread and wine (or dark grape juice) has always been an integral part of TSA - and those that don't practice it are the ones who are out of touch with the history of TSA. Let's get our history right before we start saying what TSA is about or not.
As has been said in previous responses in previous posts - TSA Doctrines are so broadly written, even the most liberal Christian can accept them all - they just may have difficulty with how some people understand them. Also, some people may perceive that these liberal Salvationists are preaching against the doctrine - when they are simply adhering to the liberal interpretation of them.
BTW - TSA IS a church - that is, a body of believers - which is also a movement.
Yours in Christ
Graeme Randall
Former Australian East
Graeme,
Where did you ever read/hear that Booth took a shot of brandy every night before he went to bed? I never heard of that before but whenever he did write or preach on the subject of alcohol he was definitely a believer in abstinence. Could you be refering to a practice he did as a young man before he and Catherine tied the knot? Does anyone else have any informmation on this?
Also as far as there being "alcoholics all over the place who couldn't stay off the drink" that is certainly still true today and especially true among a large population that the Army works with in its rehab centers.
In the same way that the Army is a Holiness church it also came out of the abstinence movement and should remain so. As I stated before people who grew up in abstinence homes/churches don't always see the dangers ahead when they get lacksadaisical on that issue---especially considering what might be floating around in their own gene pools. Many times they come from abstinence families because someone a few generations back was a raging drunk who got saved in an abstinence church such as the Army.
I remember meeting a man once who didn't start drinking until he was 49 and turned into a full blown skid row alcoholic!
I do remember reading in "1929" that during the proceedings against Bramwell Booth one of the top Commissioners (Haines?)had cardiac and breathing problems from which he unexpectedly died. Before he died they sent out for some brandy as an elixir to help him. So is it possible that maybe in the early days brandy could be used for medicinal purposes under certain circumstances because they had nothing else? But then again that certainly wouldn't be the case today. You'll do much better in an emergency like that if you pop a couple of aspirin!
Anyway, that's my take on it. Abstinence is STILL relevant for the Army today---and for the world! No one is saying that you can't be a Xian and drink but those churches that came out of the abstinence movement including the Army still have their place and particular witness and are still very relevant!
Daryl Lach
USA Central
P.S. As far as tobacco is concerned why anyone would want to eliminate that prohibition for soldiership with all that is known about it today is a total anathema to me! It was largely discouraged from the beginning days of the Army and made a rule in 1978. By my lights it's one of the best rules the Army ever instituted!
Oops! In my P.S. I meant enigma, not anathema. Sorry for the typo!
Daryl Lach
USA Central
William Booth did drink and was prescribed by a doctor a glass of alcohol each night. Catherine put a stop to it though.The same as she did with communion. It was for medicinal purposes but dicontinued. I read this somewhere in SA history many years ago but cannot remember where.
As far as the Army being a church the answer would be yes and no. Honestly it is to the soldier and an officer who (Pastors)or (Shepherds ) the flock. To others it is a movement, a social sevice organization, or a Christian organization like a para-church group (which is entirely incorrect).I see it more like a mission and so did the Booths, but it has grown into a church. As we know there are disagreements on what The Salvation Army should be these days. Some despise to use "churchy" terms and in fact many mega churches have made changes to be "user friendly" as to not scare away or offend people. You can enter some large churches in the USA and not realise that you are in a Baptist or Pentecostal Church because of the different name and the lack of Christian jargon and the absense of a cross or religious symbols.Christian (rock and contemporary) praise bands often are a big part of morning worship in these churches. Church leaders focus on the current age for music and current cutural relevancy. I think that Willaim Booth would agree with much of this.
USA former
"I had to have brandy twice, was really ill, thought much of you. Got better and went and preached, and came home and made a hearty dinner of goose, etc., etc"
Begbie's book
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