We call for a visionary leader who would throw out all the baggage attached to TSA hierarchy and actually change the Army for the greater good.
We call for a visionary leader who will put people and communities first before the self-serving trappings of rank and 'power'.
We call for a visionary leader who would subjugate the secular ‘One Army’ and give pre-eminence to ‘One Lord’.
We call for a visionary leader with the spiritual gift of discernment: ‘Teach me good judgment and knowledge (Psalm 119:66)
We call for a visionary leader to inspire us to recapture the evangelical fervour of the early day Salvationists.
We call for a visionary leader to restore solid biblical teaching to our young people, many of whom we prize as ‘Army’ but who are largely spiritually illiterate and ill-equipped to recognise the dangers and temptations that would take them away from Christian service.
We call for a visionary leader who will peel back the layers of the Army’s worldly wealth and corporate influence to find the soul of the people beneath, and to stand up for the gospel of Christ and not bow to demands for conditional spiritual nihility.
We call for a visionary leader who will instigate a Biblically authenticated democracy within the ranks for everyone, regardless of age – a leader who will allow challenges to be raised, and challenging questions to be asked, and who will put an end to the constant positive spin that exists in Army media today. It is just not realistic.
We call for a visionary leader who will put an end to the totalitarian practices that exist, where soldiers, adherents, friends are denied a voice to challenge what they see as wrong.
There is more for which we could call, but the above list shows there is much within our Army which needs addressing.
It isn't 1929 anymore! People can be trusted with and can deal with unpalatable truths, people can forgive, and extend grace to each other, and in so doing we can build up the kingdom as we each are strengthened in faith and encouraged by each other and guided by God so to do. We are all less than perfect. But church leaders do not sit spiritually far from the flock – they are not elevated to Godlike-status just because they are leaders. Pope Francis said he is a sinner first and foremost – and so are we all. We all fall from grace, but we are also all one in Christ Jesus, and each one of us must abide by the spiritual guidelines we are all called to follow in His Word – there are no exceptions.
Here are some ‘General’ words:
We have a gospel that matches the hour,
We have discovered the true source of power,
Man is a weakling, but he can be strong,
Choosing the right and refusing the wrong.
Man has no meaning, no purpose, no soul,
Till he discovers that God is his goal.
This is the gospel that claims all our powers,
This is good news for this age of ours.
General Cox – we have the gospel that matches the hour. Are you the man for the hour? I pray that you are.
FSAOF
16 comments:
I would love to see a website similar to this one brought into being by the Salvation Army. There is honest discussion on a range of issues here. Many articles attract numerous comments - others just a few or none.
Being able to actually write down your viewpoint is important, as well as reading the responses. It's healthy discussion because someone else's comment may be something you hadn't thought of, and your breadth of knowledge widens.
What other self-respecting organisation denies its members a voice?
One aspect of unacceptable SA behaviour in the Howard Hospital discussions was the revelation that people who had taken the trouble to write in on the 'contact the general' page actually had their messages deleted. I was shocked and upset at that. It's important that members are valued, and they should have an opportunity to express their concerns.
It is recognised that this site is ‘visited’ – or ‘spied on’ – however you wish to class it – by IHQ staff. Surely it would be more honest and transparent to launch a similar site so that Salvationists can comment freely, and that senior leaders can actually see what ‘the flock’ is thinking without resorting to subterfuge?
The USA East Mission and Culture Department Statement says it wants to…..promote the formation of skilled Salvationist change agents ....through wisdom gathering, theological dialogue, event planning, resource development, wrestling through local questions, shared strategizing, and the encouragement of systems of care for all.
How is this achievable without communication between leaders and soldiers?
Best not be official TSA who would, if not straight away, eventually stifle and control it as they do with everything else I am afraid. The challenge is yes for this kind of leader and one that follows who will not undo as much as others have done undermining and reversing change they did not like.
Sadly my feeling is that we have now got one of the most boring people as General ever. He is dismal on the platform and is simply a safe pair of hands, to see us through the current situation. He is not the visionary leader we need, but the safe leader installed by the High Council after the glitch of Linda Bond's resignation. After all he was born in Zimbabwe!
Those personal comments are unkind in fact unchristian.General Cox was well received recently in Australia and New Zealand and other countries and his platform ministry was well received ,was challenging and forthright bringing an instant response to the mercy seat in all meetings,such was the same during his welcome meeting at William Booth College.It doesnt mean because a person has not got the sparkle of tv evangelist they are not GENERAL material.He is approachable,mingles with all types of people and I think we are going to see some big changes under his reign.
"I would love to see a website similar to this one brought into being by the Salvation Army. There is honest discussion on a range of issues here. Many articles attract numerous comments - others just a few or none."
Pls contact me, Sven
if only we knew what the meaning of "unchristian" was. All would be well. It's more of a paradox than any church raised western mind could ever grasp.
When God calls, He equips. So we know God called General Cox and so it can bemore than assumed God has chosen the person with the right tools in his toolbox.
Therefore he needs all the prayers we can muster, not criticism at this early period of office; as he considers where he is going to move in accordance with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
We are only early in General Cox's term therefore we are being unju
Adding the word "unjust" missing from last comment.
Can we assume that the IHQ blog visitors are printing out the articles and placing them in the appropriate mail slots at the midnight hour?
To the writer of the last comment-for your info its mid afternoon in London,so your midnight -hour comment isn,t relevent!
It would be good if our Leaders would publish a proper article on what is currently happening at Howard Hospital Zimbabwe, a true account with comments from locals without any 'spin.'
The blog article is good and what The Salvation Army needs. A reforming and visionary General not afraid to change.
It would be good if our Leaders would publish a proper article on what is currently happening at Howard Hospital Zimbabwe, a true account with comments from locals without any 'spin.'
The blog article is good and what The Salvation Army needs. A reforming and visionary General not afraid to change.
I have just received my copy of this week's 'Salvationist’ (UK). It contains the article on Howard Hospital that first appeared in 'All The World'.
I have to admire TSA for addressing people's concerns over its completely catastrophic handling of the affair, both in humane terms and those of leadership and church management.
I have been moved deeply by the tragedy, and I’ve read and contributed to most of the articles on this subject, and certainly TSA has gone some way to acknowledge its shortcomings in trying to stem the tide of distrust and disappointment in its leadership, especially considering the eerie official silence following Dr Thistle’s dismissal and the ensuing wellspring of criticism. I also admire TSA for sending people to Zimbabwe to find out about the current state of the hospital and indeed to publish its findings. I would like to think that General Cox had something to do with this decision.
It’s such a shame that its altruistic attempts at reconciliation fell short of the mark. What possessed the writer to omit any reference to both doctors who were stationed there for years and made it so successful is beyond comprehension, and how the article was allowed into print without reference to them is disrespectful to both men. The omissions were markedly noticeable, especially as those who have followed the HH series and whose sympathies lie with Doctor Thistle and the Chiweshe people would have been avidly scanning the article to read of his accomplishments there. Those readers who have never even heard of the hospital would regard it as a good read and a testament to the Army’s present-day commitment to the disadvantaged.
Knowing a little more about it after reading the blog and news articles etc, I have to admit – the jury’s out for me at the moment. I can’t decide whether TSA has turned a corner and used this article as a subtle attempt at repentance, or whether it is trying to be clever and trick readers who have no prior knowledge of the hospital into offering it paeans of praise for its compassionate plans for that hospital and its community.
Either way, it would have been much better to have shown more honesty, more transparency, and more direct repentance, as well as be willing to offer apologies for getting it wrong. That way would have earned my instant respect. Now……I’m not sure.
Not sure that I understand the difference between this blog entry and the one from a UK Salvationist yesterday. Perhaps this one since it is signed FSAOF has more official status??
Whatever, my comment remains the same:
I believe General Cox's passioned, enthusiastic calls for individual Holiness as delivered at the New Zealand Congress will not distract us from the need for corporate Holiness, nor will it distract us from the need for structural administrative changes such as the UKT Salvationist and FSAOF calls for.
I actually find that many Salvationists at the grassroots levels are individually living Holy lives empowered by the Holy Spirit and are effective for the Kingdom. Our perennial problems in TSA are more systemic ie., to do with our structures and the way the system of the Army operates.
Personally, I am not at all impressed with sermons that try to make grassroots Salvationists feel they are not quite making the grade in the area of personal Holiness. To me the bigger need and priority is to change the structures of the hierarchical set up so that corporate Holiness can be a reality.
'Personally, I am not at all impressed with sermons that try to make grassroots Salvationists feel they are not quite making the grade in the area of personal Holiness.......'.
Haven't I read this previously as well?
'Haven't I read this previously as well?
Oops - please disregard my previous comment. I've just had a 'eureka' moment and realised the essence of your comment. Sorry.
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