I swiped it from a friend of mine - but it's golden and perhaps timely. Read On...
Greetings in Jesus' name, friends.
My friend recounted to me a conversation with a cadet who doedn't believe a few of the doctrines.
Not a big deal, you say?
Well, this person has covenanted with God based on the doctrines. He has applied for officership based partly on his belief in these doctrines. He feels 'called' to officership, which is basically the vocation of establishing these doctrines in the hearts of every human on the planet. He has confirmed verbally and in writing his belief in the doctrines. And he avoids confessing his disbelief to his superior officers (not wanting, I gather, to jeopardize the free car and home- in the West- and tenure for life).
So here we are, The Salvation Army, stuck with a lying, deceitful, underhanded, misled (in beliefs) scoundrel. If things follow form, this lying, deceitful, underhanded, misled scoundrel will be a leader in The Salvation Army, maybe at your corps, in a matter of months. Here's one for you. He's not alone.
When do we draw a line in the sand? At what point do we say 'enough is enough'?
It is bigger than officership. It goes to all of soldiership.
I am asking a common courtesy, which may be naive in this situation. How about having the honour of quietly stepping out of the ranks if you don't believe what you covenanted that you believed? How about having the modesty to relinquish your soldiership if you are intentionally, habitually not living up to your covenant promises? How about helping us cleanse the ranks of compromising hypocrisy? Either that or repent.
Not only will it go better for you in eternity, but your resignation of your soldiership (and, for you officers who fit the bill, your offiership) could be the best thing you'll ever do for The Salvation Army.
I'd prefer repentance.
Much grace,
sec
PS feel free to invite your friends to read this one.
More from this author is just a click away.
3 comments :
Well said. I agree whole heartedly. While my wife are engaged in urban mission in Flint, MI, we do consider the future and whether it includes officership. In our territory, we seem to be becoming "people of note" so to speak, and with that comes the push from some that the "pinacle of service in the army" would be officership. For us, we have considered/do consider it, but we have issues, not so much doctrinally, but that we have a heart for the city, and would go in if the army put us only in cities where few officers want to go.
So, while it is not eactly the same, I wanted to chime in. I believe that there are many facets to consider concerning officership, and perhaps this person is called to be an officer, but he/she needs to surrender or wait on God to change their heart so they are in line and not pushing against the mission/beliefs of the army. That is what we are doing; waiting on God to see if this is what he wants for us and what issues we need to surrender at his feet so that we can get on with the things he has called us to, unhindered, and with eyes set on heaven.
Thanks for your thoughts and work in Charlotte.
Tom Wyatt
www.flintcitysalvos.com
Hey Tom - thanks for weighing in. Surrender and sacrifice are key for officership, but often the least talked about aspects...it's easy to focus on the 'perks' without counting the cost. I love that I can offer God a sacrifice that costs me my life and requires an increase in faith and obedience as well as submission to authority, which, well, let's face it in a post-modern generation is not only unfashionable it's discouraged! It's the best way that God has revealed to me personally to live out the Scripture of Luke 14:33.
grace!
Heather
One becomes an officer because (s)he is called by God, to serve as fulltime minister within the Salvation Army.
I wonder how many candidates/cadets really understand the full theological meaning of our doctrines and the alternatives to it. Does this mean that they cannot be an officer. No, because this peson is called by God, so who are we to deny this calling.
Also as officers we are on a journey of faith, where we keep learning and gain more wisdom and understanding. It is God's Holy Spirit who guides us in this process. If we need to adjust our understandings or acceptance of the doctrines, then the Holy Spirit will lead us to that point.
I do not expect an officer to blindly believe the doctrines of the Army, I expect an officer to be obedient to God, and serve Him in the way God asks of the officer.
Our doctrines are not perfect, there is for example a lot lacking in it. Where is for example the resurrection in our doctrines? Without resurrection there would not be Christianity, Jesus his death on the Cross would be meaningless, yet it is not mentioned. And where are the sacremants. Oh yes, once we were a movement, and they were not needed, but we have evolved into a full grown church, the only church for so many of us, so why not include the Sacrements today in the Army?
So, please, don't judge an officer who is still on his journey of faith, developing his insights and understandings, because momentarily he cannot see the viewpoints that some people in the army wrote down 150 years ago, in a totally different culture then where or when we live in today. The only thing we should look for is if such a person is obedient to God's calling.
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