How do you define "The Salvation Army?"
Go ahead. Really think about. A church, a mission, a movement? Give me your best definition. Expound on it a bit if you can. To say that The Salvation Army is a “church” or a “mission” is too vague.
I ask this question because I believe we are in need of a definition, maybe even a new definition. Every program and organization has what is called a “life cycle.” It begins with Startup (or Birth) followed by Growth. Growth is sometimes divided into an early growth phase (fast growth) and a maturity phase (slow growth or no growth). However, maturity often leads to Decline. When in decline, an organization will either undergo Renewal or it will suffer Death and bankruptcy.
So . . . give it your best shot. How do you define “The Salvation Army?”
I ask this question because I believe we are in need of a definition, maybe even a new definition. Every program and organization has what is called a “life cycle.” It begins with Startup (or Birth) followed by Growth. Growth is sometimes divided into an early growth phase (fast growth) and a maturity phase (slow growth or no growth). However, maturity often leads to Decline. When in decline, an organization will either undergo Renewal or it will suffer Death and bankruptcy.
So . . . give it your best shot. How do you define “The Salvation Army?”
posted by Bret at
1:44 AM
9 Comments:
The Salvation Army may be the best equipped and prepared Christian mission, among God's people, to withstand the unstoppable trends that are impacting the Christian world.
As the needs and expectations of ministry change, including less dependence on institutional religion and professional pastors, The Salvation Army will lead the way in providing a real “church” experience and opportunity.
Although we do not prefer to separate our ministry in terms of “church” and “social services organization,” the fact remains that they are often beneficial to two separate groups of people. That is not necessarily a bad thing.
As studies and research indicate from highly trusted and respected organizations like “The Barna Group,” as to the way people are worshiping and serving as Christians, as well as what attracts people to the Church today, we are learning a lot.
Both believers and non-believers are stating that opportunity for hands-on, missional, meaningful, and genuine opportunities to help others is of great importance. This makes The Salvation Army stand out among other Christian movements, because of the many avenues of service through which new generations will be able to reach others.
Despite the criticism of some concerning The Army's lack of emphasis on church, the small size of the majority of our congregations and the strong emphasis on raising funds to offer social services to our communities may be exactly how God is moving in this and coming generations.
Christians who are no longer part of an active congregation and non-believers who are asked what they would look for, should they choose to go to a church, are responding with some very interesting answers.
The majority say:
1. They want to be a part of a small group of people and a congregation of no more than 30-40 people.
2. They are not interested in perfection in worship services. They are looking for something “real.”
3. They do not want to be a part of an institutional church with a professional pastor. They want to be a part of a Christian mission whereby people are “doing” the will of God as they serve each other and others, together.
4. They are not interested in “going to the church.” They want to “be the church going.”
5. They don’t want to “join” a church. They want to be actively ministering and being ministered to in the world of which they are a part, rather than in programs and church services. This will pose a major problem to those who insist on church membership or soldiership.
We can shun these responses and choose to treat them as if they are ridiculous requests, or we can focus on the realization that The Salvation Army has been prepared in advance for the new thing that God is doing.
George Barna is predicting that more and more small churches will be disappearing and that “professional” pastors will be forced back into secular work places. Salvation Army Officers are well suited for this change in the culture of the church, because of the demand on Christian social service organizations. In other words, the “pastors” of The Salvation Army will already have a “vocation,” which has long been a part of their ministry, while other churches may be forced to close down their “buildings” and send their pastor away to look for employment.
I believe that The Salvation Army is one of God’s anointed missions for “being the church going” for this and upcoming generations.
By
Johnny, at 7:02 PM
Johnny,
Great response! Even though I agree with, and understand what you're saying, the issues of leadership, leadership development, and discipleship are still serious factors.
The atmosphere you have described will still be very demanding, maybe even more so than now, on the leadership.
What do you think?
By
Bret, at 8:24 PM
I agree that the demands on leadership will be greater.
One reason is based on the fact that the majority of Christian denominations, ministries, programs, et cetera are driven by insecure leaders who work very hard to prevent others from having real authority.
Choosing to allow others to lead will require true leadership that includes the ability to identify, train, and delegate authority to other leaders.
With the current scheme of relegation as apposed to delegation, people in the church are seen as recipients of ministry that is given by the pastor.
Today, and even more as the months and years press on, there will be churches with many "unpaid" pastors who serve out of love for God rather than as a way to make a living.
True leaders will begin to appear, based on the fact that the ministry will be led and driven by a completely unpaid staff. Only true leaders can survive without the ability to hold a paycheck over their staff's head as a way of getting so-called “subordinates” to do their jobs.
We will have to pay attention to the fact that leadership requires real investment of time and resources, which will require more than an all-expenses-paid trip to some out-of-state conference where the leader does not attend with them. We will have to invest real time in our own training in order to be proficient and to provide the kind of mentoring that is truly required in training leaders.
A Jewish Rabbi in the first century would have spent 14 years living with, following, and learning from a Rabbi before he would begin accepting his own followers. Today, if a person goes to the altar and claims to believe in Jesus, whether he has ever read a Bible or not, can become a Tuesday night Bible teacher or a Sunday school teacher in many churches the very next day. SCARY!
It's time to truly invest in our knowledge of God's Word and Ways, so that we can prepare leaders for the church.
Unless we take our learning seriously, how can we expect anyone to take our teaching seriously? The days of people giving authority to others, because they have a title is over. And that’s a good thing.
By
Johnny, at 6:52 AM
Some thoughts...
There is a difference between renewal and reimagination. We cannot reimagine the purpose of the missional identity of teh Army. I think the mission statement has it best with - preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His Name (and by extension to conect the two in one act as much as possible.)
I think it is also incorrect to think of it as renewing into something alltogether different than its original purpose.
In short, I think we have the identity of the Army down, its the followthrow we have to work on, as individuals.
Afterthought: Why seek revolution to become someone elses normality?
By
Anonymous, at 3:22 AM
Some thoughts...
There is a difference between renewal and reimagination. We cannot reimagine the purpose of the missional identity of teh Army. I think the mission statement has it best with - preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His Name (and by extension to conect the two in one act as much as possible.)
I think it is also incorrect to think of it as renewing into something alltogether different than its original purpose.
In short, I think we have the identity of the Army down, its the followthrow we have to work on, as individuals.
Afterthought: Why seek revolution to become someone elses normality?
By
Anonymous, at 3:29 AM
Patrick,
I think you’re right when you speak of making “preach the gospel” and “meet human need” “one act” . . . when we separate the two we then possess two missions. It’s like serving two masters . . . one will eventually be neglected. Based on our history and present condition, wonder which one’s being neglected . . .
Also agree with your comment on purpose 100%. However, I’m not so sure that we as an Army have quite nailed down our identity.
We’ll be praying for you as you pack.
PS. Don’t write “See so and so.” “See so and so.” “See so and so.” “See so and so.” In your brief. :0)
Have fun.
Blessings,
Bret
By
Bret, at 8:58 PM
I guess to define The Salvation Army, you first have to define what salvation is and whether our military metaphor is still valid.
What really are we saying that salvation is in our movement? I don't mean the Handbook of Doctrine answer. I mean what is the practical answer?
Define what we actually teach and live, then you define us.
Just some thoughts.
By
Larry, at 10:19 PM
Larry,
Good thought . . . The challenge appears to be getting everyone to agree.
Blessings,
By
Bret, at 3:41 PM
Dang, Bret - you just scrapped a third of my brief! :o)
By
Anonymous, at 10:55 AM
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