Have we become too 'nice'?

[Gwen'sMom]

Thanks for the explanations Andy. I really appreciate it. I guess I will learn things as I go along.

 

[Andy Broadley]

Thanks for the explanations Andy. I really appreciate it. I guess I will learn things as I go along.

You're welcome.

 

[TheDag]

I'm going to start another soldiership thread...

uh-oh! another soldiership thread!

 

[SDA14]

Yea

 

[GodsoldierClintus]

The troll has bumped this thread...but....so this is so good!

 

[BoazB]

Booth aimed to eradicate poverty - lifting the poor. I think in doing that working class came in, got saved, and in many instances the next generations became middle class. My Grandfather was a stable boy, turned bakers assistant. Walking home one night, a famous South African officer asked him where he was going, and if he would like a job at The Salvation Army printing works.

He took the offer, and then my dad followed on as a printer. Then I became a teacher.

Yes. We became middle class (in the western setting), but not all of The Salvation Army is middle class. We have lost the touch - our brilliant contact with further down the scale.

We have become terribly rigid. I have used contemporary hit tunes for songs - and officers have not been keen (yet the guys who come to the Home click with these tunes immediately)

The officer we have at present is so rigid, he chooses all the songs for me. He laughs off our most effective songs (prefers songster-type things - which aren't bad... BUT, reaching the ex-bar-fly, you need the secular tune stuff).

We have become so stayed in the last few months, I really don't know. I am just so grateful hat I have received marching orders - to escape this blinking control freak. He has said that the army has become to un-army, and the only way forward is to take us back to where we were.

Our most effective was when we were set free. The world has changed, the clocks can't be set back (And yes, I was a bandsman (and colour Sgt to-boot) in the days when Cape Town Citadel Band marched down Adderly street with (at least) five trombones blasting their way through the traffic ... believe me, if we could have those days back, I would be the first to enjoy, but I klnow times have changed .. and so I have been putting more songs to secular tunes, and been hacking them out with my guitar )

I do believe we have past the Rubicon. Our biggest problem is our arrogance, our wanty to control everything, and in so doing - our refusal to tell people to be free and let the Spirit lead them to do great things for God.

 

[mac8]

I hope you find more freedom to follow the Holy Spirit as you serve where you are going.

Blessings
Eleanor

 

[BoazB]

I hope you find more freedom to follow the Holy Spirit as you serve where you are going.

Blessings
Eleanor

Thanks mac8

 

[ChristInAction]

I dont know how anyone can be or what you mean by 'too nice'

yerr. We are too comfitable & 'middle class'.

I dont think we're a glorified musical society.
yes, people see our brass band a lot.
but i think its nice that our staff band is asked to play at some many public things. To get out there, show that the salvation army is still alive, were not just in our churches.
but thats the problem.
we need the band to show that were not in our churches.

I think were more a church with a charitable wing.
It may be better then just a church.
but we've lost our fire.

 

[TheDag]

I dont know how anyone can be or what you mean by 'too nice'

yerr. We are too comfitable & 'middle class'.

I dont think we're a glorified musical society.
yes, people see our brass band a lot.
but i think its nice that our staff band is asked to play at some many public things. To get out there, show that the salvation army is still alive, were not just in our churches.
but thats the problem.
we need the band to show that were not in our churches.

I think were more a church with a charitable wing.
It may be better then just a church.
but we've lost our fire.

I think that is part of the question being asked. We shouldn't need a brass band to show we're not just in our churches. If that is the only way we can show we're not just in churches then we have really lost our way.

 

[ChristInAction]

I think that is part of the question being asked. We shouldn't need a brass band to show we're not just in our churches. If that is the only way we can show we're not just in churches then we have really lost our way.

thats what i was tryna get at

 

[catlover]

Have we become too 'nice' too 'middle class' perhaps? Are we anything more than a glorified musical society with a charitable wing?

Good Jesus was a charitable wing, wasn't He? I don't know about His musical tastes however.