The "new" Generation Salvation Army!

[sammykinzz]

Hey all,

being at the corps i attend to is so hard, things have changed so much, the church is full of people who are 50+ there is not much under that age but still, it is becoming more of a social center, meaning social programs are being ran out of the church, i know its a good thing but it is like we go to church of a sunday morning to see our mates not to worship, and it feels like the Salvation army it self is fallen alot,

Anzac day 2008 i was told that the band would be marching like nomral but with out the flag!. it is to my understanding, band marches, flag must march? correct? i have been brought up in the army, and every one i have spoken to and the people that have brought me up, have always told me that the flag is very important, it identifies who we are.

anyways, this little incodent got me a little confused upset and mad, that the our C.O could just put the flag down and forget about it,

what next, will the uniform go? will the crest go? ..


im not sure we will be the Salvation Army in a few years, i think we will just be a shop and social outlet....


peoples views?

 

[aidan55]

I believe that the pressures of the increasingly secular world put big pressures on the Army and it is a scary thing to see happening before our very eyes, but I do wish you to know that I am praying for your corps and I exhort you to do the same! He that rose the Army up can revive it again! I have faith that the Army will endure as long as those in it don't lose faith and don't cease praying for it to succeed.

 

[TheDag]

Hey all,

being at the corps i attend to is so hard, things have changed so much, the church is full of people who are 50+ there is not much under that age but still, it is becoming more of a social center, meaning social programs are being ran out of the church, i know its a good thing but it is like we go to church of a sunday morning to see our mates not to worship, and it feels like the Salvation army it self is fallen alot,

The army like all groups has its faults. Is it going downhill or just changing? i have come across people who honestly believe it is not possible for a good idea to be put forward unless it came from the mouth of william booth! Sad but true. Most people naturally don't like change. They react to it. Remember it was change from the traditional ways that started the salvos.

Anzac day 2008 i was told that the band would be marching like nomral but with out the flag!. it is to my understanding, band marches, flag must march? correct?

Anzac Day is not about the Army. it is about those who fought in wars. So the flag wasn't there to identify the army. So what. Why are you trying to rain on someone elses parade.

i have been brought up in the army, and every one i have spoken to and the people that have brought me up, have always told me that the flag is very important, it identifies who we are.

many of the pharisees were bought up in religious teachings and look at what Jesus had to say about them! Are you sure your not missing the point by getting worked up over this?

Let me tell you a true story. One man who grew up in the army was taught that the band should always wear long sleeve shirts. In our corps the band has been instructed that they must all wear the same kind of uniform. Because this man was taught to wear long sleeves he did even though everyone else was wearing short sleeves. one day this man was telling someone how it looked terrible that some people (in the congregation) would wear the polo shirts instead of uniform shirts. He claimed it presented a divided look. It was then pointed out to him that his wearing long sleeves in the band while everyone else wore short sleeves could be seen the same way. This man was so caught up in what he was taught that he didn't think through the reasons why.

what next, will the uniform go? will the crest go? ..

So what if they do. Do you know how confronting it can be to walk into a corps and see nothing but uniforms. Do you know how out of place it can make people feel. In Corinthians Paul tells us not to speak in tongues unless there is interpretation as it can be bad for non believers (visitors) who are there. Well when I walked into one corps and saw nothing but uniforms I almost turned around and left.

Now I'm not saying abandon the uniform all together however some consideration needs to be shown that it can make people feel awkard and uncomfortable if they are dressed differently to others.
In the corps I go to now some of the people who don't wear uniform are the ones who are the most on fire for God and out there doing God's work while the uniform ones sit there on a sunday and go home. If you are going to wear a uniform then that should mean you are available to people and sadly in my experience many of them are not.

im not sure we will be the Salvation Army in a few years, i think we will just be a shop and social outlet....

if we don't return to our roots then very possibly yes. As it is the salvos have become just another church. No different to any other denomination.

 

[redcliffesalvo]

most sundays there are about 100 retirees including officers at our church only a few young people but our church is growing and we hold tight to tradition but amazingly the oldies are also very supportive of change. We need to focus on basic salvatonism reaching out in love to the brokeness in our community alelujah our corps is healthy and growing in fact t can e hard to find a seat on sunday morning isnt that wondeful

 

[stephanieamber]

The Salvation Army can only do its best when the focus isn't on the Salvation Army, when it's on God.

Part of what made William Booth so awesome was that he was thinking outside of the box; he wanted fresh, relevant ideas that the secular world could get excited about. Instead of trying to take Booth's original ideas and somehow make them fit into our society today, we need to start thinking outside of the box of 2009's secular society. That's what makes the Salvation Army fresh and exciting, not clinging to hundreds of years of tradition.

 

[Amisk]

Good Nite!

 

[Amisk]

Removed

 

[Lassie1865]

I sympathize; so many changes happening so fast. However, God says that we are not to add nor subtract from His Word. How many traditions have been added, subtracted and changed from what God actually prescribed? I have been absolutely shocked by what I have learned from reading the Scriptures from the oldest extant manuscripts; for instance it is written:

“Yahuweh’s (YaHuWeH’s) Towrah (towrah – law, instructions, and prescriptions for living) is complete and entirely perfect(tamym – without defect, lacking nothing, correct, sound, genuine, right, helpful, healthful, beneficial, and true), returning, restoring, and transforming (suwb –turning around and bringing back) the soul (nepesh – consciousness). Yahuweh’s(YaHuWeH’s) testimony (‘eduwth – witness) is trustworthy and reliable (‘aman– verifiable, confirming, supportive, and establishing), making understanding and obtaining wisdom (hakam – educating and enlightening oneself to the point of comprehension) simple for the open-minded (pethy).” (Psalm 19:7)

It is written: “The entire (kol – the whole and every, the totality of the (‘imrah – the promise and the prescription) of God (‘elowha) is pure, (tsaraph – refined, precious, and worthy), a shield for (magen – an enclosure which surrounds, defends, and saves) those who put their trust in (chacah – those who seek salvation through reliance upon) Him.” (Proverbs 30:5)

“Yahuweh’s Torah is complete and entirely perfect, returning, restoring, and transforming the soul. Yahuweh’s testimony is trustworthy and reliable, making understanding and obtaining wisdom simple for the open-minded.” (Psalms 19:7)​

 

[ContraMundum]

Never give up on what Jesus wants you to do. That's my advice. There's a huge role for the Salvos to play in this world, as a witness for Jesus.

 

[mandyangel]

god bless u guys at the salvation army. ive given lots of stuff there, im happy the less fortunate will get to use it

 

[Laurilee]

Same sentiments from me mandyangel. We are thinking of joining our local Army but are a bit scared having read all of this thread. Can anyone help please?

 

[TheDag]

Same sentiments from me mandyangel. We are thinking of joining our local Army but are a bit scared having read all of this thread. Can anyone help please?

depends on where you are as to if someone can suggest one. Otherwise it is just a matter of going along for about one month and seeing what you think. Perhaps arrange to sit down with the officers and ask questions about what specific things the corps is involved in with outreach, what style of service do they have etc.

 

[PeaceRose]

I recently went to our local Salvation Army Corps, and there were people there who are soldiers but not in uniform. I went twice - might go again tomorrow. I was greeted by a lady in uniform at the door, and she immediately asked me what connection I had with the Army (having seen that I was new) and I told her of some friends that we used to have, and of my interest in the Army. She then guided me to two ladies and said I should sit with them. These ladies were not soldiers but they do go every week.

Both of the ladies took my phone number, and both rang me at the end of the week. One of them has rung me every week. I was not sure whether they are directed to do this - kind of like Welcomers or Befrienders or something, in the hopes that I will go again. Or maybe it was just that they did want to be friendly with me - it was a bit overpowering, but I did appreciate it as well.

I was a bit worried because I read somewhere that if you join the Army you HAVE to do soup kitchen work, or in the shop, or something - but everybody has to do something. I can't do that, with my health problems - so I was worried that they might try to make me do things.

I loved the songs - and they were very friendly.

 

[TheDag]

I was a bit worried because I read somewhere that if you join the Army you HAVE to do soup kitchen work, or in the shop, or something - but everybody has to do something. I can't do that, with my health problems - so I was worried that they might try to make me do things.

Generally speaking if you do become a soldier it is expected that at some point in time in the future you will be willing to help with something where you can. I've never been a soldier because it was not important in my opinion to do so and after doing the soldiership course I still could not agree with one of the soldiers agreement. I could have become an adherant if I wanted to but once again I didn't see it as important.

Having said that I did find that often when I wore the "I'll Fight" t-shirt with large red shield on the front people often approached me in the street to talk to me so that is something you might be able to do if you can't do things like soup kitchens etc

 

[PeaceRose]

Thanks, The Dag. I love your signature. I don't like titles either !
I also have a husband who is sick and whom I have to care for 24/7. It is chronic illness and I am his Carer. I have to be there for him. So I could not do anything within the Army. We need some care ourselves actually. We are both not young, and I have spent my life working for God and giving to others. I can't do it any more now though. I am in a position where I need support myself. We are now in a new town and I was looking for a Church that was friendly as we have no friends or family. Also a Church that truly cared about God. But when I discovered that we would have to do something, I realised that we couldn't probably become part of them. I guess I will have to keep looking. I was surprised though to find that no longer are uniforms required. Thanks The Dag.

 

[lws403410768]

Good Nite!