What seperates the Salvation Army Church from the rest of the Christian churches?

This really deserves a fuller and more thought out reply than this, but IMHO the major difference is that the churches tend to see physical care as an add on to spirituality, wheras the Army sees it as central to spirituality.


A big generalisation I admit, but thats it in a nutshell

Andy Broadley said:

the major difference is that the churches tend to see physical care as an add on to spirituality, wheras the Army sees it as central to spirituality.

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That's so well said! The Catholic faith sees physical care/almsgiving/good actions/taking care of our neighbour/doing the chores or work we must do as central to the faith as well. It is part of our faith as Christians.

(I'm not SA but)....

I was talling with a pastor friend of mine (Reformed) and asked him about baptism and mentioined SA doesn't consider it necessary for salvation ( I don't either).
I wanted to see what he'd say about it, and his answer was, "Salvation Army is a church?" Go figure. Then he did go on to say that no, that wouldn't keep them from being saved.

For the OP question, what andy said makes a lot of sense. I see there are a lot of British and Australian SA's here...not sure you're aware of of it, but there's a book in the US about how efficiently the Salvation Army is run as a business. So efficient the book says it should be used as a model for other businesses. Also how the Salvation Army has such low administrative costs compared to other charities.

While I'm here I'd like to mention that something that sure seems unique to you "Sallies" (Salamis?) is on your forums there is no bickering. How refreshing.

cenimo said:

(I'm not SA but)....


While I'm here I'd like to mention that something that sure seems unique to you "Sallies" (Salamis?) is on your forums there is no bickering. How refreshing.

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Hey! give us a chance! We are only a week old!

The Army may look narrow from the outside , but on the inside it's as broad a church as there is. (Huge sweeping generalisation warning!)We tend to be liberal in love, a bit on the conservative side doctrinally, but above all we love Jesus, and in the midst of human need, there really is too much of jesus' work to be getting on with than quibbling.

On the other hand, some of us are argumentative, unpleasant and would rather see our church die than change. So just like all organisations of humans, we are far, far from perfect. I for example, find it a HUGE challenge to love all comers. It helps keeps me humble though.

I also think it would be fair to say that the vast majority of us are still 'arminian' and are in agreement with William Booth that predestination is a 'horrible doctrine'. But even when we disagree on this, there's not much point in arguing about it, because whatever we believe on that issue, the command of Jesus is still clear- get out there and proclaim his name. Salvationists tend to try to keep it simple.

I saw the title of this thread and thought, 'nothing!'. In the sense of doctrine, I think the Salvos are probably one of the least 'separated' of the denominations... we don't disagree with many other churches on doctrine, and they don't tend to disagree with us... because the Salvos tend to stick to the essentials and leave the rest to the individual. Probably due to our inter-denominational beginnings... I've often heard it said that we didn't intend to be a denomination, that just happened along the way. And from what I've read, that sounds about right... would anyone disagree?

(I do see Andy's point too, though. I think the Salvos, out of all the denom's I've attended, had the highest percentage of members involved in community services.)

cenimo said:

(I'm not SA but)....


While I'm here I'd like to mention that something that sure seems unique to you "Sallies" (Salamis?) is on your forums there is no bickering. How refreshing.

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CO puts the hob nobs away if we don't behave

Seriously though, like has been said, we keep it simple. You open a SA song book and there are the Doctrines. What we believe as Salvationists, in one page. Clear, understandable, and solid.

Abiel said:

I also think it would be fair to say that the vast majority of us are still 'arminian' and are in agreement with William Booth that predestination is a 'horrible doctrine'.

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AMEN !!! It's easy belief-ism at it's worst.



Ray

cenimo said:

(I'm not SA but)....

(snip)
I wanted to see what he'd say about it, and his answer was, "Salvation Army is a church?" Go figure. (snip)

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Actually, the SA isn't a church per sa. They are a Christian social outreach/ministry first and foremost. They have churches (temples/citadels/corps) as part of the ministry to the whole man - get them saved, off the streets and into the Church !!



Ray

Athanasian Creed

yeah, I know, but wouldn't you expect someone who graduated seminary to know that the Salvation Army has churches?

Athanasian Creed said:

Actually, the SA isn't a church per sa. They are a Christian social outreach/ministry first and foremost. They have churches (temples/citadels/corps) as part of the ministry to the whole man - get them saved, off the streets and into the Church !!



Ray

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Sorry....but we are a Church first and foremost and last too. It's just you cant preach to an empty stomach. Salvos believe bodies are valuable too.

Abiel said:

Sorry....but we are a Church first and foremost and last too. It's just you cant preach to an empty stomach. Salvos believe bodies are valuable too.

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Though this could be a territorial thing, I suppose. UK territory is definately church-centred.

Mission Statement





Its mission is to proclaim his gospel, to persuade people of all ages to become his disciples and to engage in a programme of practical concern for the needs of humanity.

Its ministry is offered to all, regardless of race, creed, colour, age or sex.




Vision Statement


We will be a Spirit-filled, radical, growing movement with a burning desire to:

• lead people into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
• actively serve the community
• fight for social justice

To me, this is what 'church' is.

Abiel said:

Sorry....but we are a Church first and foremost and last too. It's just you cant preach to an empty stomach. Salvos believe bodies are valuable too.

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Wouldn't you say "part" of the universal Church with an emphasis of ministry to the total man ??

I never seen the Army as "A" church first and foremost nor have i seen any documentation from them that would make that claim.


Ray

cenimo said:

Athanasian Creed

yeah, I know, but wouldn't you expect someone who graduated seminary to know that the Salvation Army has churches?

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Yes i would - considering there are hundreds of SA temples/citadels/corps around the world. Providing a church environment for those they minister and bring to Christ is a natural by-product of ministry to the total man.


Ray

Abiel said:

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army is an integral part of the universal Christian Church.

To me, this is what 'church' is.

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I can't get more church than being part of the church. Someone cleverer than me will have to do that!

I think the emphasis on being 'part' of 'the universal Christian church' is rather a beautiful way of expressing it. If all denominations would thus describe themselves, there may be more Christian unity. There is only one church- the Church which Christ is the head of.

Abiel said:

(snip) If all denominations would thus describe themselves, there may be more Christian unity. There is only one church - the Church which Christ is the head of.

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"Any of it [teaching] that is good is in the Word of God, and any that is not in the Word of God is not good. I am a Bible Christian and if an archangel with a wingspread as broad as a constellation shining like the sun were to come and offer me some new truth, I'd ask him for a reference. If he could not show me where it is found in the Bible, I would bow him out and say, 'I'm awfully sorry, you don't bring any references with you'" (Counterfeit Revival, p. 67)
- A.W. Tozer

"Unity must be ordered according to God’s Word, or else it be better war than peace"
- Reformation Martyr Bishop of Worchester Hugh Latimer

"Truth is so obscure in these times and falsehood so established, that unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
- Blaise Pascal

"Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit"
- Clement, Bishop of Rome

The Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God [Christ] and His Spirit"
- Irenaeus (Against Heresies), Bishop of Lyon

"Let us gladly do the dear fathers the honor of interpreting…their writings…so that they remain in harmony with Holy Scripture. However, where their writings do not agree with God’s word, there it is much better that we say they have erred than that for their sake we should abandon God’s word."
- Martin Luther

"The Christian can take the whole Bible in his hand and say without fear or hesitation that he holds in it the true word of God, handed down without essential loss from generation to generation throughout the centuries."

"The interval, then, between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established."
- Sir Frederic Kenyon, former Director British Museum

The Bible is no mere book, but a living creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it.
- Napoleon Bonaparte

I post these quotes from Christians and non-Christians alike on their belief in the supremacy of Scripture above ALL things. I too am interested in Christian "unity" as long as that unity is based on the supremacy of Scripture and not a compromise of it's teachings !!!

Sola Scriptura !!!



Ray

Athanasian Creed said:

Actually, the SA isn't a church per sa. They are a Christian social outreach/ministry first and foremost. They have churches (temples/citadels/corps) as part of the ministry to the whole man - get them saved, off the streets and into the Church !!

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In the 3 years I've been attending the SA I've quite often heard the goals summed up in 3 major points:

Save Souls.
Grow Saints.
Serve Suffering Humanity.

I see the Salvation Army churches as being an essential part of the 'Growing Saints' objective, as well as somewhere for the 'Saved Souls' to be welcomed into God's family.

Our church
The Salvation Army is part of the universal Church. . .

Salvation Army places of worship are sometimes called "citadels" or "temples", but, whatever their name, they are Christian churches that are open to the community they serve and offer a warm welcome to all.

Worship
Most Salvation Army centers hold weekly worship services, usually on a Sunday. These meetings have a relaxed atmosphere, and can include hymn singing, Bible readings, members of the congregation talking about their Christian experiences, and presentations by worship or drama groups. As well as services on a Sunday, there are often weekday and evening activities, such as prayer groups, family events, lunch groups, youth clubs and meetings for seniors.

Taken directly from the Internatioinal HQ website