Which road-signs can I trust?

I took this picture three years ago in South Africa. I trusted it, even though it was placed upside down – after all I was ‘down-under’.

When I have started the journey towards life in Jesus Christ, there are road-signs along the way. I have already shared the signs given us in the nature and the conscience. The challenge is that these signs can lead to any kind of religious expressions, therefore it is important to look for trust-worthy signs that lead to Jesus. This is why I claim that not only the way, but also the ‘truth’ comes before life. Jesus was very clear about the truth:

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:17

In practical terms this is the proclamation of the Biblical message of salvation in and through Jesus. This is the role of the church = His disciples. We may still use the arguments found in the nature and the conscience and any other argument that support the truth of the Word, however the best way to communicate the message, is through the Word becoming flesh over and over again. This can happen through you and me every day:

William Booth wrote the following with reference to a revised translation of the Bible:

Christian scholars have translated it (the Bible) and re-translated it, and then translated it again. They have commented and printed and published it in every form, and it is hurrying on to encompass the world with its revelations in every tongue. They have explained and preached about almost every word within its covers.
There seems to be only one thing left to be done with it, and that is to give us a literal and faithful and understandable translation of it in practice. Let us live it; live the real things - live the Christ-life. Such a translation, my comrades, will tell. It will be victorious. It will be triumphant. (1)

God gave me grace to start the search for life, and by his saving grace he accepted me into the new life in Jesus Christ. Therefore, by the same grace, I will present the word of truth in the world today.

‘Manna’ for today:

We will go forth in grace alone (2)

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(1) William Booth: 'The Revised Bible' - The War Cry, May 10, 1885. Link to the whole article in English.
(2) Link to the song in English

Equal rights to serve

русский

Eighteen months ago, Easter Europe Territory held a seminar for employees and members of The Salvation Army (TSA). The purpose of the seminar was to give the delegates a better insight into what TSA is all about. In the final gathering, I had challenged the delegates to answer the question “Why did I choose TSA?”. Afterwards, I followed up with answers to the question: “Why did God choose TSA?”

I believe God chose TSA because he needed not only the prophetic voice of those whose hearts were fully committed to him, but also their prophetic actions. When you read ‘their prophetic actions’, maybe you immediately think about the social ministry of TSA. This is of course very important, but in the field of humanitarian work we are far from being lonely activists. Down through the history, many Christians from different traditions have had focus on the diaconal side of Christian living, and in doing so, they have contributed to the mission by making the faith credible.

I believe God chose to strengthen and bless William and Catherine Booth, because he saw the potential of Catherine’s prophetic voice and action, and that William would be ready to support her. So I think the third answer to the question above is:

God chose TSA because everyone who receives the call has the same right to ministry!

This view is closely related to holiness simply because there is no holiness outside of Christ. Paul describes our status in Jesus Christ in this way:

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28

In other words, it is contradictory to holiness and to the essence of what Jesus is all about if people in a church are limited because of their race, social status or gender. In our movement a saved person from the gutter or the prison, should be worthy the same trust as a saved person with a spotless record and university degrees. In fact, sometimes it has taken longer for representatives from the latter group to be accepted in TSA, however, no-one should be excluded on such grounds.

The same attitude of equality relates to ethnic background and to gender. When we read the history of the Church, a general observation is that women have not been treated as equal to men with regard to the right to ministry.

I am convinced that it has been in the devil’s interest to keep it this way. Therefore, God chose to bless TSA because he wants to mobilize women, single or married. This is still a challenge even in our own movement. There is a tendency to give the leading positions to men rather than women. This tendency becomes particularly evident when appointments are given to married couples. So, for the sake of the mission and a desire to keep God’s blessing upon our movement, we are now making efforts to ensure that our rules and practices are in line with the rules and practices in Christ.

What is right in Christ, is right in the church! 

Published in the Russian 'War Cry' (Vestnic Spasenya) # 2 2019
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* Text in illustration = 'Equal rights to serve'

Why did God choose The Salvation Army?

This brief series of reflection derives from teaching I did in the EMMA-seminar in October 2017: 

1. Why did God choose The Salvation Army? #1
2. Why did God choose The Salvation Army? #2
3. Why did God choose The Salvation Army? #3
4. Why did God choose The Salvation Army? #4
5. Why did God choose The Salvation Army? #5
6. Will God continue to choose The Salvation Army?