Can an image lie?

The question is valid. I grew up in a country where a picture was considered to be a solid proof when truth should be established. We know that this can be disputed, because pictures can be manipulated. Likewise, even without manipulation a coincident can have an effect that changes the ‘image’ completely.

Major Beat Rieder took these photos a couple of weeks back. When he showed them to us after the meeting, it created huge amusement. However, I straight away knew that I could use them to illustrate the last blog in this autumn’s series on the ‘attributes of Christ’.

The focus through the whole year has been on our mission to bring the life of Christ to people. To be able to that I need to know what the attributes of his life are. One way to discover this is to look at his “I am” statements. They are the images of who he is. Many times, I have also quoted the verse: 

“Because, as he is, we are in this world” 1 John 4:17b

The consequence of this must be that the images of who He is should also be images found in my life. It is impossible to fake these images. Yes, I can dress like a ‘shepherd’; all the same, if I don’t care about the ‘sheep’ people will straight away know that the image lies.

In the same way, I can try to produce the fruit of the vine, also called the fruit of the Spirit, which is 

“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” 
Galatians 5:22-23

Any of the qualities of the fruit on this list can be imitated for some time through human effort, but alas, unless it is genuine it will eventually be disclosed.

The interesting thing is that Jesus lived an ordinary life. He lived just like most of the people around him. He took part in their joys, their parties, their pain and their sorrows. He slept, ate and drank, laughed and wept. He had gentle conversation, and was angry when he saw unrighteousness – and all the time the attributes are part of who he is, because they are an integral part of his being.

Even though today’s illustration is not manipulated, angel-wings are not part of who I am. The image still lies and everyone knows that is the case. I pray for myself and for you that your life in this world will be genuine and true because we live as genuine and true human beings who believe that Jesus can work in and through us to spread hope in a world in need of hope.

‘Manna’ for today:

Recreated in His image!

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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'