Getting people saved, keeping people saved, teaching them what it means to be holy and helping them know how to get others saved, is back on the agenda. This is the chief business of The Salv
ation Army.
Whilst some would take offense at my comment and say that these have never been off the agenda, our statistical data would tell us otherwise. I absolutely applaud those who make the salvation of others their hearts concern, and what I am saying is that I long to see this replicated more widely.
There has never been a time in our history when we have invested more money into mission. Today, we have digital technology that is the envy of other churches and this includes a sophisticated data collection system that can provide every piece of conceivable information needed for tracking attendance trends.
We have more money than we had in the past. We invest in the development of our people like never before, facilitate conferences and dialogues, all of which are intended to make mission happen. Our facilities, generally speaking are of an excellent standard, so why are we not seeing an increase in the number of people coming to faith throughout the territory?
Aylene and I have been to the Congo in Africa and worshipped in places that would be shut down and condemned by Australian standards. People there have no money, have no songbooks or “pew” Bibles, but in their poverty, Salvationists live the joy of life and the life of Christ. More growth takes place in the Army in Africa than any other part of the world.
So it’s not about money, buildings, technology, conferences education or development. It’s about people who have a faith that is alive in Christ and who want to share its value and meaning with others.
We need only be God-loving, Bible believing people who share our lives with ours naturally and genuinely and this includes the life of God in us.
That is what I mean when I speak about bringing salvation, holiness and discipleship back onto the agenda. Others might simply call it revival.
Getting down to the essence this year Ray. Great!
I wonder if we have all been seduced by the post-modern practice and culture of our faith (across the entire western church) rather than be totally consumed in the personal intimacy of God that Jesus refers to when he says: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength (Matt 22: 37)
Or as Mark Sayers puts it, we spend most of our time, energy and devotion , even as ‘saved’ people in the horizontal self rather than the vertical self.
I suspect God will only move us forward as a movement (TSA) when we individually and corporately love Him FIRST, and our fine traditions, culture and Salvationist missiology SECOND.
All we can do is keep striving towards that goal.
Oh I could say soooo much here Ray, but I will try to be disciplined. In Australia today, society will try to find a miriad of reasons to excuse themselves from doing anything, and in the church its sharing their faith. Even Officers will tell you that its not my job, “I’m the one who has to do the Office work, the returns”. And while we are not the Army of the 1860′s I just wish all people would read and understand the mindset of the early Army leaders. Passion to know Jesus, passion to grow the Army, passion to grow in Holiness was absolutely everything. I will hear folk say “yes but we not in the 1860′s” and thats true, but the principles of the time then, relate so much to today. “there’s nothing new under the sun” wrote someone!!!! The need for the Gospel is as necessary today as then. People who have broken lives, marriages, credit ratings etc etc, need to experience and understand the transforming message of Christ Jesus so that their “stuff” can be sorted out and they can live a meaningful life.
And still our halls, yes yours and mine, still have people who come to church on Sundays, want so badly to see it happen, but dont know where to start. And telling them to “just do something” doesnt cut it, cause they dont know where to start. Yes we can commit it to prayer, but the Army will go down the gurgler unless we all switch on to the PURPOSE of growing our Army and constantly keeping it in the forfront of our minds.
My wife will tell you I lay awake at night praying for inspiration. And the Lord has suggested some things that we should do, but the workers are few and tired and sick and elderly etc etc so I dont know where the new folk who can do the work will come from. Only HE knows, but Bless God I wait to get on the bandwagon too.
Hi Raymond,
As a relatively “new” Christian, I feel that to live in Christ will surely bring people to Christ. To focus on Christ in every action, decision and thought is to strive to be like Him. If we truly are filled with The Holy Spirit then those around us will see this in us and want to be like us, like Christ. Perhaps we are not “shining” as we should in order for the Word to get out. I’d love to think that people of Christ would be instantly recognisable and maybe that’s a little naive, but maybe it is that simple in a way – although I’m not saying it’s easy by any means, but maybe we need to reflect Christ so others will want to know Him. That’s my very basic laymans understanding of how it “should” work. And that’s how it worked with me – I came to Christ through Christians who made me hunger for Him and who were focused on Him and in doing that, I recognised the pathway to Salvation through HIm. Sometimes we focus on the Christ-like deeds and maybe miss the souls hungry for His word…………….just a thought!
Thanks,
Lindsey