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

[tattedschmoe]

i've ran through a couple of threads here on CF and saw a link that mentioned the "doctrines" of the Salvation Army church.

now i only have one question. What is so different about the Salvation Army in comparision to the rest of Christian churches?

[Andy Broadley]

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

[Victrixa]

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.

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. :)

[cenimo]

(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.

[Abiel]

(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.

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.

[Abiel]

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.

[Evangelina]

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.)

[Andy Broadley]

(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.


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.

[Athanasian Creed]

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'.


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



Ray :wave:

[Athanasian Creed]

(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)

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 !!:thumbsup:



Ray :wave:

[cenimo]

Athanasian Creed

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

[Abiel]

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 !!:thumbsup:



Ray :wave:

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]

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.

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

[Abiel]

Mission Statement




The Salvation Army is an integral part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible; its motivation is the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

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.

[Athanasian Creed]

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.

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 :wave:

[Athanasian Creed]

Athanasian Creed

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


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 :wave:

[Abiel]

Mission Statement

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

To me, this is what 'church' is.


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.

[Athanasian Creed]

(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.


"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 !!!:thumbsup:



Ray :wave:

[elm0]

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 !!:thumbsup:

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.

[Andy Broadley]

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

[TheDag]

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 !!!:thumbsup:



Ray :wave:

I come from a lutheran upbringing to the salvos via the anglican church and I've noticed the main thing needed for unity between denominations is for people to stop focusing on the differences and to focus on what we have in common. I used to lead on camps run by a non-denominational mission organisation. The speakers on the camp were told they had to speak on stuff that was 'down the middle' (stuff all churches agreed on). Speakers often said they were amazed how much stuff is down the middle. And so much stuff is but satan has us focusing on differences instead. All the things different groups disagree on in the end have nothing to do with being saved or not.

[elm0]

Too right Dag.

[Bradford]

***MOD HAT ON***

I know CC-SA is a new forum, but the forum specific rules DO still apply here.

Particulary, Rule 3.

3) Non-Salvationist members can only post fellowship posts here or posts to ask a question regarding Salvationist doctrine. Once the question is answered, there shall be no debate over the answer in this forum by the Non- Salvationist members. Any debate posts by Non-Salvationist members will be deleted; and the poster may be warned. In other words, only Salvationist members can debate here.

I ask all non-Salvationists to keep that rule in mind when posting.

Thank you.

*** MOD HAT OFF***

[Gumdrop71]

Save Souls.
Grow Saints.
Serve Suffering Humanity.
============
By golly that's HOW ALL CHURCHES should be!

[Abiel]

Save Souls.
Grow Saints.
Serve Suffering Humanity.
============
By golly that's HOW ALL CHURCHES should be!


And I am sure that loads of them are doing just that. But it is like a three legged stool. If one leg is missing, it falls over, and ceases to be a stool. (apologies to General Gowans, who said it so much better!)

[elm0]

Save Souls.
Grow Saints.
Serve Suffering Humanity.
============
By golly that's HOW ALL CHURCHES should be!And I am sure that loads of them are doing just that. But it is like a three legged stool. If one leg is missing, it falls over, and ceases to be a stool. (apologies to General Gowans, who said it so much better!)

Yes, lots of churches do all three, but not necessarilly in the right ratio. Using the stool analogy, this would tend to mean your three-legged stool has different length legs. The SA (IMHO) is all about finding the right balance, getting the stool level. Of course, the amount of effort put into each will vary from corps to corps depending on the perceived needs in the surrounding area.

[JoshuaCh1v9]

*bump*

[Timyone]

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.

Athanasian Creed

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


im pretty sure that the salvation army isnt a church, but is part of the church. (sorry cant find a quote, but i learnt it in a salvo class, at salvo college of training in sydney, so i assume its the salvation army position.
i think ive seen a few quotes from different officors that say the salvos arent a church, it has alot to do with baptism and communion etc.

[Abiel]

The Salvation Army is a church. Full Stop.

[JoshuaCh1v9]

Yep.

No way to get round that

The Salvation Army is A Church, and forms part of THE Church.

[Timyone]

The Salvation Army is a church. Full Stop.
go and ask your officors that.
im pretty sure not a church, but part of the church is the statement.
go to italy, definately not a church there.

i doesnt really matter either way to me.

[chrisbroadley]

the S.A's quote is - A Christian Church And registered charity. With heart to God and Hand to man. It doesn't say part of a christian church and registered charity!

[JoshuaCh1v9]

go and ask your officors that.
im pretty sure not a church, but part of the church is the statement.
go to italy, definately not a church there.

i doesnt really matter either way to me.

We already did that.

Abiel IS an officer.

[Evangelina]

Gahhhh... symantics! Horrible things! Worse than blowflies!

[Evangelina]

(double post - is CF going doolally?)

[JoshuaCh1v9]

Gahhhh... symantics! Horrible things! Worse than blowflies!


As chairman of the blowfly protection league, I must protest.....:preach:

[Evangelina]

As chairman of the blowfly protection league, I must protest.....:preach:
You want me to say that blowflies are WORSE than semantics?

(crikey, I only just noticed that spelling mistake in my previous post... disgusting!)

[JoshuaCh1v9]

You want me to say that blowflies are WORSE than semantics?

(crikey, I only just noticed that spelling mistake in my previous post... disgusting!)

The blowfly protection league has recently become allied to the semantics liberation front. We will present a united front to oppose the exploitation of our rescpective memebrs:preach:

[Evangelina]

The blowfly protection league has recently become allied to the semantics liberation front. We will present a united front to oppose the exploitation of our rescpective memebrs:preach:
Fine with me. Have 'em all. Just don't use them or unleash them on others, cos that would be exploitation.
:D

[JoshuaCh1v9]

Fine with me. Have 'em all. Just don't use them or unleash them on others, cos that would be exploitation.
:D

Land Rights For Blowflies

[Abiel]

Had a thought.

A different question would be:

What unites us?

[elm0]

What unites us?
Well, the simple answer should be Christ. You know, the whole He is the vine, we are the branches thing, and He's the head we're the body.

I wish it was quite so simple though, because sometimes that gets forgotten, almost like one part of the vine is trying to set fire to another part, or the left foot wants to go in the opposite direction to the right foot.

I think the actual answer is Christ unites us, if we let Him.