What are the key beliefs of the Salvation Army?

[LiberatedChick]

Hello
I currently attend a Church of England (anglican) church though I have been wondering about the beliefs of other churches in my area. It's suddenly struck me that there's all these different churches and I don't know much about them. One of which would be a Salvation Army centre. So could someone explain to me what the beliefs of the Salvation Army are?...what makes them different from other denominations? The most I've heard is that they don't have communion and don't baptise.
Also what do the services tend to be like and why do some become soldiers and wear uniforms?

 

[Andy Broadley]

Straight from the horses mouth so to speak, I pulled this off the international headquarters web site





Doctrines
IHQ DOCTRINES OF THE SALVATION ARMY

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.

We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.

We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.

We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall, all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.

We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.

We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.

We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, in the general judgement at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked.


In addition these promises are made by those entering soldiership




Soldier's Covenant

(Promises made when becoming a soldier in the Salvation Army)

HAVING accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord, and desiring to fulfil my membership of His Church on earth as a soldier of The Salvation Army, I now by God’s grace enter into a sacred covenant.

I believe and will live by the truths of the word of God expressed in The Salvation Army’s eleven articles of faith:

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God: and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.


We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator. Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.

We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead—the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost—undivided in essence and coequal in power and glory.

We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency. but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved. and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.

We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.

We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.

We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
​

THEREFORE

I will be responsive to the Holy Spirit’s work and obedient to His leading in my life, growing in grace through worship, prayer, service and the reading of the Bible.

I will make the values of the Kingdom of God and not the values of the world the standard for my life.

I will uphold Christian integrity in every area of my life, allowing nothing in thought. word or deed that is unworthy, unclean, untrue, profane, dishonest or immoral.

I will maintain Christian ideals in all my relationships with others: my family and neighbours, my colleagues and fellow Salvationists, those to whom and for whom I am responsible, and the wider community.

I will uphold the sanctity of marriage and of family life.

I will be a faithful steward of my time and gifts, my money and possessions, my body, my mind and my spirit, knowing that I am accountable to God.

I will abstain from alcoholic drink. tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs. gambling, pornography, the occult, and all else that could enslave the body or spirit.

I will be faithful to the purposes for which God raised up The Salvation Army, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, endeavouring to win others to Him, and in His name caring for the needy and the disadvantaged.

I will be actively involved, as l am able, in the life, work, worship and witness of the corps, giving as large a proportion of my income as possible to support its ministries and the worldwide work of the Army.

I will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, and I will show the spirit of Salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution.

I now call upon all present to witness that I enter into this covenant and sign these articles of war of my own free will, convinced that the love of Christ, who died and now lives to save me, requires from me this devotion of my life to His service for the salvation of the whole world; and therefore do here declare my full determination, by God’s help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army.

 

[Andy Broadley]

And of course all organisations seem to have one of these now, so why should the Salvation Army be any different.


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

 

[Victrixa]

Wow, reading those bring such awesome memories back! The Salvation Army is such a beautiful organization!

 

[Abiel]

Andy has provided a very comprehensive list- CS material it would seem!

 

[cenimo]

I've always wondered about the insistence of (water) baptism. There's some really impressive statements here.

 

[Andy Broadley]

Andy has provided a very comprehensive list- CS material it would seem!

Nooooo thanks. Too complicated a job these days. Warrens your man for that . He can take care of all the IT stuff as well, which is essential in a cyber corps. I'm happy to be bandmaster and maybe CSM, but that's all.

BTW- if we are going to have a YPSM, how about Sascha?

 

[elm0]

LOL - Vote 1 Sascha for YPSM

Now, do you guys wanna explain all the acronyms you used for those that don't know what you were talking about please!

 

[elm0]

The most I've heard is that they don't have communion and don't baptise.

I can't speak for all, but my corps recently did some baptisms, very low key in somebody's swimming pool. There isn't a great emphasis placed on water baptism, which was interesting for me, having come from a Baptist background.

As for communion, the reason The Salvation Army did not have communion (or so I'm told) was that most of the people they were ministering to, and thus many of the people in the congregation, were alcoholics. Drinking wine in front of alcoholics would not be very Christian (causing to stumble Rom 14:21). But, this said, there are least some Salvation Army Corps these days which occassionally have communion using bread and grape juice.

 

[Abiel]

Acronyms for the uninitiated!
YPSM- Young People's Sergent Major
CS- Corps Secretary
CSM-Corps Sergent Major
CYS-Corps Youth Secretary (my other role at my earth-bound Corps)
OSCS-Over Sixties Club Secretary
HLS-Home League Secretary
CT-Corps Treasurer
And so it goes on...and on...and ...on...

And we can have a sergent of just about anything. We have an internet sergent. And lots of unofficial tea sergents. and welcome sergents....

 

[elm0]

Hmmm, in that case I'm probably the trouble sergeant, cause that what I'm best at making

 

[Abiel]

Hmmm, in that case I'm probably the trouble sergeant, cause that what I'm best at making

Aww! Bless you!!! We had better keep you busy then!

 

[elm0]

No no, no trouble.... I mean.... um..... I can keep myself busy. And everyone else too!

 

[Andy Broadley]

Aww! Bless you!!! We had better keep you busy then!

We'd have to get the CO to approve it of course, but we do need a colour sergeant. Fancy it?

 

[elm0]

A colour sergeant??

I'd be in charge of the crayons would I?

 

[Andy Broadley]

S'good!! I like that one....(FOCL)

 

[elm0]

Maybe I can be the Joker Sergeant

 

[Abiel]

A colour sergeant??

I'd be in charge of the crayons would I?

that roll is currently filled by two year old Gemma!

 

[Andy Broadley]

Awwww *sulks*

 

[elm0]

OK, as long as I don't have to sharpen the crayons I think I can cope with colour sergeant.