Who,me?

Here’s a classic quote from William Booth’s excellent little book Purity of Heart. Maybe you’ve seen it…

"A Pure Heart will make you a blessing to those around you, and that not merely as a result of what you do, but from the fact of what you are. (NOTE: The emphasis is mine. This is a h-u-g-e point, as “being” will always trump mere “doing.” – W). People will, no doubt, be drawn to love Christ, and seek Salvation, and fight for The Army by what you say and sing. Your appeals and your prayers will all affect them; but if, in addition, you possess this treasure, they will also be led to God and holiness and Heaven by what they see you are!" (again, the emphasis is mine – W)

– General William Booth
Purity of Heart

Holiness of heart, of life, of mind, of attitude, of purpose, of mission… These hallmarks were all at the core of Army teaching, emphasis, theology, and practice. After all, we identified ourselves, and saw ourselves very much as a holiness movement. The telltale marks of a holy life were easily seen by everyone from the proverbial “poor lost girl upon the streets” and men living under bridges, to the aristocracy and royalty.

But fast-forward to today and answer this question – Are we still seen as holy people who are part of a larger holiness movement?

Unfortunately, the answer is a frustrating “that depends..."

Why the lack of a definite answer? Because the truth of the matter is that there really is no corporate, all-inclusive answer. The question can only be answered by YOU as an individual. Not the General, not the Territorial Commander, not the Doctrine Council, not your corps officer, but YOU.

You see, it’s this simple: The Army will only be seen as what YOU decide and show it to be. That’s the point Booth was making in the quote above.

So if we use the everyday lives of those who wear the name “Salvationist” as our measuring stick – and you already know that everyday lifestyle, habits, and actions are among the most accurate measurements people around us have for determining what the Army is and how the Army behaves – could we still be accurately described as holy people who are part of a larger holiness movement, as mentioned above?

Here’s the simple fact of the matter, gang… People see who and what we are. That is, they quickly connect the dots that our lives, words, attitudes, and actions give them, and arrive at their own conclusion. The Army will be seen as a holiness movement only if others see you and me living holy lives.

So whaddya say…? Let’s go for it!

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis

Covenant Thoughts

Lately, I’ve found myself thinking over and pondering the nature of covenant. Partly because the Prayer Warriors session is only a couple of weeks away from prayerfully signing their Officers Covenant , which is always a very moving ceremony for me. And each year, as Covenant Sunday approaches, I’ve also made it a practice to re-read James Garlow’s excellent little book on the subject – cleverly entitled The Covenant – as well as Commissioner Ed Read’s classic Keepers of the Covenant.

Add to all this the fact that I’ve recently had the chance to read through the manuscript of a fine, soon-to-be-published book on covenant by a Canadian Salvationist.

All in all, I’ve been enjoying a fantastic reminder of the unique covenant relationship I’ve entered into with God, as a Salvationist and as an officer.

Each of us, as Salvationists, has willingly bound ourselves to God by at least one of three different covenants: the Junior Soldier Promise, the Soldier’s Covenant (previously The Articles of War), and the Officer's Covenant. The terms, declarations, and promises we commit to in these covenants very much defines how we relate to God and others, and describes what people can expect of us by way of our actions and values.

In the forward to Commissioner Read’s book, then-General Paul Rader shared well-worded insights about the relationship between Salvationism and covenant when he wrote:

If there is one thing that sets Salvationists apart in these times more than any other it is that Salvationists are people of Covenant. If you want to know what makes the Army tick at its best, then you must understand the compelling significance of Covenant. A single woman officer refuses to abandon her post in a region exploding in cruel violence. A young couple defies all the stereotypes of their generation in a willingness to reach the people of a country recently reclaimed from Marxism. A former officer in his nineties in Communist China is still loyal to his calling after 45 years of separation from all the usual supports of his Salvationism. A man and wife whose marriage is under stress press their way through to a deeper commitment to one another and to their family and future. An aging husband devoted himself entirely to the care of his now helpless wife whose darkening mind the kindly light of reason has long since been denied. It’s all about Covenant.

…This is an era of contractual negotiation, of ensuring that one’s options are open, that one always preserves the chance to cut and run when the going gets tough or the constraints of commitment too binding. Covenant is a very different arrangement. Benefits and options, important as they may be, are not the issue

…We never needed to understand [Covenant] more than now. It is vital to the understanding of every Salvationist who may have been dedicated under an Army flag, later sealing their Soldier’s Covenant as they entered the family of faith and enlisted in this global fighting force. [Covenant] is what makes members into soldiers, and faithful attenders into fighting units. It is what makes otherwise sincere supporters the very stuff that makes an Army.

Tell me…when was the last time you read through the covenant(s) that you’ve promised, and signed before God? Why not take a look today and see the extent to which your life matches what you’ve promised?

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…

Willis