'Have I grieved thee with an ill kept vow?'Every Salvationist publicly states at the time of their enrolment that they ‘believe and will live by the truths of the word of God expressed in The Salvation Army's eleven articles of faith.’ In addition every soldier solemnly declares that they “will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, they will show the spirit of Salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution.”
In his well known song “I renew my covenant with thee’ Will Brand asks the question – ‘have I grieved thee with an ill-kept vow?’
TSA in the UK has a hardcore clique of Officers and soldiers who are openly dismissing (in both practice and public preaching) the following Army beliefs:
- Doctrine 5 – Original sin
- Doctrine 9 – The possibility of back sliding
- Doctrine 10 – Holiness
- Doctrine 11 – The general judgment and eternal punishment of the wicked
In addition we have:
- Officers who baptise new converts
- Corps that regularly hold what can only be described as communion services,
- Officers who question our commitment to total abstinence from tobacco and alcohol,
- Officers who only ever wear their uniform when compelled to
- Officers and soldiers who openly rebel against the instructions of their leaders in these particular areas,
Under the guise of post modernism, cultural relevance, free expression and intellectual freedom these Officers and soldiers are all attempting to serve God ‘with an ill kept vow’ for they are living lives completely at odds with the two covenants mentioned above.
Anyone who disagrees with TSA's beliefs and practices to such a degree should feel morally obligated to resign their Officership and ask for their soldiership to be cancelled. Once they are not in disagreement with the covenants they voluntarily made they are then free to fight their revolution. To be so at odds with one (and for Officers two) sacred covenants is deliberate sin and dishonours themselves, the Army and most of all God.
Broken covenants are a serious business – either keep your covenants or cancel them but please don’t compromise them – such sin in the camp merely withholds God’s blessing from the Army.
“Have I ceased from walking close beside thee?
Have I grieved thee with a well kept vow?
In my heart of hearts have I denied thee?
Speak oh speak dear Lord and tell me know.”
Yours set apart by God, for the Lost, IN THE ARMY!
AJB
PS - the photo is a 'stock image' from IHQ and not a renegade Lieut-Colonel weeping over a broken covenant (at least not as far as I know!)
A great blast from the past and as true today as it ever was...
