Why do bands exist?

An article by William Booth originally published in The Bandsman and Songster May 11th 1907 - Obviously directed at brass bands but equally applicable today to contemporary worships bands!

Love and prayers A

WHY DO BANDS EXIST

"Having assured you of the deep sym­pathy I feel with you in your work, and of my true appreciation or your toil and trouble involved in the discharge of your duties, I want to suggest some improvements which, if adopted, will, I think, make the services you render to the Corps more valuable and useful still.

I will begin by reminding you of the object for which The Salvation Army Bands exist, and after we have looked at that, I think you will be better able to judge whether your particular Band is conducted in the manner calculated to secure the accomplishment of that object.

NOT FOR THIS!

1. A Band is not created and maintained for the mere amusement of the individuals composing it. To say that this were the case would lower it very nearly to the level of a Cricket Club or a Choral Society.

2. Neither does a band exist for the benefit of its members, either as regards their musical attainments, or the promotion of their personal religion.

To those members who are faithful to their opportunity and the duties it de­volves upon them, the band will doubtless prove, a school in which their musical ability will be developed, and a means of grace by which their souls may be greatly blessed; but these are not the ends for which the band exists.

3. A band does not exist for the amuse­ment of other people.

Music is, beyond question, very attrac­tive, and capable of imparting many delightful emotions; but I certainly am not called to raise Salvation Army bands for the purpose of merely gratifying our own Soldiers or of pleasing the crowd outside.

THE ARMY'S PURPOSE

In a general way, I may say that a band exists for the same purpose as The Salvation Army itself. We all know what that object is but I may just express it in a few words; The Salvation Army exists to promote the Glory of God in the Salvation of a dying World, the Sanctification of our Soldiers, and the inspiration of all alike with that same Spirit that brought Jesus Christ from Heaven to live, suffer and die for the Salvation of the world.

That is the object for which The Salva­tion Army exists, and the bands, as a part of that Army, must have the same object, and be actuated by the same spirit - that is, if it is loyal to the purpose for which it has been called into being.

Is not this the object for which you expect your Officers will live and after which you desire that they should aspire? Would you be content with any aim lower than this in them? Suppose a Captain came to your Corps; who made it evident that all he wanted was to show off his abilities, to set forth how eloquently he could talk on the platform, what wonderful words and ideas he could express in his prayers, what marvellous reports he could write for "Cry," or how cleverly he could play on the cornet or something else of the same description, would not every right-minded Soldier in the Corps look down on such a Captain with pity, if not contempt, and say, "We thought you had come here to help us to save souls and live holy lives; we are afraid that you have mistaken your calling; had you not better go to the Peni­tent Form and get saved yourself?”

What do you reckon, my Comrades, is the purpose for which your General jour­neys to and fro over land and sea; for what do I sit writing at my desk by night and by day; for what do I argue and plead in councils and conferences with my Officers; for what do I stand on the Platform and talk, and pray, till I can scarcely stand at all? It is, as you know, that I may cooperate with my Comrades in the attain­ment of this object, that is, thee blessing of my Soldiers, and the saving of the People.

HOW ACCOMPLISHED.

Now, as a part and parcel of The Army, the object of the band must be the same as is that of The Army; the same as your Captain's; the same as your General's­ - you wish it to be so, and you glory in the fact that it is so.

This purpose can be carried out in various ways. And first and foremost, it can do this:-

1. By attracting strangers to our meet­ings, cheering up our own people, and generally commending The Army to public notice. I think this part of the work of a band is generally aimed at in a very rational and hearty manner, and I believe that in this respect great success has crowned the efforts put forth. Most of our tunes are of a popular character, and the manner in which they are played is in many cases very pleasing and attractive to the public ear.

In the performance of every kind of music I give to all my Bandsmen the same rule for their guidance that I give to every other class of Officer in the Army, the rule by which I hope I constantly strive to be guided myself, and which says: “Whether you pray to God, or talk to man; whether you write for the 'Cry,' or play your Music, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God, do it for the benefit of your fellows, do it in the Spirit of The Salva­tion Army, and do it as well as ever you can”

Now, without posing as a musician, there is one thing I would like to say with regard to the playing of our bands which, if attended to, will, I am convinced, do more to improve our music, and more to make it acceptable and useful to our people, than ­perhaps any other thing that can be done. That one thing is, let there be an honest attempt on the part of every Bandsman to bring his particular Instrument into such agreement with the rest of his Comrades’ that the united sound shall be one harmonious whole.

In listening to a band we do not want to hear the cornet, or the trombone, or even the Drum, clanging and banging out loud and distinct above the rest. What we want is to hear the sound proceeding from every instrument, so blended together that it shall be as if the whole volume came from one instrument only. This will be a result not attained in a day, but, it should be aimed at and persistently sought if the highest success in band performances is to be reached."

The charm of the unifrom...

The text below is from the full page advert (left) printed on the backpage of the 'The Bandsman, Local Officer and Songster' March 14th 1914.

Aren't the sentiments it conveys equally valid today?

Love and prayers

A

"There is a charm about Salvation Army uniform which is perhaps, better experienced than described. It has an attractiveness which is entirely its own, and the impression it makes upon the casual observer is without parallel in the realms of religious attire.

How many thousands of people have been attracted to the Army, won for God, and helped in many ways by the means of this world famous uniform?

In every land the wearer of the Army uniform is recognised as a servant of suffering humanity... The Uniform is, undoubtedly, the most potent advertisement The Army has ever adopted, and its value cannot well be overstated. It brings bless­ing to the wearers as well as those with whom they come into contact. A Salvationist’s personal appearance should endorse his testimony. It is quite possible for the Army Suit of blue to be a silent testimony as to ‘whose we are and whom we serve.' As our Army Mother wrote; 'we speak to numbers by our, appearance to whom we can never speak by our words' "

CONVERTS' PROBLEMS - No III - HOLINESS.

The following, practical, short article first appeared in "The Local Officer" (Volume IX No 7) printed in July 1906. Simple, to the point and effective! I love the plural in the title - the article assumes many converts! Today we'd probably put the apostrophe before the 'S' (how sad).

CONVERTS' PROBLEMS.

No III - HOLINESS.

THE convert, especially if he has not been brought up within the sound of Army teaching, soon begins to enquire about the holiness which he finds the subject of so much of the Officers' talk and the Soldiers' testimonies. Sometimes he grasps it at once; in other cases he finds it "after many days."

The Penitent-form Sergeant will have to be very practical if he is to be of use to the searcher at the eleven o’clock Sunday meeting or Friday evening meeting. He will find himself kneeling by the side of people perhaps more learned than he is, seeking greater light; and will also be called upon to declare plainly to others that what they want is salva­tion before they go a step further.

There is much that cannot at once be comprehended about holiness; beautiful to talk over; and yet to bring it down to earth it just means having the heart right with God.

A man gets his sins forgiven and knows the past is "under the blood"; but what about the future? Is he to be a conqueror, an overcomer, "immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord"; or is he to be a weakling, up today and down tomorrow, always crying out "Oh! Wretched man that I am, I love the evil I flee from, and and every now and then it catches me!” It all depends on whether there is a heart-whole surrender to God; and a being filled, in return, with that spirit which gives rise to right action.

People come to the penitent-form - ­altar is the right word in their case - with a vague idea that by some instantaneous process they will be converted into angels. The best man who ever lives will never be an angel till he gets to Glory, but he may do the will of God on earth as the angels do it in Heaven.

That is holiness; doing the will of God; not your will, but His; living so that you have a conscience void of offence; and loving God so that you have no. love for sin.

Possessing that holiness you may be buffeted, storm- tossed, bewildered, pained, bereaved, brought into dire straits of poverty and ill-health, but never betrayed into the sin which surely over takes and overcomes the man who being cleansed of his leprosy gees off to his companions without thinking any more about the blessed One who cleansed him.

The man at the altar, fresh from a terrible lapse into sin, needs salvation, when he says he is after holiness! Tell him so! Get him to lay down his sin once for all, to cry to God for the power to hate it, to believe that God gives him strength to take his enemies of lust, drink, and worldliness by the neck and pound the life out of them with the clubs of faith and prayer, and he will assuredly pass out of the troubled waters, where Christ has met him in the darkness of the tempest, into the sunlit ocean of full salvation.

The trembling soul who is giving up all to God at the altar, only needs prompting to say "I dare! Lord!" to enter into such a rapture of soul as shall make Heaven more real than earth!

Up with the weeds! Tear down your idols! Throw open the doors of your heart and the King of Glory will come in.

The Penitent-form Sergeant can safely talk like that, as circumstances require; and afterwards may counsel patience, courage, perseverance, a pressing onward, and a high standard stopping nowhere short of perfection -in brief, the holiness set forth, as what God expects from his people, from cover to cover of the bible.

Conversion of a Skeleton!

If you believe in the integrity of our early Officers (and I do!) and you don't believe that they enhanced the testimonies of the 'trophies' they captured then the following is a remarkable story.

The most challenging thing about this story is that the hero started out as an alcoholic paid thug who led organised persecution against Salvationists. As you read the testimony try and bring the story up to 2007 - we should taking prisoners like this today - why aren't we?

Sorry about the quality of the photo but that was how Band Sergeant 'Sam' appeared in the August 29th 1908 edition of 'The Bandsman and Songster' from whence I lifted this article.

"I believe we shall win - if we fight in the strenght of the king!"

"That's, your man," said the" publican to a “Brother Bung" as he pointed to "Sam the Bear," sitting in a corner of the taproom, and looking wistfully into an empty pint pot. "Good," said Mr. Bung, and approaching Sam with a great show of friendliness, he ordered the pot to be filled. "Drink that off," he said; "and when it’s gone, there's another waiting for you."

Sam did not want a second bidding, but he was quite sure he was not being “treated” for nothing, and therefore when he was well on the way of swallowing the second instalment of "free beer", he bluntly' asked what was wanted of him.

“Oh! Nothing much,” said Mr. Bung. “Only a bit of fun. The fact is some of us in the trade think these Army people are going a bit too far, hollering about the streets, deceiving honest British workmen into giving up their beer, and drawing our customers out of the bar. Why should they have it all, their own way? Why don't you, and a few lads of spirit, stick, up for your rights? We'll help you; and as for beer you can have as much of it as you want, and a quart to pour over the Army Captain as well!"

"I'm your man”, said the poor drunkard. "Lor'! What a game we'll have!"

The publican, who had recommended him as a fitting leader for a local "Skeleton" army, came round from behind the bar, and patted on the shoulder. "I'd back ‘Sam the Bear’ for beer and devilment against any man breathing," he said.

“‘Sam the Bear'?" queried Mr, Bung. “Is that his right name?” Sam laughed. “It's what they call me,” he said, in drunken pride, “for a bit o’ play-acting I used to do when me, and, my mates wanted a copper or two for beer. I was younger then, and a lot of us were up to anything. A pal o' mine says to me one day, when we was both stone broke and dreadful thirsty, ‘Sam, you play bear and I'll act keeper, and we'll make" as much as that Frenchy who went round the fair last year!’ So he gets a rope and puts it round my neck, and I gets down on all fours, and then dances about while he flourishes his pole and says, 'drop a copper in my cap, ladies and gents, to encourage the British bear and his keeper. "Lor’ how it worked, we wasn't sober for weeks together!”

“Well, you play the bear with them interfering Salvationists and you won't go short of beer," said Mr Bung. "There’s a few at my house as will be pleased to join you. We’ll show those red-shirted chaps that the British working-man ain't going to be frightened out of having his pint by the likes of them."

"So the ‘Skeleton’ army sprang into being that very night, and its appointed leader, ‘Sam the Bear,’ did his best to earn the beer which flowed in a never-ending stream from the taps of the publicans who had at first only laughed when The Army ‘opened fire’ in the town, but, when they saw some of their best customers leaving the bard for the penitent-form, they grow angry.

‘Sam the Bear,’ became a regular attendant at The Army meetings, indoor and open-air, and made himself a thorough nuisance to the Officers and Soldiers.

Every now and then, however, a ‘shot’ went home. He couldn’t help seeing that these people were better of than he was, and when they told him he was ‘a slave to drink’ he knew it was true! He roared out some drunken song in reply, but he fairly ‘squirmed’ when the Captain got in another ‘arrow’ in the shape of the words, “The wages of sin is death!”

In the middle of the night he woke up and thought it all over. “A slave to drink!

“Yes, he had been that from his youth up, and the demon had proved a hard task­master. At his bidding, ‘Sam the Bear’ had made a public exhibition of his own foolishness, become a terror to his Wife and children, broken up home after home, gone upon the tramp, and got into trouble of all descriptions. He had tried to get free many a time, but the demon drink had only ­riveted his chains the, faster. That Army man was right! He was a slave!

Yet he was going to be paid his wages! He had seen many another slave "paid off" on this earth, and wondered when his own time would come. Death! Yes, that was the Devil's currency in which" he- paid his bitter wages. The Army man was right, and yet he, ‘Sam the Bear’ was trying every night to upset these' people whose every thought was to do him good! He was a fool for his pains! He would give up beer and get better work than leading the Skeletons. So he thought, but, with the morning all his good resolutions vanished.

Presently, a ‘Skeleton’ got converted - then another - and another!

‘Sam the Bear’ looked on aghast! Very soon the publicans told him he was recruit­ing for The Salvation Army instead of driving them out of the town!

The comrade, who sent us the outlines of the above story, adds: “The whole of Sam’s Skeleton army were caught in the Salvation net; and at last, Sam himself, utterly broken down, fell at the mercy-seat and within half an hour was testifying to the fact of his conversion, in the open-air before hundreds of people congregated at Rowell Fair. For twenty-two years he has continued praying, preaching, and testifying to the saving and keeping power of God, indoor and out.

The ‘Skeleton, the, drunkard who was once known as ‘Sam the Bear,' is now Band-Sergeant Law, of the Rothwell Salvation Army Band, Northants, prompt, with spiritual counsel, ever ready to visit the sick, assist in the meetings, to go any­where and do anything for God, and The Army.

What is worldliness? (By the General)

I was recently given 182 copies of 'The Bandsman and Songster' (later entitled 'The Bandsman, Songster and Local Officer') the editions date between 1908 and 1930 (the vast majority are pre 1926). There are some great articles and snippets from SA pioneers all of which are well worth a second airing. I will be blogging some of them over the next few weeks.

The first is an article by the Founder called 'What is worldliness'... happy reading.

"What is Worldliness? BY THE GENERAL

Some time ago on one of my world-wide journeys, I was invited out of respect to my position and in sympathy with my philan­thropic work, to a banquet at a ladies’ college. The building was imposing and commodious. The repast was set forth with great taste in the spacious lecture hall, the tables were highly ornamented and laden with almost, every luxury in season, while the guests included nearly every celebrity, religious and secular, of the City and neighbourhood.

Everything savoured to me of the worldliest of the worldly, and as I sat over my cup of tea- for it was 7pm – between a couple of high-class Doctors of Divinity, I could not refrain from remarking to one of the gentlemen something after the following:-

“You gentlemen are ever holding conventions where you discuss questions concerning the welfare of the Church, the main­tenance of sound doctrine, and the progress of religion generally; might it be useful if you could, on one or other of these occasions consider and settle what giving tip the world really signifies? In every country thousands of simple hearted souls are denying themselves the pleasures, comforts, and in some cases even the necessaries of life in order to comply with that renunciation of the world which they are taught to believe is required from them in the Bible; and yet I cannot conceive how we could have a more complete exhibition of that world which we are supposed to give up, than we have tonight in this college which is regarded as a fountain-head of religious teaching.”

I forget now what answer I received on that occasion, but I have often put the same question to myself since that day, and I desire to propose it again to you, my comrades, with a view to seeing if we cannot find an answer that will be useful to us. What is the worldliness that we are called to give up?

A DEADLY ENEMY.

Of its importance I need not wait one moment to speak. A single remark which, if received – and I don't think an individual will be prepared to contradict it - will prove, its importance, as we sometimes say, "up to the very hilt"; and that is, that worldliness is the most deadly enemy with which the Kingdom of Christ has to contend. In contests with Christianity of former days it has been victorious where every other foe has failed. Where persecution, heresy, poverty, and devils have had to acknowledge themselves defeated, worldliness has, without nose or stir, quietly succeeded, and left the Cause of Christ vanquished, like Samson of old, a byword, a reproach, and a laughing-stock to earth and hell.

Worldliness must not be confounded with respectability. - For instance, a man may be very worldly, and yet the reverse of respectable - witness your Card Sharper, Bogus Company-monger, and a host of other characters who live by their wits, and whose society would simply disgust the whole circle of wealthy, gay, and fashionable folk.

On the other hand, a man may, by his conduct, character, and appearance, com­mand the respect of a great many of the people around him, and yet be the opposite of what would ordinarily be termed worldly.

To be decent in manner and appearance is to be respectable, but surely it is not, worldly to speak correctly, have a clean face, with, the dirt brushed off your clothes, and your house swept up and set in order.

To be truthful, industrious, honest, and just is to be respectable, but surely it cannot in any way be counted worldly to avoid falsehood, to work hard, and to pay your debts.

To be intelligent and honourable in your dealings with men, and capable and methodical in your business, will command the respect of all around you, whether they hate your religion or admire it, but surely no one in their right senses would think of putting such, qualities down as being worldly.

THE GREAT CHANGE.

No; the most reprobate and dissolute wretch saved in The Salvation Army com­mences a career of respectability at the Penitent Form, if not with the first resolve to seek God that rises in his bosom. He goes home, embraces his wife, asks her for­giveness for past ill-treatment, kisses his children, and promises to be a good father. He turns up at the hour when work com­mences the next morning, gives up the drink to the amazement of his old companions, surprises the Publican and the Shopkeeper by announcing that he is going to pay his debts, takes his earning to his wife on the Saturday night, and appears at the Hall on the following Sunday morning in his right mind, and clothed with a suit that has been in the careful keeping of his "Uncle" for many a day. Consequently he comes at once to be a regarded by a large number of his old acquaintances as respectable man, and yet he is further from being a worldly man than he has ever been before, or ever expected to be.

Neither does worldliness consist in the possession of some of the good things of the World; that is, if they can be possessed under lawful conditions.

I prefer to have good wholesome bread on my table. I like fresh air in my crowded HaIls. I choose the shady side of the road in summer, if there is one, when the sun is high in the heavens, and am thankful for a warm-coat and a good fire in winter. That is when I can get these things without injury to the interests of those about me, but that does not make or prove me to be worldly in the sense in which worldliness is condemned in the Bible.

Neither does worldliness consist in any resemblance to the world in being con­formed in those of its usages which appear to us necessary to health and well-being.

For instance, I wear clothes; I live in a house; I use soap; I take a bath. Ought I to give up these practices because worldly men enjoy the same comforts? Again The Army has an account at what is, in a certain sense, a very worldly Bank; the Inter­national Headquarters are situated in a very worldly street, one of the best for high-class business, that is, worldly business, to be found in London; but these things do not prove either The General or The Army, or the International Headquarters to be worldly.

Neither does Worldliness consist in a man equalling or even excelling the world in some of its choicest or most valuable possessions or gifts.

For instance, it does not make a man worldly: -

• Because he wears a, more becoming and comfortable dress than the ordinary run of mortals, which is the case with Salvationists.
• Because he possesses a better voice for a song, which many, Salvationists do.
• Because he is more eloquent and effective in, speech, which many Salvationists certainly are.
• Because he has more brains - more com­mon sense - which is not at all an uncommon occurrence.
• Because he may possess greater wealth that is, if he makes a good use of it.
• Because he wields greater influence with the world around him for good which Salvationists doubtlessly do.
• Because he might be able to command a more imposing and commodious building for his Salvation Temple than the worldlings possess.

These good gifts of God, or good acquisi­tions of man, are not, I say again, sinful in themselves. If they were, Heaven where beauty, and wealth, and intellect, and every other good and perfect gift, will be found in perfection, would be the most sinful, place in the Universe, instead of being the most spiritual and holy, which it certainly is.

THE ANSWER.

What, then, is the worldliness condemned in the Bible, which is the enemy of our Salvation, and which every Officer and Sol­dier in The Army is bound to combat and forgo?

Worldliness is the possession, and the manifestation of an evil spirit. It is not the form in which this spirit makes itself manifest that is so important, but the evil spirit itself - it is not the fruit that needs so much to be considered as the tree on which it grows. It is the motive which settles the rightness or wrongness of moral action.

You may have the same conduct in two people, which in one may be benevolent, good, and, therefore, commendable; but in the other it may be selfish, bad, and therefore, to be execrated.

For instance, two men may each give twenty shillings to two other men, but one gives the twenty shillings to the first to assist a poor family in distress, and the other gives twenty shillings to the second to bribe him to give his vote contrary to the dictates of his conscience, and the interests of the community.

It is the motive which determines the moral character of actions. Just so you will see that two men may possess similar good things, and expend them; one on the gratification of his selfishness, and the other on the glory of Christ and the Salvation of men. One has a worldly and the other a divine spirit.

If therefore, we look in the light of this truth, at the spirit which controls and actuates men and women of all classes, around us, and carefully examine also our own hearts, we shall soon discover what worldliness is and what is not. "

Yours set apart, for the lost, in the Army

A

We go forth not to fight 'gainst the sinner, but sin;

The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship (UK) has published Guidance on the Sexual Orientation Regulations that came into force in the UK on 30 th April 2007. Christians object to these Regulations because they will force them to become involved in promoting or facilitating homosexual lifestyles that are contrary to the teaching of the bible. Christians (especially TSA) does not seek to refuse homosexuals access to restaurants and hospital lists and the whole myriad of basic goods and services to which they are entitled as individuals.

The Regulations are widely misunderstood. Those promoting them talk about the need to eradicate prejudice against homosexuals not realising that without the necessary safeguards these Regulations are creating a new prejudice against those who want to live according to the bible's teaching that all sex outside heterosexual marriage is wrong.

The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship has produced Guidance on the new law which is available here.

The Guidance should be read in conjunction with the Frequently Asked Questions document.

Also see debate in The UK Times this week to understand how the Regulations are being misunderstood, here and here.

As Fred Fry put it...

"We go forth not to fight 'gainst the sinner, but sin;
The lost and the outcast we love;
And the claims of our King we before them will bring
As we urge them his mercy to prove.

Love and prayers to EVERYONE!

A

Sneak Preview!

Although Steve Court has already graciously endowed me with the title Captain I am not officially reinstated until Sunday May 20th.

However, today I went to Salvationist Publishing & Supplies to order my new uniform. It's now gone off to be trimmed and will be back in time for the big day. The summer epaulets were on the 'take away' menu so for anyone who wants a sneak preview...

Yours set apart, for the lost, IN THE ARMY!

A

Holiness - more than a fashion accessory!

Holiness is becoming increasingly fashionable – everyone seems to be talking about it - and as a result holiness is being misrepresented.

• Holiness is not self control
• Holiness is not self discipline
• Holiness is not self denial
• Holiness is not a desire to be one with God
• Holiness is not growth
• Holiness is not maturity
• Holiness is not Christ likeness
• Holiness is not spiritual formation!

Holiness may result in a manifestation of all of these things but none of them either separately or collectively are holiness.

Holiness is what happens when God creates within us a new heart and a new mind.

The heart is the seat of our emotions (our feelings, motives and desires) and our mind is the seat of our intellect (our will, our ability to understand and decide). The human heart and mind make Christian service impossible.

The closest that humanity has ever got to holiness without a new heart or mind is probably best illustrated in the life of the rich young ruler. Here was a man who had kept the commandments since his youth. When the disciples heard Christ dismiss his efforts as incomplete they were astounded and exclaimed ‘who then can be saved’. Jesus replied ‘with man this is impossible’.

When Jesus talked to Nicodemus he spoke about being the importance of being ‘born again’.

When David wrote his classic repentance prayer in Psalm 51 he asked God to ‘create’ in him “a pure heart.”

In Ezekiel chapter 11 God promises to replace old hearts ‘of stone’ with new hearts ‘of flesh’, and later in the same book (Ezekiel 18:31) he commands the Israelites to repent and to ‘get a new heart and a new spirit.’

In Romans 8:7-8 Paul says ‘The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.’

Holiness happens when God gives us new hearts and minds in which, he can (according to Ezekiel) actually move us to follow his decrees and keep his laws. Human hearts cannot follow God whereas holy hearts have a natural desire to obey him.

The provision of these new faculties is conditional upon.

• Desire.
• Repentance.
• Renunciation.
• Consecration.
• Faith.
• Obedience.
• Witness.

We must want a new heart, repent of all sin, renounce all that is doubtful, consecrate all that remains, believe in God’s power to work the change, faithfully obey God and speak to others about what he has done.

The creation of a new heart and mind (a new nature) in a believer is holiness, anything else regardless of its source or the apparent credibility of the author is bunkum.

Love and prayers

A

Limited by the above...

Steve Court points out that statistically (with 3,245 Officers 1,424 Corps and 2,462 Outposts) India boasts the biggest SA in the world. It is therefore quite amazing when you read Harry Williams account of the Army’s invasion of the sub continent. The following quote comes from the Booth-Tucker biography “William Booth’s first gentleman” and recounts day 1 of the Indian invasion.

Henry Bullard noted a large number of police lining the waterfront it did not enter his mind that it was a welcome party for the Salvationists. But it was. The Superintendent stepped for­ward "When will the other members of the party land?" In surprise Tucker replied, "We are the whole of the Army." In evident amazement Police Superintendent Harry Brewin responded “why, we were expecting you to arrive a thousand strong.” The Army formed up, Tucker in the lead, carrying the flag presented by Catherine Booth, Bullard followed playing a cornet and Norman next beating he drum, Mary Thompson brought up the rear with the first tambourine display the Bombay crowd had seen.”

Booth Tucker (above)

Henry Bullard (right)

I recently read a Corps review for a Corps in our division, the present challenges facing this particular corps were listed as:

Aging congregation,

Lack of local leadership

Limited financial resources

Immediately beneath these ‘challenges’ under the heading ‘Corps mission expectations for the future’ the following words appeared:

“Limited by the above”

This Corps in spite of its perceived limitations has significantly more resources than Bullard, Tucker et al had.

When we read in Proverbs “Where there is no vision, the people perish” is it any wonder revival tarries!

Love and prayers

A

My God why hast thou forsaken me?

When Jesus said ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani!’ he wasn’t just quoting Psalm 22 or simply identifying himself with the role of Messiah.

God and sin don’t mix. They cannot come into contact. They are like powerful magnetic poles forever repulsing each other. The Kingdom of God is a place bereft of sin. Sinful people cannot enter or exist in God’s kingdom.

And wicked things and beasts of prey come not there!
And ruthless death and fierce decay come not there!
There all are holy, all are good;
But hearts unwashed in Jesus' blood,
And guilty sinners un-renewed,
come not there!”

(SASB 268 – inspired by Revelation 21:8)

When Jesus died, when he descended into hell, when he ‘became sin’ he was quite literally (to quote Philippians:2 first and Wesley second) emptying ‘himself of all but love’.

Jesus is not abandoned by God on Good Friday but in order to face the penalty of sin he wilfully abandons God by committing his spirit into his Father’s care and descending into hell.

When he cries ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani!’ his words are motivated by the sudden and stark awareness of both the terrible horror and the absolute loneliness of his commission. With this cry on his lips Jesus goes into battle, armed with nothing but love, faith and obedience.

The God whose nature repels sin like a ducks feathers repel water takes on human form so that he can wrestle hand to hand with the ultimate enemy of humanity ‘becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross.’

Jesus does not defeat death and sin from a safe distance but naked and alone creeps into the very heart of the abyss and confronts face to face the lord and creator of selfishness with the irrepressible power of sacrificial love.

Alas! And did my Saviour bleed, and did my sovereign die?
Did he devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?
Was it for sins that I have done he suffered on the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide and shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty maker, died for man, the creature's sin.
Dear Saviour, I can ne'er repay the debt of love I owe!
Here, Lord, I give myself away; ‘tis all that I can do.

(Isaac Watts)
Amazing love!

Yours mesmerised and humbled

A

Contradictory prophecy...?

Gerald Coates once imparted to a woman a prophetic word that he believed had come from God. Upon hearing the word the woman asked Gerald what it meant, his response was ‘Don’t ask I’m just the postman – the message is from God.’

Whilst there is some wisdom in the above response it is largely a cop out. On the whole God gives his prophets access to the meaning of the messages they are asked to deliver:

“The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…”

I recently posted two prophetic words on in the interner, one based on Isaiah 1 and the other based on Ezekiel 36 & 37. A couple of people have contacted me concerning the contradictory nature of these two words. I felt it therefore appropriate to respond.

First of all, let me say that Old Testament prophets gave many apparently contradictory words – just take Isaiah as an example. He constantly berates the people for their sins, calls the nation to repentance and talks of judgement yet almost in the same breath speaks about hope and restoration. Look at Isaiah 58 and 59 – Here (in chapter 58) we have a comprehensive and critical tirade against Israel and her sinful practices. However, hot on its heels comes chapter 60 an overwhelmingly optimistic chapter concerned with the restoration of Zion and her fortunes. (Incidentally I believe that all three of these chapters have significant relevance for TSA western territories.)

Secondly, there is an important question in the second word which by its presence makes the whole word conditional and backs up the threat of the first word.

“Salvation Army can you live, can I trust you once more with such a calling as this? You are so dry, look, walk up and down the aisles of your halls, and mingle midst your musicians and soldiers, look how dry you are – can you live again? Preach, prophesy, command yourselves in my name to stand up and fight again. I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”(37:1-6)

God has always struggled to express his hope for the chosen when so many of them are in open rebellion. Much of the bible is like a ‘good cop / bad cop’ transcript. Look at Isaiah 1 (the chapter which inspired the first word) all of that anger followed by ‘come now let us reason together… though your sins are as scarlet they shall be as white as snow.”

The two words published in JAC only appear contradictory if considered out of context.

The first word, I believe, is spoken to the wider Salvation Army; it is a dismissal of evil practices and a clear call to repentance. It reminds TSA of both the negative consequences of ‘sin in the camp’ and the positive consequences of repentance. It states that the next ten years are critical and will decide the future of the Army. This doesn’t mean that continued rebellion and disobedience will signal the end of TSA (in some form) – the world is full of fully functional discarded denominations that God uses as best he can (‘fully functional’ as a nominal denomination and ‘discarded’ only as long as they remain apostate). However, our collective response to this word will determine whether we become the cutting edge of the militant church in the centre of revival or a tired dysfunctional organisation whose evangelical effectiveness is akin to moving sand with tweezers.

Whilst the warning is unequivocal there is a ‘remnant’ who have tried to remain faithful to the Army’s true principles and it is to this remnant that the second word is directed.

As our repentance addresses corporate and personal sin and as we slowly begin to take ground in the spiritual realms so we hasten revival. This revival will come - of that I am sure - and it will come within the next 10 years (I am equally certain of that too.)

My certainty is based on two things – God wants revival and so do the remnant – as long as those two stay together then revival will happen.

However, the revival will deliver two things. It will wash away all that is superficial and unrefined (this is the threat contained in the first word). It will also refresh and strengthen that which remains (this is the hope expressed in the second word).

It is important (as stressed in the second word) that the credit for this revival is taken by God. The remnant needs to be made aware that the revival is not their doing. Repentance is not so much a virtue as it is a necessary evil. Like lancing a boil or sucking poison from a wound (in this case a self inflicted wound). If there was no sin there would be no need for repentance. If revival follows repentance then it is possible that an unpleasant self righteousness may develop among the remnant who might be tempted to see their ‘virtuous’ repentance, prayer and fasting as the means of revival. When God restores TSA it may be in response to the prayers of a few who have turned from sin and embraced holiness but the glory and praise will be his and his alone.

Another thing which I am reluctant to add but do so out of obedience! TSA is to be at the heart of this revival because God has chosen it not because of anything meritorious in its make up or members. TSA, even in the future glory years, will still be a leaky craft capable of corporate capsizing on a grand scale – just as it was in the 1880’s and 1890’s (see Railton’s criticism of the early Army’s burgeoning commercialism, the shift from evangelism to social work, the idolatry of music etc) The second word also makes it clear that just as the glory is not ours individually neither is it the property of the Army corporately– the glory will go to God and to God alone.

Finally, on a personal note, I have always believed that revival would be preceded by some enormous corporate humiliation, something that makes TSA look foolish and damages its undeserved reputation for good works and integrity. However, I have not had any confirmation on this point so I have not published it. It would though tie in with the calamity of the first word followed by the promise of the second.

As with all prophecy – both words are dependant upon the response of those who hear – those within the Army who cling to their dead works, reputation, social status etc will be subject to judgement. In the same way as those who find themselves at the heart of revival and take the credit for it will also be subject to judgement.

I have always felt that the word in Revelation to Sardis is most appropriate to the SA and it contains the spirit of both words published in JAC.

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. Those who are victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out their names from the book of life, but will acknowledge their names before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Yours set apart, by Christ for the lost, in the Army,

A

Along the path of holiness...

Good Friday, 06 April 2007

I am in a caravan at the Vine Hall School near Battle (hidden by the trees in the bottom right of the aerial photograph!) Tracey has returned to St Mary Cray to lead Good Friday services, the girls are busy in Junior Adventure Camp and I am all alone.

It seems a good time to consider again the demands of holiness. I have decided to go through Allister Smith’s ‘Made whole’. He splits holiness into 6 sections.

Section 1 – Conversion

You can’t be holy unless you are converted. Smith says to do so is like trying to swim without getting into the water. I was converted on Sunday May 8th 1994. I was filled with the Spirit the following Tuesday. These experiences changed my life beyond all recognition. Shortly after my own conversion and spirit baptism Tracey was also transformed. The change in our own lives impacted dramatically on our Corps at Strood. We entered into the most productive period of our lives to date and the ‘Strood refreshing’ saw many people get saved and we witnessed real miracles. So I can tick off box number one on Smith’s list – in spite all of that has happened I am certain that Christ lives within my heart and that I am born again.

Section 2 – Craving

Smith says that we must really want holiness before God will bestow it. We have to want it above and beyond anything else. Smith explains that if there are things in our lives which demand more time than that devoted to the search for holiness then we obviously don’t want it enough. Certainly God has given me a hunger for holiness and this hunger has increased over the last few years – especially over the last few months. However, I still sometimes choose to sit down and do a crossword rather than seek the blessing. I must set aside all doubtful uses of time until I am secure in the knowledge that I am truly set apart – then holiness will determine how I spend my hours.

Section 3 – Confession

I have confessed my sins to God and he has forgiven me. I have made a full and frank confession of my sins. I have sought to make redress where I can. I have not allowed my sin, through confession, to pull other people down. The burden of my sin is mine and my confession has been to God alone. It has been specific and not general – there has been much sin in my life – looking at the Ten Commandments there is only one which I have not broken! My life has been steeped in sin and the cost has been enormous. However, God’s word says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Section 4 – Consecration

“This consecration, or yielding, includes all that we have and are. All must be laid on the altar, even the dearest and the best.”

There are issues in my life that need to addressed in regard to consecration. Last year at Roots I drew up a personal holiness manifesto – I have no doubt that this manifesto came from God but I haven’t kept the resolutions within it. The manifesto can be found here.

When the manifesto was published in the Journal of Aggressive Christianity, Issue 43, June 2006 – July 2006 I added the following comments “These are resolutions not regulations and as such are about purpose and motive rather than legality. Sometimes obedience to God may require me to break them; sometimes I may be allowed to enjoy times of God-ordained celebration when to keep them would be self-righteous and exclusive. They are simply a framework within which I believe my witness will be more effective and my limited resources better utilised.”

I can now see, one year on, that the manifesto was a result of God’s call to consecration and I want to endorse them again today. The truth is that it only takes 50p to keep a small child alive and therefore every 50 pence spent on non-essentials is murder (which means I’ve broken all the commandments) – incidentally as I’m writing this the following Keith Green song has just started playing:

“I find it hard to turn away a billion starving people, But what can one do I’ve heard you say – “You can't save someone’s life" – I want to save a life today!”

In order to tick this box “all my days and all my hours, all my will and all my powers, all the passion of my soul – not a fragment but the whole shall be thine dear Lord” must be a literal and clearly visible commitment. God by your grace I give you everything.

Section 5 – Claiming

Smith says “The step of claiming is an important one. Some linger so long on the verge of blessing. They confess their sins many times, and yield their all to the Lord; but they fail to take the simple step of faith.”

I think I fail to claim because it is easier to doubt the completeness of my cooperation with God than to expect a blessing. However, at this moment in time my confession and consecration is in line with God’s revelation and therefore I do claim the blessing of a clean heart. I ask God to fill me and use me exactly as he wills. As stated above “I am a resource in God's hand made freely available for him to spend as he wishes. I give myself totally and without any reservation to God and the Salvation War.” Having, to the best of my knowledge complied with all the terms I claim the conditional blessing of holiness.

Section 6 – Continuing

At this moment in time I am fully forgiven, fully clean, fully surrendered and therefore fully saved! This blog (among other things) is a record of my holiness journey and will reveal my willingness to continue along the path that God is unveiling before me. One thing is certain – I have no desire to go back – I have wasted enough time and money and I don’t want to waste a second or a penny more.

I am now going to pray and read again the Easter story and then by his grace 'trust and obey'.

Closed for Easter

We're off to Junior Adventure Camp for a week!

No Telephone and no internet access until we celebrate victory on Sunday!

May God make Calvary 'real' to us all this week and may we see 'victory in Christ' for The Salvation Army.

Yours set apart...

A

Allister Smith on Holiness and Revival!

Allister Smith on Holiness and Revival!

“The problems of the world and of the Church are fundamentally spiritual, and therefore their solution must be a spiritual one. As each Christian seeks after holiness, and longs for a clean heart filled with the love of Christ, so revival will be brought nearer. Let us each exclaim:

"The greatest need of the Church and the world is my personal holiness". There are any needs in the world-political, econo­mic, cultural-but the deepest need is the spiritual redemption of humanity, and this calls for a revival of holiness among Christians. By becoming worldly and prayerless and lacking in vision, the Church is unable to help mankind in this hour of dire peril…

A revival of holiness will bring joy back to a depressed Church, and faith back to a doubting, uncertain Church. It will transform a timid, apologetic Church into one that will boldly challenge the blatant evils and blasphemy of these times, instead of maintaining a shameful silence. Wickedness increases alarmingly on all sides because the Church has lost its power to protest, and its power to pray…

What are we waiting for? Here is the message, so clearly taught by Jesus and set forth in the Word of God, which can transform a weak and dying Church, and give it again an authority before which sinners of all classes, rich and poor, educated and ignorant, will quail and tremble. A Church that is sanctified and transformed, that teaches and lives holiness, will be used of God to bring about the biggest revival the world has known, and to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. That revival is prophesied by Joel and is surely coming. But it will have to be a revival of holiness. Any other revival will be spurious and short-lived…” (The Ideal of Perfection, A. Smith)

I agree completely - Hallelujah!

Yours set apart for revival

AJB

Holiness - essential and possible!

About a month ago there was a series of threads on my blog relating to holiness…

I thought the debate had gone cold until the following anonymous comment arrived today beneath an entry entitled ‘Do I live a sinless life?’ (Originally posted on February 28th). The comment was in response to another anonymous commenter who goes by the pseudonym ‘Teackles’.

“Teackles, you should not be so timid. This is not just "your interpretation" it is the interpretation of the great majority of Christians (both now and down through the ages) that we will continue to sin throughout this life while we grow in Christ. Yes we strive for holiness, but in our broken way, as you say, and we will continue to struggle with sin, because Sin - the brokenness of all creation - is still a problem. Our depravity means that even our minds and our wills are compromised by the brokenness of the world. So my own decision to consecrate myself will never be perfect - this ability too is compromised by the fall. My ability to receive God's revelation - this is limited. Escaping this condition is not simply a matter of our choosing to submit to Christ; we are caught up in the drama of salvation-history, and the full consecration will be enabled when Christ has returned and brought to full fruition the redemption of all things.”

When I read these words I couldn’t help thinking of the words of Herbert Booth when he wrote (SASB 303):

“All the memories of deeds gone by
Rise within me and thy power defy;
With a deathly chill ensnaring,
They would leave my soul despairing.
Saviour, take my hand, I cannot tell
How to stem the tides that round me swell,
How to ease my conscience, or to quell
My flaming heart.”

This sentiment expressed by Booth seems to mirror that expressed by the anonymous contributor above when he/she says “we strive for holiness, but in our broken way… we will continue to struggle with sin, because Sin - the brokenness of all creation - is still a problem.” However this is only verse two and the song writer concludes with the following stanza.

“All the rivers of thy grace I claim,
Over every promise write my name;
As I am I come, believing,
As thou art thou dost, receiving,
Bid me rise a free and pardoned slave,
Master o'er my sin, the world, the grave,
Charging me to preach thy power to save
To sinbound souls.”

My saviour from sin is neither death nor the return of Christ – but Jesus himself, as Paul puts it ‘Christ in me’ is the key to holiness. As long as I am committed to Christ, believe in him, trust him and obey him then I am saved from all sin. The fact that the ‘majority’ of those in the church do not agree with this truth doesn’t stop it from being true. The problem is that most of us find it easier to measure Christianity by our experience (‘all the memories of deeds gone by’) rather than by the truth of God’s word.

Personally, I find this comment encouraging and worrying – encouraging because it clearly identifies the strategy of the enemy and worrying because it is, as the writer suggests, a majority view.

As Wesley said (SASB 407)

“Though earth and Hell the word gainsay,
The word of God can never fail;
The Lamb shall take my sins away,
'Tis certain, though impossible;
The thing impossible shall be,
All things are possible to me.”

Yours set apart, by Christ, for the lost, in the Army.

Born in revival?

Recently I visited Penge SA Hall. The hall was built in 1894 and is a typical fortress fronted red brick building. The front door opens onto a busy market and on market day it is not hard to imagine what the life of a Salvationist must have been like in Penge in 1900.

According to the 1901 census my great grandfather, Thomas Taylor, who was a milkman, lived at 104 Beckenham Road, Penge (sadly the original house was destroyed by a doodle bug 0n 2/8/44 and is now a betting shop!).

There is a brass plaque in the lobby of Penge Hall commemorating those who died during the 1914/18 war – one of the names listed is Albert Taylor (the elder brother of my grandfather).

In the Corps history book there is an entry for August 27th 1924 that reads “Cadet Ernest Taylor farewelled for the Training Garrison” (incidentally Brigadier Albert Orsborn was the DC at the time). Ernest was my Granddad and aged 29 he entered the ‘Overcomers session’ (had he gone in, in 1924 his sessional name would have been the ‘aggressors’!)

In 1925 he was appointed to Peterborough where he met my Nan, she entered training and the two eventually married. Sadly, while she was at Clapton Training Garrison her sister died leaving four orphaned children. My Nan went to the Mercy Seat and was advised by Olive Booth to return home and bring up the children. Grandad left the work, married Nan and became a faithful soldier and local Officer. They both regretted their decision to come home until the day they died.

In 1908 the Penge SA history book refers to a great revival (a quick search on Google shows that 1908 was a good year for revivals!) The history book says that many hundreds of local reprobates got saved including ‘drunkards, card sharks, wife-beaters and boxers…’ It also mentions that the poor Adjutants running the Corps at the time could barely keep up with all the visiting required to sustain the revival.

In 1908 my Great granddad was 40 and together with his wife and five children (including my 13 year old granddad) were living half a mile from the hall and by 1914 (only 6 years after the revival) were definitely involved at the Army.

Does this mean my own spiritual DNA was formed in the gene pool of revival? Sadly the trail goes cold although the assumption would be reasonable. Regardless of how my forbears got saved I wonder how many people are going to heaven today simply because their grandparents or great grandparents were plucked from the fire by the early Army.

Maybe my great-grandfather was staggering home down Maple Road past the market stalls and costermongers when he heard a Salvationist challenge him about God and eternity, maybe he knelt at the drum or actually went inside and found God there.

Conversely, I wonder how many people have gone to hell because we no longer preach with the urgency of our spiritual ancestors.

O is not the Christ 'midst the crowd of today
Whose questioning cries do not cease?
And will he not show to the hearts that would know
The things that belong to their peace?
But how shall they hear if the preacher forbear
Or lack in compassionate zeal?
Or how shall hearts move with the Master's own love,
Without his anointing and seal?

(questions asked by my granddad's DC)

Yours set apart by Christ, for the lost, in the Army.

A

Ezekiel 36 & 37 - A word to the dry bones:

Ezekiel 36 & 37 - A word to the dry bones:

The following came to me during prayer a few months ago and has been simmering away until tonight when I made the decision to commit it to paper and publish it on the internet.

The Salvation Army in the western territories has through its conduct and actions soiled its own commission, the commission I gave it when I raised it up to save the world. This turning away from my mission has angered me and caused me to scatter their evangelical efforts and withhold revival. (36:17-18)

Once, the lost and marginalised were yours by right and winning converts was like shooting fish in a barrel. In spite of persecution, hardship and great personal cost my Army went out to those furthest from the reach of my kingdom. The lost have scorned my name and belittled me because of your double standards, compromise and hypocrisy.

So for the sake of my name – not yours – I am going to restore you. Once again the name Salvation Army and holiness will be synonymous. I will do this for my sake, for the sake of my holy name which you have belittled. Once again those on the very edge of society, the unloved and friendless will know that I am God – I will prove myself through you (even though you are not worthy of your calling). I have chosen you and once again your name will be associated with mine. (36:22-23)

I am going to set you apart once more, I will make you stand out from the crowd and lead you back to your original mission. I will baptise you with fire, I will thoroughly wash you until every stain is gone. I will destroy your idols. The things you believe make you respectable and worthy I will smash. I will restore your passion for the lost; I will give you a new heart. I will take away your cold unbelieving heart and give you a heart that desires to obey me. You will go back to your original calling, once more street evangelism, slum and gutter brigades, pub raids and prayer mats will be used to attack the kingdom of my enemies and you will win souls like the Christian Mission. You will be filled with pioneer enthusiasm for militant evangelism. You will be my soldiers and I will be your general. (36:24-29)

It is time to reap, open the doors of your citadels and come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves. No longer will you be despised and rejected, no longer will you be dismissed as an historic curio, you will win the lost and everyday I will add more to your ranks. You will go out into the streets and revival will rain down upon you, you will splash in puddles of revival like children playing in the rain. Yet the more I bless you the more you will repent. The more I use you the more ashamed you will become. If withholding my blessing forced you to your knees in repentance then my new Pentecost will provide the light required to see your sin in all its grotesque glory. You will be victorious but this new humility will allow all praise to pass to me. (36:30-32)

Once again your Corps will be so numerous you will run out of names for them! You will simply add numbers to the end of a city name as you did when you began. The urban areas will be your field and the wasteland and backstreet will be your vineyard. These dark corners will become like a new Eden. My kingdom will come to the cities, and the addicted and oppressed that I set free through you, will do my will! I have spoken and I will do it! Wash the streets, remove the burnt out vehicle, and prepare the way of the Lord. (36:33-36)

I will listen to the prayers of Salvationists once more; I will unblock my ears and focus my attention on them. I will swell their ranks and they will know that I am God. (36:37-38)

Salvation Army can you live, can I trust you once more with such a calling as this? You are so dry, look, walk up and down the aisles of your halls, and mingle midst your musicians and soldiers, look how dry you are – can you live again? Preach, prophesy, command yourselves in my name to stand up and fight again. I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD. (37:1-6)
Then when you are ready I will send that other Pentecost of which you are always singing – I will breathe on you and you will feel my life in your bodies and you will stand once more – a vast Army! (37:7-10)

NO more pessimism, no more hopelessness, no more negative reflections, there is work to be done, there are battles to be fought, there is injustice to rectify, there are souls to be won. I will open up the graves of long dead pioneers and new Railtons, Tuckers, Cadmans, Evas and Kates will take up their crosses. Preach and prophesy and say to your soldiers: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my Salvation Army I am going to restore you and then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will take you back to the place where we first met and then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.(37:1-14)

God redeem, bless, set apart and use the Army!

A

Do I live a sinless life?

When we preach holiness the question will always ultimately be thrown at us: “Do you believe that you live a holy and sinless life?”

Holy people – other than by way of a God glorifying testimony – would be reluctant to ‘boast’ in such a way.

In his article ‘A plain account of Christian Perfection’ John Wesley describes the following question and answer discourse (forgive me for bringing the language up to date).

"Q. Can you show us just one example of Christian perfection? Where is the holy Christian?

A. To some who ask such a question one might reply, If I did know of such a Christian I wouldn’t tell you because you don’t ask out of love but like King Herod; you only seek the young child to kill it. However, let me say that there are many reasons why there should be so few, if any, clear examples. Such a person would become a sitting target for anyone wanting to criticise holiness – remember ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Am I holy? Do I live a sinless life? There have been times when I would have confidently said yes – there have been long periods in my Christian experience where the possibility of sin has seemed remote indeed. At the moment – I resist sin by God’s grace – I fight the devil and win – but the desire to sin is sometimes intense. I believe that when holiness comes our way – when we experience constant and full salvation that desire is eradicated and the temptations we receive rather than being temptations of the flesh are temptations to doubt or to fear – for the infrastructure of holiness would become the natural target of the enemy.

Indeed the very paragraph above may even be indicative of such an attack upon myself!

All great saints (and lowly ones) face such doubts, the way of holiness goes through the valley of the shadow of death and leads on daily basis ton Gethsemane and Calvary – as my quote from La Marechale said…

“Calvary is Calvary today. Christ wasn't crucified in the drawing-room. His was no easy­ chair business.”

"In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;

All the light of sacred story

Gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o’ertake me,

Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,

Never shall the cross forsake me,

Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

Love and prayers

Holiness, faith, sacrifice and La Marechale

How I have struggled with holiness!

I have testified to the blessing of a clean heart but nagging conviction encourages me to disbelieve.

I preach holiness, I teach holiness – I even have a webpage dedicated to its restoration. Without giving way to arrogance - I know none who has a better theoretical (or historical) knowledge of proper Wesleyan holiness.

Like the fallen priest plucked from the flames in Zechariah I stand before God constantly under accusation - never sure if my robes are still dirty or if they have been replaced with clean ones by a ministering angel, never sure if the turban on my head sparkles with the engraved confirmation ‘holiness unto the Lord’ or not.

Last week, following a meal with a close friend (someone who’s discernment and judgement I value) the challenge was put to me that the problem was one of belief – quite simply while I believe in the possibility of constant righteousness for others I see myself (with a kind of inverted pride) as being beyond (full) redemption.

Then this week I came across the following quote from Le Marechale. The quote is lifted from a War Cry article she wrote while in Prison in Switzerland.

'Jesus was crucified: Ever since that day, men have tried to find an easier way, but the easier ways fail. If you would win thousands who are without God, you must be ready to be crucified: your plans, your ideas, your likes and your inclinations. Things have changed, you say, there is liberty now. Is there? Go and live Christ's life, speak as He spoke, teach what He taught, denounce sin wherever you find it, and see if the enemy will not turn on you with all the fury of hell. Make no mistake, in spite of all the science and enlighten­ment of the nineteenth century, Calvary is Calvary today. Christ wasn't crucified in the drawing-room. His was no easy­ chair business. The world needs an army of men and women who can face Calvary, and that means coming down low. Do you shrink from being bated, misrepresented and spoken evil of? It is time you were crucified. Come down, my brother. Come down, my sister. There is such wonderful blessing and peace down here. Make haste and come down. Lose your life. You will never be happy, never be free, never be more than con­querors, until you do.'

It is both a crisis of faith and a crisis of sacrifice!

Yet in spite of my doubts I believe that God is drawing closer all the time – the blessing is within reach – God’s grace and patience is incomprehensible.

“In the past too unbelieving

'Midst the tempest I have been,

And my heart has slowly trusted

What my eyes have never seen.

Blessed Jesus,

Teach me on thy arm to lean.”

Love and prayers

A

Dartford for Christ - then the world!

So the Bale family are off to Dartford, a small town on the very outskirts of London. Step out of the hall and you step onto the town High Street - I can't think of a better placed bridgehead from which to mount all out war on the enemy. Lots of social need in the area and of course plenty of people hungry for the gospel.

The SA has a great history in the town...

One Sunday in September 1886, two Salvation Army lasses were brought to Dartford to begin a pioneering work in the town. The early days of the Salvation Army in Dartford were characterised by opposition and hard work. Despite initial opposition, the Salvation Army attracted a strong following in Dartford, local drunkards and criminals were converted to Christianity. A brass band was quickly formed to accompany worship and to attract people to open air meetings.

After holding open air meetings in Dartford for more than twenty years, a dispute arose with the local authorities regarding the Salvation Army's use of the Bull Centre (outside the Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel) for their street services. A general ban on outdoor meetings in Dartford was introduced and the police were ordered to ensure that the ban was enforced. The Salvationists ignored the new ruling and continued to hold their street meetings. A number of their members were summoned by the Dartford police for obstruction. Rather than pay the fine imposed by the local Courts, some of the Dartford Salvation Army Corps members elected to go to prison at Maidstone. This incident caused a public outcry.

The imprisoned Salvationists were given a hero's welcome when they were released from prison and returned to Dartford in triumph. Possibly the largest crowd ever to assemble in central Dartford greeted the Salvationists. The dispute was later settled at a formal meeting between the Salvation Army, the local council and the Kent Police.

A local newspaper report from the day reported the incident like this:

In defence of the Salvation Army - wild scenes on the streets of Dartford

There was a massive and fervent response to the arrest of Dartford's Salvationists. A defence committee was formed to co-ordinate the protest campaign. Public meetings of protest attracted large crowds; protest marches were held and banners, slogans and posters appeared all over the town.

Banners declared 'IMPRISONED FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE'; 'DEFEND RELIGIOUS AND PERSONAL LIBERTY' and 'WE DEMAND LIBERTY TO PREACH CHRIST'. 15,000 people gathered at Dartford Station to welcome home the prisoners when released from jail, two of them still wearing their prison uniforms bearing broad arrows.

During the course of the exuberant celebrations the Dartford police were stoned and pelted with rotten fish heads and bad eggs. Hooligans used the occasion to vent their spleen on the local constabulary. Dartford's Superintendent Poole was pelted for four hours. Policemen were stoned to the station. There were violent speeches at the Drill Hall - a torrent of rancorous abuse."

Sadly there is no band at the Corps now and some over-zealous Officer in the past decided to sell all the instruments! However the Corps does still sell 'War Crys' round the pubs and that is something I am looking forward to.

Read the following in my devotions this morning...

"The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

God bless, redeem and sanctify the people of Dartford!

Yours set apart by Christ, for the lost, in the Army!

Take the land!

Tomorrow farewell/marching orders are issued to Officers in the UK and for the first time in 17 years my name will be mentioned in dispatches!

Along with a whole host of other Officers we will receive our appointment.

At our family devotions this morning we read the following scripture from Joshua 1: 3-9

"I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

My understanding is that the ‘law’ for a Christian can be summarised in just two commands –

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

The first command is of course a call to holiness and is for the serious believer the minimum requirement of Christianity.

I believe that if we as a couple are obedient to this command that God will fulfil the promise quoted above from Joshua.

Wherever we go - as long as we are ‘careful to obey’ and are ‘strong and courageous’ - will be the ‘promised land’ and we “will be prosperous and successful.”

This promise is for us and for all Officers.

I can't post a comment to my own blog at the moment - so this is for Graeme and anyone else interested in the myth of cultural relevance.

Graeme says

“...the methods by which the early Army evangelised were very much reliant on cultural relevance. I believe that ignoring this fact actually devalues the work of those early pioneers.”

The early pioneers had no strategy – they were reactive to the Spirit within them. They acted naturally. Apart from ‘The darkest England’ scheme you will find no record of any of the pioneers either together or individually drawing up a strategy. They did what they did because they were so inspired. Take Railton for example - perhaps our greatest pioneer - an effective evangelist in Africa, Turkey, Germany even Japan and China - he had no plan or strategy (true he was an incredible linguist) but apart from that all he had was his poverty, a heart full of love and the courage to preach.

I always think we tend to forget the purpose of that very first spiritual gift given at Pentecost – it was the ability to communicate with people who had a different language – the gift was cross cultural communication.

Graeme continues “We need people who are prepared to seek ways to put across the very real message that the majority of people in this world are going to Hell. What are the ways of doing this in a culturally relevant way? How can we take the modern day cultural icons and redeem them for use by the Kingdom, in the same way as throughout Christian history those who have gone before did? I am strongly committed to the cause of holiness, but the Lord is leading me to ask the questions about the methods we will use into the future in order to communicate and fulfil the divine charge of Matthew 28:19-20.”

I am glad that you are ‘strongly committed to the cause of holiness’ and that you are asking questions about the methods we will use to communicate in the future – both of these points are very encouraging.

But if you look back at the history of revival the leaders did not deliberately set out to hijack the cultural icons of their day - whether it's Edwards, Wesley, Caughey, Finney, Palmer or Booth they had no plan. The simply followed the leade of the Spirit.

I think that true holiness will answer the questions you are asking – holiness gives us all the Spirit’s gifts and collectively they are our armoury in the area of communication.

I believe we’ll find the answer to these questions on our knees just as our forbears did. I am certain from the content and tone of your posts that this is where you often are!

I hope this response doesn’t sound anti-intellectual – I just think it is so important that we don’t let our own creativity get in the way of what God wants us to do – I have seen this happen in the UK.

Eg. Open air meetings - on a Sunday morning at 10 am in front of a double glazed house their pants - but on a Friday night at 10:30 pm in downtown club land (as the drunks and party goers reel onto the streets) they are brilliant - ask Cory Harrison.


Much love and prayers
A

Google earth and strategic warfare prayer!

I have just had a great idea - my two girls were messing around with Google Earth. I'd just looked up someone's contact details to send them an email thanking them for writing a song we used in the holiness meeting this morning. Just for fun I stuck their post code in Google Earth and suddenly found myself (from the comfort of a home in South London UK) staring down at Phil Laeger's neighbourhood in the USA!

I suddenly thought that if we all swapped postcodes we could focus prayer on an area of need thousands of miles away from where we are - we could actually look at the area and get a feel for it (did you know that there's a dusty orange baseball pitch a few blocks from the Laeger residence?)

I think this could be a really powerful strategic weapon - I did a quick search for Vancouver so I could pray for the War College - much to my ignorance I didn't even know it was near the coast!

Anybody want to pray for me then please do my postcode is BR5 2AY we're ten doors up from the house with the blue trampoline - next door to us there's a silver car on the drive.

Let's focus as we pray with a clear image of our target - I think this could be really powerful - send me your postcodes and I'll get you in my sights!

Much love and prayer's

A

The myth of cultural relevance…

The myth of cultural relevance…

Picking up on the debate below by Teakles, Olivia, ‘No 3’ et al.

The following quote is taken from an article I wrote called ‘The past is good’, the whole article is available here. (JAC Issue 45) - It lays to rest the distracting myth of culteral releavance -

“Some argue that our earliest converts were familiar with the teachings of the bible and that society generally accepted the bible as true. Proponents of this theory would argue that if a Salvationist in 1880 confronted a sinner for long enough with the gospel the inevitable result would be repentance. This theory is well passed its sell by date and in desperate need of dismissal. Many of the Army’s earliest converts had experienced no contact with any kind of religious education whatsoever, many of them were unable to read or write and were accurately identified by the Army as belonging to an un-churched underclass. The gospel preached and the methods used in reality were no more culturally relevant to the un-churched masses then as might be the case today. The truth is that the gospel has never been culturally relevant – this was true when Judaic monotheistic Christians tried to convert polytheistic Greeks and Romans in the first century and it remains so today.

Our need is not to make the gospel (nor the Army) culturally relevant but to simply recognise the relevance of the gospel full stop.

The world needs Jesus, sinners need Jesus and it is the responsibility (and ought to be the natural desire) of the Salvationist to go after them. Without judgement, without hell, without heaven the Salvation Army is indeed redundant. We were raised up to be a mission engaged in the active redemption of the lost – quite literally plucking souls from the fires of hell. Take away man’s universal need for salvation, take away the urgency of our evangelism and we become like a hospital without patients or worse - Doctors without a cure.

In order to rediscover this essential our soldiers once again need to become ‘saved to save’. Collectively The Salvation Army needs to become a living corporate testimony to both the need for and the efficacy of Salvation. The truth is that not ‘one’ but millions of souls ‘remain without the light of God’ and God still requires an Army to go and fight for them.

O is not the Christ 'midst the crowd of today
Whose questioning cries do not cease?
And will he not show to the hearts that would know
The things that belong to their peace?
But how shall they hear if the preacher forbear
Or lack in compassionate zeal?
Or how shall hearts move with the Master's own love,
Without his anointing and seal?

In George Scott Railton’s book “Heathen England” printed in 1877, the old warrior expounding the value of open-air evangelism is asked “How many are considered necessary to undertake a procession?” – Railton’s response – ‘One!’"

Yours set apart by Christ, for the lost, in the Army.

PS - Olivia thanks for the prayer cover it is needed and appreciated :-)

A song for revival

I wrote the following yesterday whilst sitting at a pavement cafe in Camden.

The sun was shining and the world was going about its business,. The words will fit many tunes - I had South Shields (TB 444) in mind when I wrote it (I was thinking of BB's classic 'For thy mission make me holy') but you might prefer 'Vacant Chair' (TB 449). Feel free to sing along!

Lord your tired Army slumbers
Battle weary bruised and sore.
Friendly fire has hit our numbers
In the fog of holy war.
Compromise and worldly thinking
In the place of Pentecost
Leaves your Army sadly shrinking
From its call to save the lost.

Lord in mercy send your power
Cleanse our hearts with holy flame
Let your spirit in this hour
Makes us worthy of our name.

In the desert of delusion
Far from love’s refreshing rain.
God himself now asks the question
‘Can my Army live again?’
Only God can see tomorrow
Death and shame or Pentecost?
In your mercy see our sorrow
Send us out to save the lost.

‘Mighty warrior God is with you’
In the strength he has supplied,
With his perfect love within you
Crucify your selfish pride.
Now with no more hesitating
Claim ‘another Pentecost’
For a lonely world is waiting
For his church to save the lost.

Yours set apart, by Christ, for the lost in the Army!

A