Come Together
I'm becoming discouraged.
I am a Salvationist and I am becoming discouraged.
Our army is becoming fragmented and we're taking to a kind of guerilla warfare. Every soldier has their own agenda. We don't have a unified front. We don't use the same ammo. We don't even share a common target. You shoot at me, I shoot at you: some shots hit the enemy, some shots hit ourselves. And it's doing us in.
I live in the present. I respect the past, and plan for the future, but I live in the present.
I've read blog posts, I've heard rants. I've been told that I should be shouting Jesus' Gospel from the rooftops in a annoying but supposedly effective style of evangelism. I've been told that, "What this corps needs is a Junior Band!" I've heard primitives call out traditional. I've heard traditionals rant against the NEOs. I've heard how we should be friends to all mankind and how we should not be friends with all of mankind.
Wading through all of the interpretations and thoughts and orders and regulations is not unlike taking a dip in the middle of the Everglades on a nice sunny afternoon. It sure is refreshing in the moment, but then you get eaten by a 'gator . . .
What strikes me as interesting is that while all of this "discussion" goes on - though it often does not have that much civility - the other 90% are going about our business, carrying on our civilian and our military duties. I've never fought in a "human" war, but I bet it would be hard to do if there were 8 different commands at any given time - some from military leaders, some from a militant uprising from within the corps, some from the veteran soldiers, some from the rookies.
soldiers, be strong and courageous. Continue to advance, as you have been, into enemy territory (middle class neighbourhoods, shopping centers, Africa, urban America, Waynesville, London's East Side, London's West Side, Buckinham Palace, etc). This infighting will not last forever.
There is a place for the front-line soldiers. Their valiance and sacrifice cannot be topped. There is a place for the administrator. Their careful planning and budgeting can determine the outcome of the war. There is a place for support staff. Tanks need Fuel and Ammo. There is a place for covert ops. We may never know how much is done out of the bright lights. Yes, there is even a place for the military bandsman. Doesn't Bush even have his own band? The President's Own?
Being a soldier, engaged in a battle, means more than you may think.
Grace,
Des
12 comments:
Hey Des! I just started a new blog this past weekend, where I'm hoping to get discussion about just this kind of stuff. If you get a minute, check it out, and be sure to read all the comments....
http://fallingtograce.blogspot.com
Des, I, too, am tired of the wind. Wind that comes from the mouths of those who would sit and talk all day and not actually do anything. Winds of "change and progress" that threaten to lump us into James' description of being "tossed about". The wind we need is a fresh one from Holy Spirit.
The difficult thing is to be encouraging in all of this - I like how you stopped short of complaining and went straight to encouragement.
Let's all just "Let go and let God." Yuck. Who made that up anyway.
The uprising is a holy discomfort witht he status quo, expressed by those who don't know exactly how to express it. But through the debates and conversation, God is speaking.
To some, His words are offensive; to others, they are encouraging; still to others they are a reminder to never fall intot he sloth of comfortable religion.
I am glad that we are beginning to talk. Even if the talking is not so fun.
Christ was often ridiculed for speaking unpopular thoughts.
But as "Surrendered" said, "We must always end with encouragement."
As another so wonderfully put it, "Never judge where you have no compassion."
Desmond, it's good when you talk. You always give great encouragement.
Grace and peace,
Johnny
Johnny,
Thanks for your comments.
God is telling me to not to get any further involved than simply to be aware of the commentary, to pray that we are all hearing God's messages to us loud and clear, and to continue with my ministry as if everything is fine and dandy.
Because it is. Because "I am The Salvation Army." I take orders from the other General, aka God.
Perhaps it's like the American Military system. Navy guys take shots at the Army guys. Army guys take shots at the Air Force. But in the end, what's one without the other?
I believe God is speaking. I believe sometimes that doesn't feel good. I know that Christ was ridiculed. But I also believe that he never ridiculed.
I am not interested in being involved in the debate. I'm simply observing as a soldier on the battlefield, watching all of this unfold. I'm as excited about urban missions as I am about women's auxillary. Both are as valuable as we choose to make them. Both are "tools" for our "toolbelt," if you will.
Perhaps I've already gone too far by commenting on the commentary . . .
Des
I will say nothing else about this, as the tone is very difficult to decipher, after this last comment.
Jesus did ridicule, but always the religious. That's where we are now. God is calling the prophetic voices to riducule the religious.
The End.
Johnny
I meant my tone. Sorry. I should have clarified.
Grace and peace,
Johnny
My tone . . . as with everything is jovial.
:-)
I'm also assuming ridicule to be "to make fun of." To me, Jesus convicted without using ridiculing techniques.
He blasted. He got angry. He corrected. I don't remember Him making fun.
Jesus called Herod a fox after some Pharisees reported that Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Jesus' response challenged any such plans: "Tell Herod I've got work to do first." Jesus was not implying that Herod was sly, rather he was commenting on Herod's ineptitude, or inability, to carry out his threat. Jesus questioned the tetrarch's pedigree, moral stature and leadership, and put the tetrarch "in his place." This exactly fits the second rabbinic usage of "fox."
When Jesus labeled Herod a fox, Jesus implied that Herod was not a lion. Herod considered himself a lion, but Jesus pointed out that Herod was the opposite of a lion. Jesus cut Herod down to size, and Jesus' audience may have had an inward smile of appreciation at a telling riposte.
This may help us to see that Jesus did, in fact, make fun of people to bring them to a place of humility.
From Jerusalemperspective.com
I can see that . . . though I think our issue here is more symantics than anything else. Sarcasm, ridicule, mockery: it's all the same and at the same time it isn't.
Interesting post.
I was born into a Christian family but ended up an agnostic, and would love to pick your brain sometime - about why you believe what you believe, why you think evangelism is important, and what you think makes it effective.
I see that you are not interested in "the debate" but I'm not clear on whether the debate you refer to is specific to your church. I'm not interested in the Salvation Army specifically, so maybe I'll send you an e-mail.
If it's something you don't want to get into, just respond to my e-mail and tell me to take a hike. :)
To Anonymous:
I'd love to hear from you. Email me anytime.
thank you, for your insight . . . i'm not sure why, but i needed to read that tonight. you're like our e.f. hutton.
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