Holiness
The Salvation Army believes "holiness" is justification worked out in the daily life of the believer. It is a divine work for wholeness that requires human response, in a lifelong process that includes crisis.
Salvation Story, the Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine, states that "we believe in sanctification by grace through faith as the privilege and calling of all who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who accept the power of the Holy Spirit to lead a life of holiness". This is not to suggest that Salvationists think they can lead lives without sin. The Salvation Army acknowledges the need for God's grace on a continuing and constant basis.
The Salvation Army understands that all humanity is "totally depraved" in the sense that every aspect of each person is affected by sin. However, the divine image is not totally eradicated. In what was described by John Wesley as "prevenient grace", the echo of original goodness remains, and enables human response to the gracious divine initiative; an invitation to "whomsoever". In this, The Salvation Army sits comfortably within the Armenian tradition.
Salvationists undertake to live a "holy" (whole, or complete) life. Salvation Story - The Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine states: "The life of holiness is not mysterious or overwhelming or too difficult to understand. It is life in the footsteps of Christ who is the true image of God. He is the truly holy one who revealed the holiness of God in the wholeness and fullness of his human life and in the manner of his self-offering to God. To see him is to understand the nature of holiness, and to follow him is to be marked by it. Holiness is Christlikeness."
"Holiness" could thus be defined as a state of right living with God. Samuel Logan Brengle, one of the Army's most recognised teachers and preachers, once wrote that "there is no such thing as holiness apart from Christ in you" - this recognises the scriptural idea that "it is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).
Major Graham Harris, a senior lecturer at The Salvation Army's School for Biblical and General Studies, Sydney, states that holiness is "endeavouring to live as Jesus Christ lived, with the help of the Holy Spirit".
Captain (Dr) Alan Harley, also a senior lecturer at The Salvation Army's School for Biblical and General Studies, Sydney, states that The Salvation Army's theology "is based on the teachings of 16th century Dutch scholar Jacobus Arminius and 18th century evangelist John Wesley who taught that salvation is available to all - not just an elect few.
"Christ died for all, they affirmed, and God's Spirit works in the hearts of all, drawing them to Christ and inviting them to experience new life in him. This teaching has been the motive for the world-wide spread of Salvationism with its warm-hearted gospel message. "The Wesleyan roots of Salvationism are seen in its emphasis upon a clear, personal relationship with God, the inner witness of the Spirit which gives to the believer assurance of salvation, and the call to live a life filled with God's holy love in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Salvation Army thus believes in a free, sure and full salvation which produces hearts on fire towards God and hands extended in ministry to people."
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The Salvation Army's comfortable image and acceptance in Australia is sometimes in direct contrast to its early beginnings. While the Army values the confidence and acceptance of Australians, it is still an Army fighting against sin and injustice and must maintain a cutting edge mission.
In his last public address William Booth implored Salvationists to keep the mission alive and never forget its origins. The Australian Salvation Army is endeavouring to redefine its mission in today's
"And now, comrades and friends, I must say goodbye. I am going into dry-dock for repairs, but the Army will not be allowed to suffer, either financially or spiritually, or in any other way by my absence; in the long future I think it will be seen - I shall not be here to see, but you will...
"The Army will answer every doubt and banish every fear and strangle every slander, and by its marvellous success show the world that it is the work of God and that the General has been his servant...
"While women weep as they do now, I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor girl lost upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight - I'll fight to the very end!"
The Army's philosophy is a simple one: They see themselves as called to love God and their fellow human beings by preaching the gospel and meeting their material needs. "You can't tell a man about the love of God if he has an empty stomach," said General William Booth, The Founder of The Salvation Army. This much-loved quote indicates that the values a Salvationist holds should be reflected in socially-concerned and spiritually-motivated action (see James 2:14-26).
When sincere followers of Booth were confronted by the fall-out from the industrial labyrinth that was the lot of workers, they tried to change the situation. Booth noted that even the cab horses that plodded London's streets had "three things; a shelter for the night, food for its stomach, and work allotted to it by which it can earn its corn" - surely, he argued, the pinnacle of God's creation should be treated as well as these poor beasts of burden!
That desire for practical holiness and holistic mission has survived the passing of time, as the torch of "Christianity with its sleeves rolled up" has been passed on to new generations of "Salvos", as members of the denomination have become known in Australia.
Captain David Eldridge, is the Corps Officer of The Salvation Army's Brunswick "Corps", or church. In addition to his pastoral duties, Dave has served on numerous government and community bodies that address social problems. He has been the Chairman of Prime Minister John Howard's Youth Homeless Task Force.
Dave's corps at Brunswick has extensive outreach into the community, such as educational and training programs and Community Supportservices. Dave's desire to see God breaking through into people's lives runs hand-in-hand with his passion for meeting people's needs.
"The sheer weight of community need is a factor," he says. "The whole community is reeling a little because of the pace of change. The Army is here to help people who are damaged by change, and some people in the Army are asking, 'How are we going to be different, to be relevant, now?'"
The question of relevance in the eyes of the broader community comes back to a utilitarian notion of usefulness. As General Frederick Coutts reminded Salvationists, the Founder, William Booth, was "first and last an evangelist, but never an evangelist who was content to preach sermons and then count the heads of kneeling penitents. He understood the biblical word salvation as bringing health - physical, mental and spiritual - to everyone."
The Salvation Army has always tried to have a holistic approach to ministry.
