Back to Basics

When you find yourself doing something poorly, you might want to get back to basics. That's what I do when I find myself golfing poorly- I get back to basics- with a little help from my Dad who always welcomes the opportunity to tell me what I'm doing wrong! I would also assume that if I found myself driving poorly, the police would be only too willing to help me get back to basics! A costly lesson, to be sure.

When things got off track in Ephesus (Revelation 2), Jesus reminded that church they had forsaken their first love; their primary purpose. He reminded them to do what they did at first.

When we, as an Army of Salvation, find ourselves going off in a different direction than we started- it's time we stop right where we are and re-evaluate our mission. Who are we Salvos (I like the Australian term!)? What ARE we supposed to be doing? Why aren't we growing?

Maybe we need to get back to basics.

So what IS our purpose? What ARE the basics we need to get back to? Good questions (I'm glad you asked)!

The Primary Purpose of The Salvation Army is SALVATION! Duh! What's our name? What should we be doing? Salvation! Getting people saved!

Are we? Have we forsaken our first love? If you're a Salvo, ask yourself: "When was the last time you led someone to salvation?" The early Army grew like wildfire! Why? They got people saved. It's as simple as that. That's why we changed our name from The Christian Mission to The Salvation Army!

If there are Christians out there whose hearts aren't burning to get others saved, I'm sure they can find some wimpy church out there where they can sit and be comfortable. But that's not who WE are. We have a mission and we need our soldiers to get on board with our purpose. Salvation.

The Secondary Purpose of The Salvation Army is SANCTIFICATION! We are a holiness movement. Look at the altars at the center of most corps chapels- they don't read "Do this in Remembrance of me," they read "Holiness unto the Lord." Have we forsaken our first love?

What IS holiness? It's living without sinning. What is sin? "An offense against God." Technically, we can't "sin" against each other, but when we do things we shouldn't OR don't do things we should, that hurts God, we call that sin.

Holiness is a subsequent work of God's grace in our lives AFTER we're saved that puts Holy Spirit in control of our lives instead of just a "guest." When that happens, it becomes possible to live without sinning. We don't have to offend God. It's awesome!

Once we get people saved, it's our purpose to lead them into sanctification. But how can we do that if WE don't experience holiness? If we live no differently than the non-saved around us; if people can't SEE that we're God's children by our actions and lives, then we need to ask ourselves what's going on!

We have a mission and to accomplish it we need to get back to the basics of who we are. Sanctification.

The third Purpose of The Salvation Army is INTERCESSION (I know some might argue it should be service, but I disagree)! Yes, we pray for ourselves, but mostly we should be praying for others- that's intercession. Are we praying? Have we forsaken our first love?

I am often taken aback at the response in our services when we pray a little bit "longer" than usual; when we remain still and silent beyond the typical "fidget limit." It seems obvious, many (if not most) of us are uncomfortable praying beyond The Lord's Prayer.

As Christians, we pray. As Salvos, we pray. It's our purpose! How are we going to win the world for Jesus if we don't pray? News Flash: It can't be done if we don't pray much more- it won't be done.

We have a mission and to accomplish it we need to get back to the basics of who we are. Intercession.

If you're a Salvo, I challenge you to take stock of your life. Dump the junk that keeps you preoccupied and get back to basics.

Salvation. Sanctification. Intercession. That's who we Salvos are.