The Truth About: The Salvation Army
Written by Steven Cuffle
Sunday, 20 January 2008
It’s that time of year again. The card aisles are packed with red and green envelopes, there are bows and metal trees for sale, and outside retail stores there are red bucket and bell ringers. Of all the things that beckon for our money, nothing strikes such a deep, resounding chord in our hearts as that tiny, ringing bell.
The Salvation Army knows how the bell makes people feel. They know it makes you feel guilty for not putting your loose change in their shiny, red bucket – which is exactly why they started using bell ringers in the first place. However, before you go and put your money in their bucket this year, there are some things you should consider.
The Salvation Army is not a charity. They are not a social service organization. The Salvation Army is a denomination. That’s right, they are a denominational church. They have an earthly headquarters based in London, and their leader is called “the General”. There is a “High Council” which meets yearly and elects the next “General” when necessary – much like the Roman Catholic College of Cardinals. The High Council has divided the world up into districts, again very similar to the Catholic concept of a “diocese”, and those districts are headed by “officers” of various ranks. As one becomes a member of the Salvation Army (SA hereafter), there is an official “Soldier’s Creed” which must be stated before a group of witnesses. In the SA there is a marked distinction between clergy and members: clergy are “officers” and lay members are “soldiers” or “enlisted”. When you get down to it, they are nothing more than a creed-based, denominational body with a divided perspective of Christianity.
Well, what does this have to do with the local bell ringer? Everything. The SA uses the money from their little, red buckets to promote a false gospel. If you look closely at their website, you will find their mission statement: “To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” As noted earlier, in their self-description as a modern “evangelical” group, they do not teach nor preach the same gospel as the apostles of Jesus Christ. They will not tell someone that they must be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16), or even intimate that baptism is something commanded for one to be saved (Mark 16.16, Matthew 28.18-20, Colossians 2.12, 1 Peter 3.21). Money that you put into that red bucket will be used to promote a different gospel, which is really no gospel at all (Galatians 1.7). There is one gospel, one faith, one salvation, one Lord, one baptism – and none of those are the things that the SA teaches (cf. Ephesians 4.4-6). Do we really want our money to be used for that purpose?
In addition to using your money to preach a false gospel, your money will be used to support their denomination. There are over 26,000 “officers” (their clergy or priests) in the SA who must be fully supported, there are 80,000 miscellaneous full-time employees in the United States alone, and then there are the mortgages on all their facilities that must be paid. The money you put into the bucket hoping to help someone in need could, in reality, go into the pocket of an SA clergyman or employee whom, I am certain, has more than enough to eat.
So, what are we supposed to do when we walk by that ringing bell and our conscience tells us to throw some money into the bucket? The first thing is not to give into impulse and put money in the bucket. The second thing is to allow your conscience to have its proper effect and change your actions – but on Christ’s terms, not the SA’s.
There ought to be something inside everyone which tugs at their heart when they think about others who are hurt or hungry. The fact that we are all created in the image of God demands that we treat each and every other person with respect and dignity. Our recognition of this fact, however, does not put food on plates or people in shelters, there must be action on our part (cf. James 2.15-16).
But, as our conscience has already attested, it is everyone’s individual responsibility to do good to others: to orphans and widows (James 2.17), to brothers and sisters who are in need (Matthew 25:34-46, 1 John 3.17-19), to all people (Galatians 6.10), to anyone who asks something of us (Matthew 5.39-48, cf. Job 31.16-22, Hebrews 13.16). These are serious passages that demand a serious commitment. We must love God enough to love others more than ourselves (Mark 12.29-32 and cf. John 13.34). If we refuse to obey the second greatest command, to love our neighbors, then we do not have “pure and undefiled religion” and we will be counted among the goats rather than the sheep.
Christ did not intend to fulfill this command by establishing a world-wide, denominational body that begs for money. Christ’s disciples are not to shame others into donating to their plans; Jesus wants us to conform ourselves to His image so we will carry out His plan in His way (Romans 8.29, Romans 12.1-2, Colossians 3.10, 2 Corinthians 5.17).
A simple way to sum up our individual duty to mankind is this: do all the good you can, anytime you can, to whomever you can. There is never an excuse for us to refuse love. There is never a good enough reason for us to pass up an opportunity to show the love of Christ to another human being. When people see this kind of love in us, then, only then, will they truly know that we are one of Christ’s disciples (John 13.34-35). However, for Christ’s commandment to be fulfilled, we must actually be the one doing the good – not some third party, pseudo-social-denominational body. We must be the ones helping the poor, the sick, the hungry. We must be the ones loving our neighbors; we cannot pay someone else to do that for us.
So, the next time you walk by that shiny, red bucket, keep your change, but change your heart: there’s work to do…
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I thought that was a good article. Many Christians are unaware of what they are giving their money to when giving to charities. But it is our responsiblity to know who or what our money is going to each and every time we give. We would not go up to the doors of a Catholic or Methodist church and give our money--because they do not preach truth. So, before you empty your pocket books to what you think is a good cause...do a little resarch. What do they support? Is it worthy for Christians to support?
I've made a ritual of watching Wife Swap on Lifetime when I get home and start checking email, cleaning, laundry etc.
Well today something struck me. One of the daughters on the show looked SO familiar. I thought "hmmm that looks like a girl I went to soccer camp at Freed Hardeman with..." She was a pretty cool girl. She was from Tennessee, and we were both planning/wanting to go to Freed and play for the soccer team there. Although I came here instead she stuck to her plans and played there. Anyway to make a long story short it WAS her!! They finally said this girls name and I started laughing because it was really weird to see someone I knew on that show.
Anyway I thought it was weird!
Anyway I googled that episode and this is what came up:
Christie Baker is a 41-year-old Southern belle who believes she deserves the best in life, which her 51-year-old husband, Richard, delivers in true Southern gentleman style, serving her breakfast in bed and routinely cleaning the house. The Bakers reside in Tennessee, where their lives revolve around their three daughters: 17-year-old cheerleader twins Maurie and Margo, and 11-year-old Mary Jewels. The girls and Christie get everything they want. Christie takes two bubble baths a day and spoils her daughters with regular manicures, trips to the hair salon and tanning sessions. This is one mother who believes her kids should enjoy childhood to the fullest, without the burden of chores or jobs. Christie herself doesn’t do any — husband Richard does everything and works 60 hours a week as an engineer.
Is anyone else really excited yet??? I know its a while away...but I find myself always thinking about it :) It's one of my favorite times of the year :) :) Eek! Christmas movies! Hot chocolate! Santa!! (yes I still like my picture taken with him!) Santa's Wonderland + Sodalak's-- A wonderful tradition ;)
i am so excited! it is my favorite holiday - what's not to love with pie and presents! ;)
ever since we were first married we decided to do christmas day at our own house - it is so nice to be at home on that day and i make fancy dinner with all the trimmings and we use candlesticks and the good china! :) this year it will be even better because our baby is due just 2 months after christmas!
