Caring Magazine | Vol. 26

LET'S KEEP JESUS AT THE CENTER

BY DOUGLAS RILEY, COMMISSIONER

IT’S NO SECRET there are a number of things in our

gry and the destitute. You may have even heard of our

world that cause dissension. All you have to do is turn

early motto from that time: Soup, Soap and Salvation.

on the TV, sign in to Facebook or read the tabloid head-

While the world has changed in many, many ways

lines while you’re in line at the grocery store. We live in

since 1865, The Salvation Army’s mission has not. Sure,

an age where anything can be an argument—even if it

we’ve come up with a number of creative ways to car-

was not the initial intent. And sometimes those things

ry it out—and I’m proud of how our officers, soldiers,

can turn even the best of f riends against each other.

employees and volunteers have nimbly pivoted our

But let’s not let it.

As The Salvation Army, we are called to be more like God and less like the world. Let’s start today with a renewed focus on him.

You don’t need me to say the past two years hav-

lose sight of Scripture.

Now, let’s draw closer to God and not allow social issues to drive cracks into our foundation. Instead of

en’t been easy. You know. Whether the pandemic

wasting our short time on this earth fighting each oth-

caused you to lose your livelihood or life as you knew

er, let’s fight against the desire to be critical and con-

it, we’re all still processing the grief that remains. Still,

troversial, which can water down the Gospel.

I have faith. I have hope that we will emerge stron-

This is The Salvation Army, an army mighty in power

ger, more connected. We are The Salvation Army.

and purpose. We can’t allow political pressures to drive

It can only be done with our eyes on him and

us against each other. We can’t lose our faith. We need

our focus on Scripture—it guides us and helps us

08

services, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We must not lose sight of this. We must not

to keep Jesus at the center. And we need each other.

fully grasp God’s design for us. Returning to Scrip-

The Salvation Army is an international movement

ture reminds us of what truly matters. It keeps us

in 132 countries. While we might display our worship

from distractions and those things that divide us.

differently throughout the world, we are unified in

We have a solid foundation, started on the streets of

our core beliefs, our doctrines. In addition to Scripture,

London in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth. They

they hold us to our commitment to practice what we

walked the streets, preaching to the homeless, the hun-

preach.

CARING 2022