Supply Sergeant Syndrome

BY DR. STEVE KELLNER

Most of the columns in this series have been about positive aspects of our military services might beneficially apply to The Salvation Army. But not everything about our military services is perfect or should be emulated. We can also learn what not to do.

This is the case with something I have half-jokingly termed “Supply Sergeant Syndrome.” Every unit in the military has a supply sergeant who is responsible for acquiring, maintaining, securely storing and accounting for all the supplies the unit needs to accomplish its mission. Even small units like the division band I started out in require a mountain of supplies to operate—music stands, instruments, sheet music, mouthpieces, valve oil, reeds, drumsticks, staff paper, batons, drum major maces—hundreds of different items in varying quantities. It’s a big job and, to top it all off, the supply sergeant is held accountable for all this equipment. If any of it goes missing, he or she is financially liable.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that supply sergeants begin to think of the supplies they are responsible for as actually belonging to them, and they become stingy about letting the members of the unit use any of it. They prefer to keep everything on the shelves in pristine condition and resent anything that disturbs that perfect order, like issuing supplies or having the troops damage or lose the equipment. They forget that their job is to resource the unit, to say “yes” if possible, to put people before equipment or systems.

Something similar can happen among Salvationists when we become inwardly focused on our own needs and programs. It’s easy to get comfortable with our own little “band of brothers” inside the corps building, and to prefer that our weekly activities hum along undisturbed by outsiders. Those outsiders aren’t familiar with the way we do things and may bring needs we don’t feel equipped to meet, or don’t want to go out of our way to meet. We sometimes prefer to protect our fellowship by shutting others out.

But the Bible is very clear that believers must get out into the world and preach the gospel, and to give a reason for the hope that is in us, which more than implies that we must rub shoulders with those outside of the walls of the church and invite them inside those walls. This is doubly true of a movement like the Army, which didn’t even have church walls when it began.

It’s true that welcoming outsiders into the “supply room” of our fellowship will be disruptive. They will want to use our supplies, and they will probably tear up or lose things on occasion. But it’s our job to resource them both physically and spiritually, to say “yes” to their needs if possible, and to put others before ourselves.

And, after all, what’s a couple of dents in a cornet if it draws a beginner band kid to the Lord?

BY DAVID NEW

My wife and recently got a puppy—a five-month-old chocolate lab to be exact. After weeks of debate, we decided to, perhaps controversially, call her “Charlie” (Charlotte for long). She’s an energetic bundle of ferocious fun. Although when she’s assaulting us with licks at 11PM, the fun seems pretty one-sided.

My ability to enjoy dogs tends to wear thin once 10PM approaches, but my wife never tires of her. She loves that dog so much. The idea of being away from her for longer than an hour spirals her down a funnel of despair. I seem hyperbolic. I am not.

We throw around the word “love” a lot in daily conversation, from our sports teams to family pets. We can’t get enough of it. But there’s levels to it. I love our dog, but obviously that’s a different kind of love than the love I have for my wife. This concept is one we all acknowledge, yet I think it gets even trickier within the Christian world—especially given that it’s one of our most important commandments—“Love one another”. I can’t say I practice it enough, but like everything else, it’s clear there is a time to love. Thus, reciprocally, there must be a time to hate. Don’t take my word for it?

“… A time to love and time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:8).

This concept is so perplexing to me. It goes against pretty much all the things I thought I knew about love. How should there be a place for hate in my life?

I’m not a fan of expressions, at least not in a “there’s a concrete expression for every one of life’s questions and issues” kind of way. I hear things like, “hate the sin, not the sinner” and instinctively cringe. Its not a message the world preaches. In fact, the world tells us you can’t truly love someone unless you accept them and all they do. This is where the disconnect happens.

How can you effectively communicate to someone the idea that just because they do things you might not approve of it doesn’t mean you don’t love them? I remember asking my mom this question a long time ago. There must be a way to witness AND alleviate the person’s assumption of judgement. After all I genuinely am not judging them.

Disappointingly, there just isn’t. Words are finite. They lack the ability to convey the message I want to share. I understand non-believers’ point of view. I would be very insulted if someone came to me, told me I wasn’t living life properly and that I needed to change. Their “I love you” just wouldn’t seem real.

My mom told me that in the end it is how we act, how we treat people, and how we live our lives that is the most effective way to witness and love. When Jesus spoke many jeered Him, no matter the validity of what He said. But when He acted, when He did things, people took note.