NOVEMBER 2013
celloutlines | overview
AMBASSADORS OF HOLINESS (PART 2) PURE WATER – An opportunity to consider holiness: what does it mean for a 21st-century young person in The Salvation Army and how can we recapture and refresh holiness in our generation in a way that makes our world a better place? Last month we began to consider the Salvation Army doctrines numbers 9 and 10, as part of our ‘Pure Water’ stream. We discussed how these doctrines emphasise the importance of living life in the way that is pleasing to God, by staying strong in our faith, obedient to God’s call and open to allow the Holy Spirit to continue to change us into the people of God we are created to be! This is holy living! We also discussed how holiness is a really vital part of Salvation Army doctrine. The Salvation Army is a Holiness Movement. It is part of our heritage. Last month we considered personal holiness. This month we turn our attention to social holiness, a phrase coined by John Wesley. We will consider how our lives empowered by the Holy Spirit can spill over into transforming the society in which we live, and discover our heritage in social action. One of the main things that birthed The Salvation Army and its mission was the fact that its founders were immersed in a world rife with poverty, starvation and injustice. William and Catherine Booth, so stirred up by the degradation they saw on the streets, realised that if the gospel story was to have power amongst the poor of their time, it needed to be backed up with actions. Their approach to mission changed and the ‘three S’s’ became the underlying theme of The Salvation Army: first soup, then soap, and finally salvation. Social action was central to William and Catherine’s spiritual and evangelistic beliefs – a vision that would help mend and heal a broken society. ‘A deep compassion for the plight of society’s outcasts, combined with the boldness and initiative to visit them on their home turf, was not just a distinctive of The Salvation Army – it was its very essence.’ Munn & Collinson, Insane
celloutlines
Social justice is a massive and complex issue, but put simply it is the idea that the world and everyone in it can live equal, safe and dignified lives. It means that it is not acceptable that people should live in the world today without basic human rights, such as access to food, clean water, shelter, education, healthcare and the opportunity to work. But that’s not the picture for a large percentage of the people living today. The poorest in our world, that’s 1.4 billion people, live on less than about 80 pence a day. Imagine having just 80 pence to cover all your food, water, clothing, children’s education, healthcare and anything else that you need to provide for yourself and your family. In social action we demonstrate the love and justice of God. We seek to meet the needs of our fellow human beings. We show them that they matter, to us and to their Creator. What is the use of telling people that God loves them if their circumstances make it all but impossible for them to experience his love? ‘An ambassador of holiness is one who claims God’s love, along with his power to forgive, cleanse and restore. Once claimed for ourselves, we can bring hope and freedom to others through his saving grace. Are you up for the challenge?’ Major Beverly Ivany
continued over u
alove.salvationarmy.org.uk