Topics about the history and beliefs of The Salvation Army
The use of brass bands by the early Salvation Army became an iconic part of its identity and public image. It is commonly known that the use of brass bands slowly developed in the Army in response to its need to have sufficient volume of music to be able to draw attention and cut through…
Being a soldier is more than a form of membership or a way to belong. It is a vocation. It is not the only vocation that God calls people to, nor is it a higher or more important vocation than any other vocation. However, it is a distinct vocation. What is a Vocation? Vocation is…
*Disclaimer – this is a personal reflection and presents my own opinions and beliefs, not anyone else’s.* The call to follow Jesus is not one that we can put down when the going gets difficult or when life becomes complicated. When Jesus commands us to come and follow him, it is a demand which transforms…
The eleventh doctrine of The Salvation Army includes a belief that the wicked will receive eternal punishment in hell. Is it possible to hold to this doctrine while also believing that all people will be saved? I think so. I happily and confidently affirm the Army’s doctrines. But I also believe that in the end…
The Salvation Army is known for its position on women’s equality in ministry. The Early Salvation Army’s Understanding of Masculinity was even more radical in its day. Equality? From the very beginning, women were given positions of authority and were appointed to be church leaders. They preached, taught, and evangelised just as any man, and…
There are no priests needed in The Salvation Army. That time has gone. The life, death, and resurrection of Christ has changed that. But still the language of priesthood has clung on in Christian churches and ideas of ministry. No Priests Needed – Everyone Is a Priest When the Army first began, it pushed back…
The story of how The Salvation Army became conservative is a complicated one, but one which needs to be understood. It is the story of how one of the world’s biggest social service providers left behind its radical roots. Setting the Scene The Salvation Army began with a radical commitment to evangelising the people who…
The Salvation Army’s doctrine of holiness has changed over it’s existence. In this article I will track how that belief has developed. The tenth doctrine of The Salvation Army says: We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved…
The staggering expansion of the early Salvation Army from the United Kingdom to the rest of the world was driven to a great degree by individual initiative rather than formal planning. The story of the Army in Jamaica is an example of that kind of faithful initiative and personal commitment to evangelism which shaped the…
During the Second World War, Salvationists in the military ended up in prisoner-of-war camps. This did not mean they ceased to be Salvationists. For many of them, this was to be the greatest test of their commitment to Salvationist principles. This is the story of one of those groups. The information is taken and adapted…