We do our programs in a fashion that pleases the community we serve. We used to have Hospitals in these hospitals we had many opportunities to share the gospel we have since traded that for chaplains that are an all religion based chaplain. We have disaster response systems and are instructed to avoid talking about our faith. We give out food to people we provide lodging to those in need, but are encouraged to not share our faith.

I have seen a drastic change in the army over the years and even in our corps we have shyed away from solid biblical teaching. I have sat through many sermons talking about doing good works or do what ever you feel comfortable doing. We have left the solid hymns for cushy non offensive choruses. We have limited our church services to one hour Sunday mornings. I remember when we had Sunday school at 9:30 then as a family we went to Holiness meeting and that could last up to 2 hours sometimes more. There was open air meetings then evening service. We had opportunities to serve our corps.

It appears the more we as an Army want to appear like the churches down the street the more we loose touch with our biblical charge and I think that is hazardous.
There are times when I have considered leaving the Army. Yes that’s right you heard me I have at times been tempted to hang up my uniform and head off to a church that has not removed its foundation. I agree the Army is becoming more like the YMCA/YWCA.

So Leaders of the Army are we going to continue pleasing the world or shaking it up for the glory of God?
What are we afraid of?

It often discourages me to hear the advertisements say The Salvation Army is the largest private social services agency in Canada. However, I also know that Jesus sent his disciples out “as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” Humanitarian work isn’t over and above the gospel, it is the gospel. Faith and deeds go together. We can take the government’s money, we can use public donations but we cannot forsake the work of the gospel by leaving out the word of God.

When we applied for a (federal) grant to buy our building in Maple Ridge, BC, we were very clear that it was Mountain View Community Church applying for the grant. We were clear that on Sundays we would hold church services in the building bought by government money. Our DHQ staff had a hard time believing that the government would give us the money and so asked the government representative to put it in writing saying that they understood that it would be a church using the building. They had no problem at all with that request and wrote the letter willingly. It was our reputation as a church, not an humanitarian organization, that has earned such trust.

Just because we accept government money, doesn’t mean we are a government agency. We just need to be honest about who we are and what we do and not compromise that, and God will continue to bless us. I am continually awed by God who allows us to see new men and women put on those coats every week. We take over $100,000 per year and there is no compromise on the gospel in our ministry. We have more people saved through the week in our shelter than many corps see in several months of Sundays. We are truly blessed to be a part of that.

The times we live and minister in are changing. It is a challenging time for all Christian churches, we are not an exception. The Church must change and roll with the punches to continue to be relevant and reach our communities. Those of us still willing to fight the good fight must be willing to make difficult decisions to carry on.

And God willing, we will do so. As we seek His heart for ourselves as individuals and as an organization, we need to trust Him to speak to us, gude us and give us wisdom.

God bless our leaders who have the difficult task of leading us in these times. Theirs is not an easy job. We must continue to uphold them in our prayers daily.