“So why is it we wear our Salvation Army uniforms for Sunday worship? Aren't we just witnessing to the converted? What's the point in that?” If the question hasn't been put forward in your corner of the camp, I can assure you it has been in mine. And so we experience it first-hand: the continuing journey of today's Salvationists to try and make sense of why we do the things that we do.

I must confess the question stirs in me a range of responses. On the positive side of the equation, it is evident that those engaging this debate understand the Salvation Army uniform to be a tool for evangelism. No doubt, there are numerous folks who could give examples of the doors that have opened for ministry because the presence of a Salvationist was visibly identifiable by the chosen choice of wardrobe for the day. I recall one occasion when I arrived at my son's high school in full Salvation Army uniform. We needed to complete his yearly registration. I had debated whether I should go home and change, but the schedule demanded other realities that day. Yet as I lined up with my son, a young student said to me, “Hi there, Major! Which Salvation Army are you with?” When I proceeded to give the details, it turned out this teenage girl had been dedicated in our corps as a small baby, and it was an amazing opportunity to build a relational bridge. Had I not been in uniform, the conversation might have never happened.

So, yes… on one hand we have it right. The uniform is an effective tool for evangelism. It gives us a tangible way “without words” to outwardly demonstrate the inner working of God's grace in our lives. It is part of our sacramental expression. As we walk into a room or stroll down the street wile wearing a simple uniform, we become a visible reminder that “Jesus Christ is the hope of the world” and upon this truth, we are “saved to serve.” Furthermore, the wearing of our uniform links us as members of an intentional wing of the universal Church that has become highly respected for both its evangelistic and social justice emphases. In short, the uniform speaks to what we are all about and the legacy of our Movement goes before us, helping people to anticipate the credibility and authenticity of the story we have to tell.

The tension in this discussion is the fact that my conversation partners, for some reason, seem to assume that giving witness to our faith is not part of what is required in Sunday morning worship. Do we assume that everyone who gathers within the walls of our sanctuary have no need of those who will be an edifying and evangelistic presence in their lives? Do we assume worship is only about “what we are to gain” versus “what is representative of the needs of others?” Is our weekly hour of worship only about what we offer to God or are there offerings we also make to each other?

In this debate, I am helped by the insights of Warren Wiersbe who argues that “it is not enough that we are transformed by worship, but that we must also help others to become transformed.” The point is argued based upon guidelines that were given first to the Apostolic Church in Corinth: “What then shall we say? When we come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Let all be done for the strengthening of the church” (1 Cor 14:26 NIV). The primary point to be understood, from Wiersbe's perspective, is that it was not enough that the worshipper got a blessing; he was supposed to be a blessing to others. All was to be done for the building up and encouragement of others.

In a more contemporary context, Sally Morgenthaler in Worship Evangelism presses the point further. She identifies that when believers and non-believers alike come face-to-face in worship, they are observing each other in a tangible, dynamic, supernatural relationship with God and may find themselves saying, “Wow! Would you look at how this works? How do I actually get some of what these folks have?” Ultimately we ask how do we help seekers in our congregations “meet the Christ in us” and not just the “Christ of our services?” Not all of us will have access to an open mike this coming Sunday and I doubt that that we will all be delivering a personal testimony. Yet one of the tangible ways all Salvationists have to say “this is what's inside of me” is found in the sacrament of uniform wearing—both inside and outside the sanctuary. Let us not be deceived. Seekers are in our midst. They might not be wearing neon signs but people from all stages and experiences of life are coming to investigate the claims of the Gospel and to understand how these impact their lives.

Some may argue a piece of clothing doesn't make that much difference! It's only what's inside the person that matters and there may be truth to this. And so I am careful to thank God for the household of faith that surrounds me every Sunday and the varying ways this is represented. Yet, ironically, it still blesses my heart when I look around our sanctuary and I see those who strangely look a little bit like me. We've all been cut from a similar cloth and claim a common spiritual journey. Together we are saying, this is the road we are traveling. We aren't perfect! We haven't always got everything right but our goal is to live out our Christian convictions as soldiers of The Salvation Army, making the ideals of the Kingdom the focus of our lives. There is commonality in the moment and a powerful corporate testimony.

Just a few weeks ago, we had the privilege of re-instating a young woman who had once been a soldier of our corps. There is no doubt, this woman is a trophy of God's grace and she has an amazing story to tell. In that moment, she chose to renew her covenant with God in full Salvation Army uniform. She did it that way because she wanted to be held accountable for the commitment she was making and she wanted to visibly represent what she was all about. She was a blessing to us all! While we can easily say there are other ways to do this, thank God, somewhere in the early days of our Movement there was a thought about uniting all members of The Salvation Army through the wearing of a common uniform. Although our uniforms may take on varying expressions throughout The Salvation Army world, the privilege is still ours today to be a uniformed Movement. And even “without words,” you and I can be a reminder of the presence of Christ and his saving grace by the wearing of our common wardrobe. Let us not limit when and where this sacramental expression can make a difference!

Major Julie Slous is corps officer at Winnipeg's Heritage Park Temple. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the College for Officer Training. In May 2009, Julie completed her doctoral studies in biblical preaching. Her thesis work centred on “Preaching a Disturbing Gospel─The Homiletic of The Salvation Army for Postmodern Times.” When not studying and writing, personal hobbies include reading, cooking, musical composition and, of course, listening to sermons! Married to Brian, she has three children.