A Country Removing the Word God From its Pledge, An Army Leads the Way.
It’s happening. I am sure that you have heard it. It is US Supreme Court Case Number 2002-1574 the USA v. Michael A. Newdow, etal. It is a controversial case here in The States. This is the case that could quite possibly remove the words ‘under God’ from our pledge of allegiance.
Now personally and politically I am not in support of 9 judges making this decision but that is part of governmental system here in the US. I am also not a fan of The Salvation Army leading the way in support the removal of the words ‘under God’ either but I guess that is the Salvation Army system we have set up here in the US.
The Salvation Army leading the way to remove ‘under God’ from the pledge, you hadn’t heard? Well…it’s not like we sent our lawyers or lobbyist to Congress or the High Court. We haven’t offered any type of assistance to Michael A. Newdow. We haven’t even sent the National Public Relations Officer on TV to show support of the bill.
What we did is lead the way by example. A more powerful form of speaking, I think you all would agree, than using actually words. Well, at least St. Francis would agree.
Over the last month we have been releasing the new, name of God removed, pledge of The Salvation Army. What was so previously biblical and historical ‘Heart to God and Hand to Man’ is now gone. Well…at least half of it is. You guessed it the ‘to God’ part. And the new has come.
Let me introduce you to the “new” national branding of The Salvation Army. DOING THE MOST GOOD. (I apologize for not using the correct font when typing this. I did sit through the hour long session on how to use the new brand but don’t have my notes in front of me.)
I can’t remember who said it, but it applies nonetheless, “Good is the enemy of God.” Isn’t interesting that we removed ‘God’ from the pledge, branding, motto, mission, whatever it is called, and replaced it with ‘good’. Let me be blunt, it is worse than interesting, it is down right scary to me.
Am I way off here? Somebody who supports this new branding please defend it to me in a biblical and missional way.
posted by primitive salvo @ 8:59 AM
26 comments
26 Comments:
I didn't like it when I heard about it. My Captain said that this was the first time in a super long time that the letterhead was changing. At the Raleigh corps they have "Heart to God, Hand to Man" on their vans..is the Army going to make them change it? I don't like it..and im glad im not the only one.
-Shannon Rogers
Elizabeth City, NC
This is the first i've heard about it - being in Australia and all. But it sounds down right wrong. I don't understand TSA Hierarchy sometimes, but remember you are The Salvation Army - don't except it. I know that is easier said than done, but honestly it just sounds ridiculous. What's next "No sharing the gospel". It's all PC / PR rubbish
Keeping the God part of our motto may not be on the outside, but that is not where it is anyway. It is now and always has and will be in our heart. We are The Salvation Army.
I am among the group of people who were just short of ticked off at first, but once I went through the presentation with the Chief and Chris Priest I now see the reasoning behind it.
Our new brand is more about a public image. The truth of the matter is, people know who we are and why we are who we are, because of WHO's we are.
I am here in Atlanta at EBC and I am constantly having people open up to me with their needs in their spiritual life regardless of what the pin on our shirts may say.
God has not left the Army, it has left the brand. We need to not think of the brand as our motto, because it isn't.
Accompanying the brand is the manifesto, which does very strongly reference why we do it, and does reference God.
I am doing the most good.
I am hope.
I am compassion.
I am strength.
I am faith
I am doing the most good.
I serve a community.
A region.
A nation.
A world.
I serve heroes.
I serve victims.
I serve a sovereign God.
I am doing the most good.
I am an Army.
Drafted by the Creator.
Commissioned by a man who defied death.
My enemies are despair and destruction.
My allies are generosity and benevolence.
I am an Army.
Helping others be all they can be.
I am doing the most good.
I feed empty stomachs and hungry souls.
I rebuild ruined homes and shattered lives.
I am a willing listener for a veteran with stories to tell.
I am a bottled water and an encouraging smile for a weary firefighter.
I am an answered prayer.
A silver lining.
A second chance.
I am doing the most good.
I am a humble steward of other people’s generosity.
I am a grateful courier of a stranger’s kindness.
I am the faithful executor of other’s goodwill.
I take responsibility seriously.
I am blessed.
I am a blessing.
I am The Salvation Army.
I am doing the most good.
I am now a proponent of our new brand. I see the sole purpose of it to attract public interest. I cannot recount the number of times I have had people ask me, what does that mean "Doing the Most Good?" This leads me to an opportunity to share Christ because to explain why it is that we do the most good with their resources, I have to explain why so much of it is actually used and not skimmed off the top by "THE ARMY".
This new brand can and will cause more giving on behalf of the general public and on behalf of the everyman.
What makes us an Army is God.
What defines us as an Army has not, and will not be changed by this new brand.
When we put on our uniform and go into the community, they know who we are and why we are there and they know that "they work for Jesus!"
Take heart my friend(s) this is not going to mess anything up. Keep fighting on your front, and fight for God!
Do not let this define you. You/We are The Salvation Army, with our Hearts to God and Hand to Man and because of that.... we are
DOING THE MOST GOOD!
Under the Flag,
Cadet Aaron Abram
Heralds of the Good News
(I do not submit this on behalf of The Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth College, The School for Officer Training, or any other person or entity other than myself, Aaron Abram, a Salvation Army soldier.)
(This should not be consider by anyone as an official statement it is merely an opinion of one individual.)
Also Cory, it may be helpful for you to contact Captain Joel Cundiff here at EBC. He is very passionate about the brand, and was actually part of the team that developed it. I think that his passion will help to further convey the Biblical and missional facets of it.
Blessings Brother!
Under the Flag,
Cadet Aaron Abram
Heralds of the Good News
(I do not submit this on behalf of The Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth College, The School for Officer Training, or any other person or entity other than myself, Aaron Abram, a Salvation Army soldier.)
(This should not be consider by anyone as an official statement it is merely an opinion of one individual.)
yeah, i agree with you about the whole branding thing, i'm not a fan. particularly b/c we are branding our organization.
as for the pledge thing, i don't think that we can keep the under God thing in. i don't think we can legislate it, and i don't think taking it out of the pledge means we're taking "God out of the classrooms." having attended public schools my entire life, i don't feel as though i had a parochial, Christian education. saying "under God" did not affect me anymore than not saying it would have. i mean, for pete's sake, i was saying "under God, INVISIBLE" until high school.
we are fortunate to have freedom of religion in this country. and that means everyone shares that freedom. while i do see it as my duty to live out a Christlike example, i don't think Christianity should be relayed through the means of government.
jason has a different opinion.
(as a soldier of The Salvation Army, I DO submit this opinion representing not only myself but the church to which I am affiliated)
(anyone reading this should take this as an official opinion of Kelly Pope, soldier of the Salvation Army)
good comment, aaron...only, how may people know what comes after "doing the most good"? and WHO is doing the most good? are we? bc...im not good.
i figure, with heart to god, hand to man we know what comes first- god. we know that in order to do the most good, god must have our hearts...
and, any other slogan or whatever that we have...is probably more godly...i wonder how god feels about this, i might ask him later...
I gotta admit, the whole idea that we're even worrying about "branding" doesn't set right with me.....
Railton said it best: " I intend carefully to instruct my children that if at any time they see The Salvation Army a wealthy, respectable concern, the majority of whose "soldiers" simply go where they please to attend its' "ministrations," leaving the godless undisturbed to perish; and if they see another set of people, however they may be clothed or despised, who really give up all to go for the lost, then they must not for a moment hesitate to learn the concern their poor old dad helped to make, and go out amongst those who most faithfully carry out what the founder of the Army laid down in his writings and acts. May God preserve them from such a day by keeping the Army free from the love of money and ease."
(emphasis mine)
we're wealthy, we're respectable....what's wrong with this picture.....
I have a serious concern that we are pursuing what is just one of the newest ways for worldly coporations to market themselves and make money. Is it really about people knowing who we are by looking at our new logo, or is about people hearing who we are by doing what God has called us to do through the mission of the Salvation Army?
Serve His sheep.
Spread hope through the Good News.
Soup. Soap. Salvation.
Jesus is alive and wants to bring His bride forward "pure and blameless" upon his return. He is coming back soon and it seems proud that we would claim that We-The Salvation Army would place ourselves, by this new branding, in competition with the entire Body of Christ as the group "Doing the most good". We are commanded to "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace". We are One body, under One Spirit and One God.
How does this move serve God's mission for the world as pursued by the Salvation Army? Are we not in jeopardy of playing by the world's rules after being set apart from them. I conceed that public funding of the Salvation Army's activities around the world is important. Yet, if we focus too much on the money required to do what we are currently doing, we may miss whether it is God's Will that we are to be doing something different with our resources.
As soldiers we have convenanted with God to be faithful stewards of what we have been given. As well, we are called to be faithful to the purposes for which God raised up the Salvation Army.
I respect the efforts of those who are working to improve the world's perception of the Salvation Army. However, would God's purposes not be better served by seeking recognition from God for what we are and what we do. If our burning desire is to love our God with all our heart and soul and strength, then let us show our love by obeying His commands.
'Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."'
Isaiah 30:21
Amen
(I do not submit this on behalf of The Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth College, The School for Officer Training, or any other person or entity other than myself, Phillip Blindenbach, a Salvation Army soldier.)
(This should defintiely not be consider by anyone as an official statement; it is merely an opinion of one individual. May God use it for His glory and purposes.)
Let it be known that I, considering myself a Primitive Salvationist, while still learning what that means, would wish that I never had to raise a single cent in pursuit of the ministry of The Salvation Army in my future officership.
I would love to set up a tent, build some benches, and have meetings with what we have with each other.
I would love to see The Salvation Army operate in missional community like the Acts church.
One question... How long would we last?
It is rather unfortunate for the Army that this bit that has been branded is the American Army, and to that end, we have allowed ourselves to become an American church, or at least we are fast on the heels of doing so.
To survive in America, we will need money. What friends is our concern? It's not about our programs, it's about the people... that being said, to reach the people counter-culturally we have to be able to "compete" with that culture.
Americans are inundated with fast paced images and other means of multimedia and self satisfaction in the midst of our desires to share Christ with them.
Is it wrong for us to adopt MediaShout presentations to convey our message... I say no. To do so however, we must purchase it. To run it, we need a computer, projector, and screen.
This is merely one way that we are being forced to coddle to the American lifestyle while spreading the message of Christ. We have to do it, if not on your front now, at some point because the climate is changing.
I love the Army, I love more the Old Army, but America doesn't. That being said, I serve as best as possible to mix the two while not becoming a "church" in the process as I still hold fast to the FACT that The Salvation Army is a movement.
We need money, and until tithes and offerings allow us to be self-sufficient, we will have to seek it otherwise.
Who among us is ready instead to address daily the issue of tithing, in our own lives and those of our fellow soldiers, adherents, and friends?
I wish there was a better way, but I am at a loss to find one.
As I embark on the road to officership, I will do what I must do to be able to share the message of Christ in the best way that will meet the needs of the people to whom I am sent to serve and if that means having a different motto, then so be it for me.
Soup, soap, salvation. Heart to God, Hand to Man. Need Knows No Season. Doing the Most Good. Others. Haz Algo. WE ARE THE SALVATION ARMY!
It all still applies so long as you and I carry it in our hearts.
My disclaimer at the end is merely so that I do not get in trouble with the administration of the school. I have no idea if it keeps me safe or not, I guess if not in time I will find out. Please know that no superior officer anywhere has instructed me to add it, I have chosen to do so of my own free will, and it is crafted in my own words and I doubt you will find any other cadet using it. I recall however, Captain Court telling me once that one person should not be able to speak for the entire Army because we do not all think the same way, that is what makes our Army great! These are however MY convictions.
No matter what, I love Jesus and I want everyone else to as well!
Under the Flag,
Cadet Aaron Abram
Heralds of the Good News
(I do not submit this on behalf of The Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth College, The School for Officer Training, or any other person or entity other than myself, Aaron Abram, a Salvation Army soldier.)
(This should not be consider by anyone as an official statement it is merely an opinion of one individual.)
I guess one of the questions that begs at least a visit about the new logo is - is it true?
are we really doing the most good?
not a bad question.
Danielle
On all fronts, no. That should however be our chief endeavour!
Each of us, as The Salvation Army to the people we come in contact with, should be busy Doing the Most Good.
We should not be doing just what it takes to get by.
Am I the only one who finds it mildly motivational? It has been said that there is always more than one way to look at a thing, and that is true here as well. It is a brand to help raise support, but it is also something that motivates me to be the best Salvationist I can... what about the rest of us? What else could it mean?
Under the Flag,
Cadet Aaron Abram
Heralds of the Good News
(I do not submit this on behalf of The Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth College, The School for Officer Training, or any other person or entity other than myself, Aaron Abram, a Salvation Army soldier.)
(This should not be consider by anyone as an official statement it is merely an opinion of one individual.)
What ever happened to 'saved to save'?
Xander...
Doing the Most Good at "letting our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven" you say?????
Keep fighting friend!!!!!
Under the Flag,
Cadet Aaron Abram
Heralds of the Good News
(I do not submit this on behalf of The Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth College, The School for Officer Training, or any other person or entity other than myself, Aaron Abram, a Salvation Army soldier.)
(This should not be consider by anyone as an official statement it is merely an opinion of one individual.)
Cory. I don't like the new "branding" either but you messed up on one issue. There has been no other "branding" ever! Heart to God, Hand to Man is still our motto and it won't ever change. Don't kick dust around unless you have all the facts in evidence. Let's work to "change" the new branding instead of building resistance to it.
One more point about the word "Good" Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD. He created the Earth and said that it was GOOD. Good is good word. Doing the most GOOD is OK.
Smells faintly of worldliness to me. It is a bad sign for the Army that we face so little opposition or disaproval from the World. I'm sure the success of the early Church, and the early Army, were somehow linked to the persecution they faced.
Now it seems TSA has come to the point the church was at when TSA was formed. We have turned into our parents, so to speak. I think it's high time we looked at ourselves as a movement and asked, "is this who we want to be? Is this how we want to be seen?"
Of course there are pockets where this has, and is happenning. But that seems to be pretty much it. Small fires of revival that the rest of the Army almost distances itself from.
Why should we, Christ's Bride, prostitute ourselves to the World? Better to submit to our Husband, put that wedding band back on our collective finger for the World to see, and let God deal with the consequences!
I have a feeling both Christ and the Booths are mourning what we've allowed ourselves to become.
I should think that is a bit presumptuous.
Under the Flag,
Cadet Aaron Abram
Heralds of the Good News
(I do not submit this on behalf of The Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth College, The School for Officer Training, or any other person or entity other than myself, Aaron Abram, a Salvation Army soldier.)
(This should not be consider by anyone as an official statement it is merely an opinion of one individual.)
very presumptuous
We are still a movement who is in motion; winning the world for Christ. Is only on judgement day that Jesus will be able able to say how well The Salvation Army accomplished His goals for us. As long as the fire of the Holy Spirit is burning somewhere within the Body of Christ there is hope for our branch on the vine.
Appologies, I may have used stronger language than intended.
Even if we have become middle-class, though, if everyone was tithing properly, would we be needing to pander to the World for money?
Nope!
But alas.....
Under the Flag,
Cadet Aaron Abram
Heralds of the Good News
(I do not submit this on behalf of The Salvation Army, Evangeline Booth College, The School for Officer Training, or any other person or entity other than myself, Aaron Abram, a Salvation Army soldier.)
(This should not be consider by anyone as an official statement it is merely an opinion of one individual.)
I sometimes get the feeling that the Army is loosing track of why we do what we do.
Leaving out the "Heart To God" portion goes a long way to dumbing down the reasons behind our actions.
With this new motto, the Army's mission statement could easily be read as:
Doing The Most Good - To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
It fits - no reference to God or Salvation - just a nice watered down reference to Christian principles and of course our programs, many of which are simply government programs operated by the Army.
I appreciate the need for change and I understand the need for funds referred to in an early comment. However, the Army needs to be careful that it does not evolve into a "Glorified YMCA". By the way the mission statement above is the mission statement for the YMCA.
If we're not suppose to be concerned about what the world thinks, then why should be concerned about the Booths rolling over in their graves? This is God's Army, they were mere instruments of God to accomplish that task.
And about tithing - not sure what corps most have been involved in, but in my experience, many corps have a very high percentage of individuals that fall into the category of very low income. Even if 100% of the congregation tithes according to Biblical standard, it still is not enough, in most cases, to completely sustain the operation of a corps. Maybe that's what makes us a movement, and not a church!
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