An Open Letter to General John Larsson

General Larsson,

I just read an article by you that I've been looking forward to reading. It is titled: Being True to Ourselves. I was particularly pleased with your thoughts in regards to the Sacraments. I was excited when I read the following words, "I judged our position to be not only biblically acceptable but also prophetic." Continuing later in the article, "We need to hold that position with confidence and conviction. When it comes to the evangelistic mission, let's affirm and rejoice in the truth that all who are in Christ are baptized into the one body by the Holy Spirit."

Thanks for attacking the touchy subjects, that in my opinion, should be already sealed and answered in our hearts and our movement. One Officer asked in regards to this subject, "Do the Baptist still wonder if they should be baptizing? No, if they did, they would not be Baptist. Do the Pentecostals still question whether they should speak in tongues or not? No, that is what makes them Pentecostals." I hope that we will take your words in regards to sacraments, enforce it with Geoff Ryans article "To be or not to be" and leave it at that.

I can see that you hit on a number of hard topics at this conference and in this article. My eyebrows were raised at your comments on homosexuality. Tough issue, glad you talked about it. I was drawn to the part where you said, "...we do not intend to change our position with regard to homosexuality. The Army has a biblically based and balanced position on the subject."

I was a little unsure about the Army's position so I went to our National Headquarters website and took this line from the position statement on homosexuality:

Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life.

Here is where I wish the wording was stronger. I would liked to have seen the words, "we do not intend to change our position" switched to "we WILL NOT change our position." Much stronger, better stance, purity protected.

I also have concern that the position statement encourages celibacy and abstinence Here I wish it promoted freedom from sin. I would like the basis of all of our statements to move to, "you shall know the Truth, the Truth shall set you free and you shall be free indeed" rather than, if you are struggling with homosexuality or drinking or drugs or gambling or pornography, "try real hard not to do them." Maybe I am just reading to much into but I like repentance, freedom, and restoration more than self-will, determination, and abstinence.

Just my thoughts and opinions.

Thanks for tackling the tough subjects. I speak blessings and grace over you.

primitive salvo: coryharrison

3 Thought Provoking Statements

God spoke three huge things to me through a divine connection with my mentor.

1. If God doesn't initiate it, He doesn't appreciate it.
Like my mentor, I am person who is more driven then lead. I often find myself out in front of Jesus, leading Him, rather than Him leading me. I want to be driven in the things that God initiates.

2. What God starts, God maintains. What I start, I maintain.
This goes right back to being driven versus being lead.

3. A tree that doesn't produce a lot of fruit, produces a lot of wood.
Fruit trees are generally small in stature. They don't look strong or giant or even very noticeable. But non-fruit trees grow big and noticeable like oaks and redwood. We look at them with a "wow" in our voice. The problem is that they produce no fruit.

I want to be a part of the things that God is initiating and that produce fruit. How about you?


George Walker in The Officer's Review--1934 said, "I became alarmed at the possibility of myself being a withered branch. What a tragedy it would be to have an organization contact, but be out of touch with the divine; to be disconnected from the True Vine, though still held up high; to have a secure position, and yet, if taken down from it and placed in fresh soil, be incapable of growth and fruit-bearing--for disconnected dead branches cannot produce anything."

Primitive Salvo:Cory Harrison