Why did God choose The Salvation Army? # 1

NORSK
Some days ago I shared information about the EMMA-program on Facebook, and wrote: ‘- watch out for a blog next week’. The reason was that in the planning of the final meeting, Magna and I decided that we wanted the testimonies from the delegates to answer the question: “Why did you choose The Salvation Army?”. 
Almost as a joke I said to Magna: “Then I can preach on the question: 'Why did God choose The Salvation Army?'”

I must admit that I have sometimes wondered why, but I have never tried to answer the question until I gave myself this challenge. I ended up with five points. Each point deserves a deep Bible-study supported with short biographical examples down through the history of our movement to our present time. However, this is just a glimpse:

# 1 God chose TSA because of people with a calling and a passion! (1)

Since God created man in his own image, he has been scanning the earth for those who can make him known:

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
2 Chron 16:9a

More than 150 years ago he found two people with that calling and passion and he strengthened them in such a way that Catherine and William Booth in the power of The Holy Spirit were able to touch other people’s lives with the gospel. In this way the number of called people with a burning passion grew rapidly into a mobilised Army. God even allowed them to organize themselves in an Army fashion because he saw that their hearts were fully committed to him.

Without that calling and passion for mission, God would never have chosen The Salvation Army, because God does not choose organizations, he chooses people.

‘Manna for today’:

God chooses people!

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(1) The whole series:
# 1 God chose TSA because of people with a calling and a passion!
# 2 God chose TSA because we focus on the fact that everyone is called!
# 3 God chose TSA because everyone who receives the call has the same right to ministry
# 4 God chose TSA because we focus on the content of the baptism and the agape meal,

# 5 God chose TSA because we have a holistic view 

It is about healing

NORSK
When I mention the sacred anointing oil, many straight away think about ‘healing’. There is nothing wrong in such an association, because, as I will reflect on tomorrow, the sacred anointing oil filled a function even in the treatment and cleansing of the sick under the old covenant. In addition the practice of using oil was prolonged in the Christian tradition:

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
James 5:14-15

Our youngest daughter, Janne, had severe problems with asthma from a very young age. A couple of times the attacks were so heavy that we were afraid we would lose her, and we saw the wards in many hospitals. My mother at that time worked as the administrational leader of a municipal health department, and since she worked close to several doctors, she addressed one and asked:

“What can we do?”
The doctor, who was not a Christian, just looked at her and said: 
“James 5:14-15!”
This shows that we can find just as much faith among those who do not confess faith, as among those who do. Since the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the oil also symolized relief and healing.

I have often used oil when I have prayed for the sick, but also on other occasions. It is important to be obedient when the Spirit urges me to do it. On several occasions, remarkable healings have taken place when anointing oil has been used. Yet, I am convinced that God has not made himself dependent upon any physical remedy, because he always looks to the heart (1). In a few isolated instances, I believe that the anointing has been important and even decisive for the person ministered to, because it has functioned as means of faith ignition – where the faith has not gone to the means, but to the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (2).
 
‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is also about relief

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(1) e.g. 2 Chron 16:9 and 1 Sam 16:7
(2) Hebr 12:2