What is The Salvation Army about?

The answer will depend on how much the person answering knows about the organization. One would say: “It is my favourite store!” – with reference to our thrift stores. Another would say “They help the poor!”. A third may say “They have good brass-bands!” whilst a fourth states “It’s my church!”.
Nothing of this is wrong, however they are just fragments of the truth. I could continue with a multitude of statements that would say something about what we are.

For me The Salvation Army is all about mission; and mission is bringing the life of Jesus into the communities of our present time. We can do that through a thrift store, a poverty alleviation project, a brass-band, a church/corps or in a way that has not yet crossed our minds. That is why The Salvation Army has so many expression of the mission.

In the last twenty reflections, I have elaborated on General Brian Peddle’s “Call to Mission – NOW”. The danger with everything we do, is that we can continue to do it also after we have lost the focus on the mission. The store, the project, the band, the corps, or one of the many other expressions of our mission can replace the main focus, which is the sole reason for doing the mission.

Many years ago I was leading a large, quite traditional Salvation Army corps. In a meeting with most of the active members of the corps present, I said the following in my sermon:

“If it was possible for God to die, and he actually decided to die, it would take at least three years before this corps discovered it! Therefore, we would continue to what we have always done as though nothing of importance had happened”.

In some ways it was a “Wake-up call”, and the feedback afterwards was on the whole scale of emotional expressions. A young soldier came to me and said: “First I thought, you must be right, and I felt scared. However, then I thought, if God really died, I trust that Jostein will discover it, and I am sure he would tell us!” In some ways it was a joke, but I also sensed that he saw the seriousness of the message.

At all times we need to be reminded “Mission first!”. The General has reminded us. We need to remind each other: We need to spread the life of Jesus right where we are. The mission is not something we do, but something we live.

As I could say to the young soldier many years ago, I confirm again:

“God is not dead, he will never die, he conquered death and rose from the grave. He is alive in you!” (1)

‘Manna’ for today:

Live the mission!

…and have a blessed summer
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(1) I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms...

Ephisians 1:18-20

The greatest challenge of our time?

The Salvation Army’s international mission statement declares that our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and ‘to meet human needs in his name without discrimination’ (1). In the general's ‘Call to Inclusion’, we are again reminded of this important part of our mission statement (2). Inclusion was definitely central to Jesus' understanding of his own mission:

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
John 6:37

Jesus states that he will never drive away anyone who comes to him. Still, some will go away from him saddened. That happened to the rich man who came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to have eternal life. He confirmed that he had kept the commandments, but something was missing. Jesus then confronted him with this challenge: “If you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me.” (3). Because the man had many possessions, this challenge became too much for him, and he left.

Jesus welcomes everyone. It was not Jesus who drove the rich man away. It made his own choice. Some would probably say that the man was a victim of discrimination because he was rich, and therefore could not follow Jesus in the same way as his disciples did. However, I am convinced that he knew he was loved and accepted. The challenge for him was that to make a choice also involved opting out of something else.

That hasn't changed over the past 2000 years. When I make a choice, it is likely to influence the possibility of making other choices. When everyone desires everything, and want to keep the freedom of choice under all circumstances, it becomes very hard. May be this is the greatest challenge of our time?

‘Manna’ for today:

Jesus will never drive anyone away

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(1) The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Our message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by the love of God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.
(2) General Peddle’s call: A Call to Inclusion: We must be beyond reproach in treating all people with respect and compassion, remembering our mission to meet human needs in Christ’s name without any discrimination
(3) Matthew 19:21

Engaged for others

The last ten weeks I have focused on the call to ‘Be Ready’, which is the first part of General Brian Peddle’s ‘Call to Mission’ (1). Today I start with the call to ‘Be Engaged’ (2)

Here are some selected quotes with this focus:

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen …”Isaiah 43:10a

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations …” says Jesus
Matthew 28:19a

“… we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” says Peter
Acts 4:20b

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” says John
Revelation 22:17a

“I shall endeavour to show, that Christianity is essentially a social religion; and to turn it into a solitary religion, is indeed to destroy it” says John Wesley (3)

‘Others!’ says William Booth – and that says it all.

‘Manna’ for today:

Saved to Save & Saved to Serve

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(1) Call to Mission - NOW!
(2) A CALL TO SERVE: Serving others must be our missional priority. We must value officership, local officership, soldiership, adherency and junior soldiership, recognising too that The Salvation Army’s many employees and volunteers are key to fulfilling our tasks.
A CALL TO WORSHIP: We should celebrate God’s redeeming love through our worship, seeking culturally-relevant ways to join together in praise and thanks., as we reach out to and welcome people.
A CALL TO CONFIDENCE IN THE GOSPEL: As we share the good news of the gospel, we must recognise its power for salvation and transformation. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, people can be released from everything that stops them reaching their God-given potential.

(3) In ‘No holiness, but social holiness’ in “Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount” IV – Sermon XIX – i “Wesley’s Standard Sermons” Vol. I – Francis Asbury Press – Grand Rapids – 1955 s. 382

* The picture is the cover page of Harold Hill’s book – hereby recommended.

Did the Samaritan woman influence God’s ‘NOW’?

Last week(1) I asked the same question related to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Today I visit Jacob’s well near Sychar in Samaria and follow the conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. For Bible-readers, this story from John 4 is well known, and like the rest of John’s gospel, there are so many layers of truths, both obvious and hidden, that it deserves to be re-visited again and again.

In one moment, it seems as though John is ridiculing the woman’s ignorance with regard to what Jesus was trying to tell her. In the next moment, John is suggesting that the woman actually grasped spiritual truths which for scholars, like Nicodemus, seemed inaccessible mysteries. This is why I love his gospel and regard it as a master-piece.

When Jesus speaks about the water he can give, the woman replied: “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” For many years I thought and taught that she didn't understand what Jesus spoke about. But what if she actually did understand?

It is clear the Jacob’s well had a religious significance. May be it was part of her religious thirst that made her come all the way to this special well? In the context of the whole conversation, I believe that was what she meant.

When the woman later asked where the right place of worship is, I believe that Jesus knew that she was about to grasp what worship was all about, and he answered:

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks”
John 4:23

So, yes, I believe that the woman influenced God’s NOW. Jesus said “Yet a time is coming” – which points to the future; however, because it was revealed for the woman and she had believed it as true, Jesus continued: “and has now come!”.

‘Manna’ for today:

Faith in what God has revealed to me, influences His ‘NOW’!

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(1) This reflction is part of a series on the "Call to Mission - NOW!'

The old has gone, the new is here!

NORSK
When I opened www.biblegateway.com this morning, the Verse of the Day contained the words I have chosen as a headline. The Bible has many verses that are fitting for New Year’s Day, however, I can’t recall that I have used this verse at the start of a new year before.

Only few minutes before I read the verse I was listening to a radio-reporter asking people on the street about their New Year's resolutions. One man said something like this: “I want to let the one whose birth we have just celebrated take more control over my destructive thoughts and words – I am saved, you see!” – I think the man knows the reality of the verse:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Cor 5:17

It is all about living the new life in Christ. This is the ‘momentum’ I want to keep in our mission as we go forward into every new day, every new week, every new year – it is the new life! 

‘Manna’ for today:

The new life in Christ is already here, let’s live it!

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In 2018 it is my intention and desire to blog weekly in several languages. The weekly blogs will be published on Saturdays, and the first one will be published on 6 Jan. “Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.” Phil 3:16 (MSG)

A time for everything * - but when?

NORSK
This question is one of at least two questions that appear every time I read this verse:

“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.”
John 16:25

When Jesus says “a time is coming” – it is always hard to interpret, especially in the Gospel of John. It is all about the tension between the time of chronology, as in “a time is coming”, and the time of faith as in “already now” (1). The disciples' response in this narrative indicates that they interpreted this as concerning the time of faith = it is now Jesus speaks plainly and not figuratively (2).

This interpretation is at least in accordance with how they felt, because the next words from Jesus are very plain, but again I think that Jesus spoke about the 40 days he will regularly be visible and physically present in the period between the resurrection and the ascension – the time for reparation and confirmation of the faith and the mission.

The second question is a mystery both in the Gospel of John and in the other Gospels: Why was speaking in parables and images perceived as a distortion of truth rather than making truth more accessible? (3)

When I grew up, the Bible narratives were a natural feature in homes, schools and churches. The parables were used for the purpose of building faith, not to confuse it. The stories were explained as they were read. I think this is the reason why it is hard for me to understand that the images distort instead of enlighten. For the disciples and the people surrounding Jesus it was different. Only a few of them had grasped the faith-content in the pictures, so unless Jesus interpreted the content, as in the parable with the Sower, the parables remained mysteries until the Holy Spirit revealed the spiritual truth.

‘Manna’ for today:

The Holy Spirit … will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (4)

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(1) “Yet a time is coming and has now come” John 4:23
(2) See verse 29: “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.”  
(3) “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” Mark 4:11-12
(4) John 14:26
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the ime between Easter and Pentecost

No more questions? - a time for everything *

NORSK
In the passage I have studied during the last few days, Jesus gave room for many questions, and I think Jesus liked when the disciples asked questions.

I am also convinced that it is healthy that questions are asked in the world of faith. Questions open up for conversation and discussion, and I think that the conversation is at least as important for building faith as the preaching is (1).

However, when Jesus prepared his disciples for the time after the resurrection, he said:

In that day you will no longer ask me anything.
John 16:23a

There are at least two possible interpretations on this statement:

1. Jesus knew that much would fall into place for the disciples after the resurrection and that the Holy Spirit would give the disciples a new insight.
2. In this context, 'ask' is not related to having queries and asking questions but rather to the act of praying.

There are several reasons why I prefer the second interpretation.

• Firstly, Jesus continues to speak of prayer: Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
• Secondly, Jesus had completed his mission and given all believers access to the Father. That is the way we are going to pray. More about this tomorrow.

‘Manna’ for today:

I know whom I will 'ask'!

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(1) When Paul stayed in Ephesus, the conversation had an important place in his mission and with great effect: He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. Acts 19:9b-10 
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the ime between Easter and Pentecost

Where do I start? – a time for everything *

NORSK
When Jesus clarified the mission of the disciples to proclaim repentance and forgiveness from sin, I am convinced that the assignment to do this to ‘all nations’ must have overwhelmed the small group of disciples. Fortunately, he continued:

and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 24:47

The mission to the whole world has to start some somewhere and I think it must start where I am. A few years ago, the Navigators published an excellent book on evangelism entitled "Where You Are!". I can’t think of a better title for a book on that subject. The disciples did quite a bit of walking in the weeks between Easter and Pentecost. However, they were instructed that the starting point is Jerusalem, and from then on everything is about where you are.

Today I will go to Ialoveni. This is the first meeting in the new building. The corps leader has asked me to preach about the subject: “I am the door” as part of a series. Fortunately, the new building has doors. A door is something I take for granted when I think of building because the door gives access to the inside. Therefore, the symbolism of the door is very strong. 

When Jesus says that he is the door, it means that it is possible to enter and become part of him. The same Jesus says he stands by the door and knocks so that I may invite him in and in so doing, ma part of me. The door in the new premises in Ialoveni is both entrance and exit. In order for us to be witnesses where we are. I am looking forward to proclaim this today.

‘Manna’ for today:

Every day I start where I am, so today I will start in Ialoveni

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* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost. 

The mission clarified - a time for everything *

NORSK
The last passage of Luke's Gospel has the title ‘Mission and Farewell’ in my Norwegian Bible and in this passage I also found the ‘AHA’ experience, which I reflected on yesterday. It is crucial for the mission to understand what Jesus did for me in light of the Scriptures, and today the mission is clarified once again:

and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47

When William Booth on the threshold of the 20th century was asked by a journalist what he considered to be the greatest danger in the new century; Booth gave a clear and short answer. He considered one of the dangers to be ‘forgiveness without repentance’. I think Booth had been together with Jesus and the disciples when they received the teaching and confirmation of this very truth in the preparation for Pentecost.
Likewise, I am present in the same group and reminded about the truth for today. I admit that it is easier to proclaim forgiveness than repentance. Almost everyone wants to receive forgiveness, but repenting and start following God's way instead of his own is costly. I am reminded once again that salvation is free, but the discipleship is costly. Something else is a lie, but I still think that choosing life is by far the better choice.

Peter certainly caught the message, because when the audience on the day of Pentecost asked what they should do, Peter replied:

  “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39

‘Manna’ for today:

There is no shortcut passed repentance!

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* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost.  

Statistics with a deeper meaning - a time for everything.

NORSK
When I see a deeper meaning in a Bible text than what is immediately there, I want to make it very clear that my reflection must be seen as an 'interesting observation' and should not be regarded as a doctrinal statement. This also applies to the subject of the ‘mystery of numbers’. 

I think the disciples saw some remarkable connections between numbers and the surrounding world of their time. May be that is why we find accurate statistics in the report of the great catch at the Sea of Galilee after Jesus’ resurrection:

So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
John 21:11

Normally we tend to give a round number when we tell a story. If I had been part of the event above, I guess I would have said, "We caught more than 150 large fish!". But that is if I had not discovered something sensational with the figure "153". John must have seen something significant since he recorded it, and it must have been important for the message of the gospel he wrote.

Today we can only guess and there are many theories. Several of them may seem a bit farfetched. For me the most interesting theory is that a Greek zoologist around the time of Jesus stated that the number of all known species of fish was 153 (1). 

If Peter's catch of fish is also a prophetic event and a confirmation that he and the disciples were called to become fishers of men, it is a fascinating thought that all "species" are included. Then the disciples could have seen something prophetic in the '153 figure'. The mission they had received was for all races and nations. This was an important repetition of education in the 'refreshment period' between Easter and Pentecost. More thoughts about this tomorrow.

‘Manna’ for today:

Whosoever will, can be ‘caught’. 

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(1) A. Skaaheim: «Johannesevangeliet» Lunde 1990 s. 353 (Norwegian source)
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost.

Why choose Galilee? - a time for everything

NORSK
It is still Easter – at least in the orthodox part of the world. We are still in Jerusalem, and when I began the journey up to Jerusalem, I asked the question “What is the most special aspect of Jerusalem?”

Yesterday the angel asked the women to tell the disciples that Jesus

“…is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him…” Matthew 28:7

Why Galilee? Jesus had spent much time there, and I do not think it was accidental that he wanted to meet there again. When John the Baptist was imprisoned Matthew writes that Jesus “withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum” He also writes that this was a fulfillment of one of the prophecies of Isaiah (1) who called the area “Galilee of the Gentiles” (2). In other words, an area which was inhabited by people from several nations in addition to Jews.

There may be several reasons why Jesus would meet them there after the resurrection. He had once more a limited period of 40 days to "repair" any misunderstanding and to make them ready to receive the Holy Spirit. Because Galilee was a good distance away from the center of power, it was likely that they could work undisturbed there. The distance between Jerusalem and Capernaum is app 130 km.

Still, I like to think that it was even more important for Jesus to remind his disciples that the gospel applies to all nations. It is easier to do where 'Gentiles' live.

Therefore, even in the first message given after the resurrection, there is an element of guidance and teaching. They should be prepared for a new ‘module’ of teaching - it is a time for everything.

‘Manna’ for today:

A time to reaffirm the mission and the foundation of the mission

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(1) Isa 9:1-2
(2) Matt 4:12-15
(3) The area around the Sea of Galilee
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity'
 Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost.

Knowing what the mission is – a step on the journey

NORSK 
I have always been focused on the mission, and as I have grown older, it has become even stronger. A couple of days back, I made a point of the fact that it was not only ‘one’ step on the journey of getting to know Jesus, but ‘a’ step because it takes many steps to know Jesus intimately. 

In the same way as there is only ‘one’ Jesus, there is also only ‘one’ mission. However, even in relation to the ‘one’ mission it takes many steps to get to know it so well that the mission becomes an integral part of my identity.

When Simon had made his confession and was affirmed and given the name Peter (rock), Jesus continued:

“…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Matt 16:18

St Peter's Basilica in Rome was built on the spot believed to be the place where Peter was crucified. This was done to symbolize the connection between Peter and the church. The image works well as long as there are no theological strings attached, because in the end the confession is the rock. A church without the confession, is merely a humanitarian organization. There is nothing wrong in being a humanitarian organization, but that is not the whole mission.

That is one of the reasons why the Army has been busy ascertaining that we are 'one' army with 'one' mission. This has become a challenge because we have a strong desire to build a church for those who share our call to the mission, and we have an equally strong desire to alleviate suffering in the world, which is a part of the ‘one’ mission. We do not have a dual mission in the meaning of ‘two’. It is an integrated mission that is based on the 'one' message, which again is based on the 'one' confession. The 'one' confession is the starting point for the journey up to Jerusalem - step by step.

‘Manna’ for today:

To get to know the mission takes more than one step

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(1) I stand where Peter stood - at least when it comes to the confession. St. Peter's Basilica - July 2013.