{"id":57870,"date":"2007-01-13T21:53:00","date_gmt":"2007-01-14T03:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=57870"},"modified":"2023-01-13T21:56:52","modified_gmt":"2023-01-14T03:56:52","slug":"legalism-and-the-salvation-army","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/legalism-and-the-salvation-army\/","title":{"rendered":"Legalism and The Salvation Army"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\tby Sam Stinson\n

“There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?<\/em>” (James 4:12).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A man named Johnny Harsh, who calls himself a captain in the Salvation Army, has faced media scrutiny in recent days. Harsh, by all accounts a gentleman, was once married to a fellow member of the group. However, his wife passed away last year. Desiring not to be alone and having the right as a widower to take a new mate, Harsh met a woman, not a group member, and decided to get married. This would have been fine except that group has an established rule which forbids such a union. The policy states that those who marry outside the group are to lose their position and privileges. Speaking on this topic, one poster on an Internet site said, “Your employer likely has rules and regulations that you agreed to when you took that job and if you don’t like them, you can simply leave. Your employer, and an organization such as the Salvation Army, can dictate terms and conditions as they see fit, and that’s not discrimination.” A group asserting that it is Christ’s body is not the head. It lacks the authority to make new laws. This behavior is legalism. Interestingly enough, the Salvation Army lists on its website, under the noted topic “Sabbath keeping” that “We are not to be bound by legalistic practices.”<\/p>\n

James teaches those who pattern themselves after Christ are not to act as though they are lawgivers. The Bible teaches that God’s ministers work for him and are to be supported of God’s altar. God dictates terms: we listen. We are executors, not legislators. The root issue above is the creation of the new office of captain. Such discussions are incomplete if we only discuss the failings of our neighbors. Let us consider their failings our own since we are of the same nature as human beings (cf. James 5:17) we share many of the same troubles and temptations as others. Roman Catholic authorities believe they have the right to legislate that their officers may not marry. Salvation Army authorities believe they have the right to legislate that their officers may not marry outside their group. What do those within our number believe, practice, preach, and teach? Do we mandate the abstinence of things that are to be received with prayer and a thankful heart? (I Timothy 4:3; Colossians 2:16) Having policies can be helpful in executing our given stewardships, commissions, and orders from the Lord. However, we are not at liberty to bind such punitive consequences. There is one King who legislates as he desires and if we hope to be found as good stewards of what he has commissioned us, let us instead set our minds on executing our prescribed duties, not putting a stumbling block in the way of others. Brethren, let us take this to heart.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Sam Stinson “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12). A man named Johnny Harsh, who calls himself a captain in the Salvation Army, has faced media scrutiny in recent days. Harsh, by all accounts a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[78,843,785],"class_list":["post-57870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-authority","tag-legalism","tag-salvation-army"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12664,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-the-creed-book-for-the-salvation-army\/","url_meta":{"origin":57870,"position":0},"title":"What is the creed book for the Salvation Army?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 1, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I was reading your\u00a0articles about The Salvation Army and I cannot seem to locate a \"creed book\" that you quote. I also believe that what you practice and preach is false. I also believe that the legalism you practice will be the end of your ministry. I shall pray\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":50836,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/law-and-legalism\/","url_meta":{"origin":57870,"position":1},"title":"Law and Legalism","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"by H. E. Phillips via\u00a0Guardian of Truth\u00a0- January 6, 1994 Law is: \"A general rule of action or conduct established or enforced by a sovereign authority; as, a law of Caesar; a law of God\" (Webster's Twentieth Century Dictionary, Unabridged). Webster says of legalism: \"Close conformity to law.\" Law and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57050,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-salvation-army\/","url_meta":{"origin":57870,"position":2},"title":"The Salvation Army","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by David Weaks I wonder how many people know that the Salvation Army is a church. The only time you see them is at Christmas time when the red kettles and bell ringers show up at entrances to shopping malls. How many times have people tossed money into the kettle,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/the-new-york-public-library-MNs3KvP5mAA-unsplash-238x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":63534,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-christians-support-the-salvation-army\/","url_meta":{"origin":57870,"position":3},"title":"Should Christians Support the Salvation Army?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 22, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II John 5-11 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Would you consider it right to drop money in a Catholic church\u2019s collection box? Would you send monthly tithes to a Methodist church? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For Christians following the New Testament, the answer is a strong \u201cNo.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We don\u2019t agree with the teachings\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23913,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/you-shouldnt-judge-the-salvation-army-on-doctrine-see-their-works-instead\/","url_meta":{"origin":57870,"position":4},"title":"You shouldn’t judge the Salvation Army on doctrine. See their works instead","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 30, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: After reading\u00a0your article I was rather puzzled about your thinking. I understand you are a church that focuses only on spiritual work, yet I see you are mixing, doctrine, church administration, church practice, and social work all in one comment. As a fellow Christian let me share some thoughts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":65085,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/legalism-again-and-again-and-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":57870,"position":5},"title":"Legalism … Again … and Again … and Again …","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jonathan Perz Ugh. (Yes, I just started a post off with the word \"ugh.\") I realize that many of my brethren have grave concerns about the idea of \"legalism.\" It has become quite paramount in the thinking of some. The way some speak, there is nothing worse in Scripture\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57870\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}