A Spiritual Revolution for the 21st Century!

Hi, going nuts with my MSN Livespace blog, so I've made the change in order to make the Revolution rant more accessible!!! Here is some of my passion from a recent 'pre-college' assignment asking me to describe the 21st-Century officer... so here it goes...

In its relatively short history, The Salvation Army has experienced some of the greatest revolutions of the ages. The Industrial Revolution in the 19th Century was the setting for its founding in the East-end of London. In the 20th century came the communist revolution in Russia and two World Wars, which impacted the Western world in a dramatic way. Late in the 20th century, the Salvation Army was faced with the generational revolution of the Baby boomers and more recently, the technological revolution. All of this has affected society in ways that were extremely painful in the short-term, but brought long-term change and growth.

As an Army on a gospel mission in the world of the 21st Century, we have similar issues to face in the Spiritual Revolution I believe we will soon face. It is ministers with a specific calling that are required for the task of reaching this world, and this generation in the name of Christ. A new ‘breed’ of revolutionary officer is rising up in the Salvation Army, created by God for “such a time as this”! The calling of God is of vital importance to the character of a ‘revolutionary’. To form an image of what this 21st century officer will look like, we should consider the following questions:

Who is God calling? This generation of 21st century officers are from a vast spectrum of ages and backgrounds, they are united by their “evangelistic zeal,… commitment to holiness and.. strong community outreach,” key strengths attributed to the Salvation Army (TSA IHQ, 1986:101). These officers connect with the Generation Y characteristics of people-centeredness, a tribalistic focus that means they love to be part of a larger group. Their energy, drive to learn and ability to make things happen means they are an upcoming force in the world! Young people of today are looking for a cause, they are searching for meaning in their lives and they want to make this world a better place. It is from this group of people that I believe God is now calling a wave of revolutionaries to become 21st Century officers.

What is God calling them to? Primarily God calls people to serve in the name of Jesus. The distinctive of these revolutionaries is the focus of their ministry, these are not people with a ‘career’-minded attitude. They are ‘all about’ the mission set out for them by God. Their commission and calling to reach the world for Jesus is what drives them first and foremost, not the expectations of others or the red tape of bureaucracy. These officers are educated and connected with today’s society, working to change the world for Jesus and make The Salvation Army the most effective it can be in its mission.

The revolutionary officer of the 21st Century will be recognised by their passion, evangelistic heart, holiness, love for all and the spirit living and working in them. Their passion for God and serving him will be evident by their unwavering desire to be involved in ministry. This also will be characterised by a love for prayer and the word. Their heart for evangelism is noticeable in their excitement to engage with ‘not-yet’ Christians and the heated discussions (of which they will no doubt be involved!) of how to best reach the lost. Holiness will be an important aspect of their character, they will rely on and strive for the Holy Spirit and his gifts. In order for their integrity and influence to be without question, the revolutionary will see personal and social holiness of utmost importance to The Salvation Army and to God. Love is what drives these revolutionaries to action, their love for God fuels ministry, love for the lost drives them to their knees in prayer and love for the Army’s unique calling gives them a ‘cause to die for’! Without love the revolutionary Salvationist becomes a rattling timbrel or an out-of-tune songster stuck on a long note (please refer to 1 Corinthians 13:1 TSA version!). The Holy Spirit is what takes these revolutionaries from being burrs on the proverbial Salvation Army backside and inspires them with prophetic insights, words of knowledge, healing and other such gifts to minister in the Holy Spirit’s power. Their reliance on the Spirit in ministry is the lifeblood of who they are. Without the spirit, the revolutionary becomes evolutionary (and evolution never saved anyone!).

Just as each revolution in the world has its key figures and heroes, so too will this revolution. The Salvation Army officer of today is the hero of this spiritual revolution. These officers are those who lay their lives on the line to see genuine and lasting change - at a community level - within The Salvation Army and the entire world. A true revolutionary faces an oncoming current standing their ground against the tide of popular opinion. They are characterised by their strength in constant persecution and uncompromising commitment to the mission to which they have been called.

Just as Jesus said, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown” (Luke 4:24, NIV), the revolutionary will not be received well among their own people, we may be first drawn to notice them for what they are getting into trouble about! Until there is a change of culture within our Army, these on-fire, mission-focussed officers may be rejected by those who are ‘traditionalists’ (not to be mistaken for the real Salvation Army traditions of soul-saving and social holiness!). They may be called arrogant or stubborn, but it is this steadfastness in spirit that will allow others to stand with them in serving Christ.

In ushering in this generation of Salvation Army Officers equipped for the 21st century, it is our responsibility to further equip the whole Salvation Army with a stronger sense of who we are as Salvationists under God. “If we know who we are – Salvationists – and it’s a non-negotiable point with us, then our passionate commitment, the sheer joyful excitement and the heroic aspects of our identity will never lack in finding disciples.” (Geoff Ryan, Sowing Dragons, p63-64). This strong sense of Salvationist identity will allow people to be sure of what they are signing up for and give greater confidence for ministry to those who are its Soldiers. This said, we cannot be ready for ministry in this century, as an organisation, if we do not continually assess and update our structure and systems (as is timely) to further empower our soldiers and officers in the work of Christ. This century will also require a strong sense of God’s vision for the future of the Army and mission for the present - in order to greater fulfil our calling to reach the last, the lost and the least in the name of Jesus.

Finally, an officer in the 21st Century - a revolutionary - must rely fully on our God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), in order to fulfil the calling placed on their life, and their mandate to grow the kingdom under The Salvation Army, in the name of Jesus Christ. As a favourite ‘fake Salvo’ t-shirt of mine says, “the Revolution starts here”, I wear it proudly, as an outward sign of an inner reality; I can’t begin a spiritual revolution in the world, until I first allow God to perform a Revolution within me. These revolutionary officers will embody the spirit of revolution on behalf of The Salvation Army, from this - the beginnings of a world-wide spiritual revolution will be seen.