JAC Online

ONE Day… Eradicate Indecencies
excerpt by Captain Danielle Strickland

'…that we would have effective ministries to eradicate homelessness, human trafficking, prostitution and other indecencies currently common in our society.'

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he told them to pray, 'Our Father who art in heaven… Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'

That's a powerful prayer—and an even more amazing thought. For years the Christian church and, dare I say even The Salvation Army, has had a 'survivor' posture. We thought if we huddled together and stayed 'holy' inside the church, perhaps we'd be safe from the evil that permeated every aspect of the world. After all, the 'devil prowls around like a lion'.

Perhaps spurred on by the 'pre-millennial rapture' theory (if we hang on tight Jesus will zap us out of here before the real disaster), we bought the lie that the world would infect us with sin, and missed the essential truth of the gospel message—the Kingdom is for now. Jason Upton (a worship leader) used to say that everywhere he went people were praying for an open heaven. He suggests heaven has been open since Jesus returned—what we should be praying for is an open earth.

Infectious holiness—one that is radically based in the gospels—is one that infects the earth. We are called to be light and salt. We are born to be influencers—world changers and shapers. Catherine Booth used to tuck her children into bed every night and remind them that they were going to change the world. I wish as spiritual children of that mother we'd turn our ear to overhear! We
are called to advance God's kingdom (where every wrong is put right) on the earth.

The Word says that the gates of hell cannot stop the advancing kingdom of God on the earth. Every great revival was accompanied by great social reform. Our own radical history was a social scheme birthed out of laying hold of the kingdom and bringing it to earth.

Every great social reformer had tasted heaven. Even Gandhi admitted that in his amazing social movement to free India all he really did was put the words of Jesus into action.

What I like about this dream is that it's aggressively kingdom-focused. God doesn't just want to make a dent in poverty; he wants to eradicate it. He doesn't want only one prostitute welcomed into community and redeemed; he wants the oppression of prostitution to be removed. He wants the systemic realities of evil (the human slave trade, economic prejudices, war and refugees) to be dismantled and righteous ones raised up in their place.

When economics expert Jeffery Sachs writes about the end of poverty he believes that with applied effort we can see extreme poverty wiped out in this current generation.

Mohammad Yaris, after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize this year (2007) for his amazing micro-enterprise bank for the developing world, said he believes his grandchildren will have to go to a museum to see extreme poverty.

These are dreamers, but how beautiful the dream, for it's not a new one, it's an ancient one—the dream of Heaven itself. This dream is echoed in the pages of scripture and in the prayers of the saints for generations. It's time to see clearly now.

This kingdom vision says, 'Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven'. And it is happening right now. God's kingdom is coming—join in! I believe, with Commissioner Knaggs, that this generation of Salvationists will rise up and fight for the advance of the kingdom of heaven.

It looks like the Spirit of the Lord upon every willing and obedient soldier empowering them to preach good news to the poor, bind up the broken captive, release the prisoners and heal the blind.

It looks like government advocacy, brothel chaplaincy, rescue homes for trafficked victims; it looks like every quarters becoming a mission station for the poor; and it looks like every soldier living in direct contrast to the ways of the world, leaving behind lives of excess for simplicity in order to celebrate kingdom generosity! It looks messy, dirty, colourful and free. It looks like long days and
short nights full of prayer and then the obedience to get up off our knees to advance the war. It looks like right now. Can you hear heaven's heartbeat in the rhythm of the Dream itself?

This is good news. Join in. We are not fighting flesh and blood but principalities and powers in the spiritual realm. William Booth said Salvationism was simply this: the banishing of wickedness from the earth forever.

God grant it. Now to live the Dream.

Brainstorm:
Some campaigns already started:

The fair trade principle:
In action right now. The Salvation Army in Australia recognises its potential (both as an example and a consumer) to consume fairly. In our coffee, tea and chocolate consumption, we can make a difference in the lives of some of the world's poorest people. As an organisation we are convinced it's time we led the way to new economic strategies to help relieve poverty in the world. What if every Salvationist determined to buy fair trade? We could make a huge difference in the way people live (both those in the developing world and the developed world) and give the world the truth, 'there is nothing like an Army cup of tea!"

JUSTLose:
The thing that causes the most slavery in the world is our excesses (coffee, chocolate and sex are three of them, but there are many more). Those same things that enslave people physically are the very things that enslave us as well (obesity and desire). We are rising up as the people of God to say 'No' to excess so that others can be literally freed. Join the campaign today!
What if 100 Salvationists led teams of ten to confront the cultural disease of excess? Could we free thousands and effect change the world over?

JUSTPray:
Freedom Fridays: Salvationists called to fast and pray every Friday at noon, asking God for his help to end the sexual slavery of thousands of young women and children.

JUSTLive:
Salvationists hearing the call of our roots to re-establish the 'slum sisters and brothers' movement of our beginnings—called to incarnate themselves among the poor, as Jesus did. Imagine the worst 100 post codes being invaded by light-bearers and God's people bringing hope into the darkest places! How about mobilised grassroots movements that determine to shape the policies instead of react to them (affordable housing, addictions, indigenous communities, refugees and poverty rates both within Australia and around the world).
Every Salvationist home open to the 'stranger' and 'alien'—a refugee family relocated and embraced by the community of God.

 

 

 

 

   

 

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