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The 'Revolution' catch phrase:
A want or a reality in western world Salvation Army
by
Cory Harrison
In George Barna’s newest book release,
revolution, we are told that,
“Revolution is one of those “big ideas” that has caught
fire among marketers. In recent years they have capitalized on
the word, hoping to generate the almighty street buzz by
exploiting the dangerous feel of the term—often as a means of
distracting consumers from the absence of an edgy product.”
Exploiting the dangerous feel…as a means of distracting from
the absence of an edgy product. Wow. How?
Barna goes onto to validate, “So Chevrolet trumpets its
“revolution” while selling the same old vehicles with slicker
advertising and a few bells and whistles. A group of
executives leave their positions at major movie studios to
form an independent production company, named Revolution
Studios, to develop relatively mainstream films, many of which
fall far short of the distinctiveness promised by the
company’s name. (Remember the universally panned film Gigli?)
The Nintendo Revolution is simply the marketing label attached
to the latest generation of video games from the giant game
maker.”
So here we are in Third Millennium Salvation Army and we have
made the phrase a recent staple in our ministry diet.
Conferences, Training Events, Youth Councils, Bible
Institutes, Music Institutes, youth groups, children
ministries, and even a marriage conference in one territory,
all bear ‘revolution’ as a title or theme. Not just youth but
adult, not just women but men, and not just local meetings but
even my Territorial leadership have signed on to the
revolution.
And as I have attended five events with this theme, I am left
with this a number of lingering questions: “Do we really want
or even need ‘revolution?’” If we do, “Are we really prepared
to do what is necessary to bring it about?” If we are, “Will
we have the boldness to move forward in such a way that does
not, in the name of tradition, protect the revolution we just
fought so hard for, thus forfeiting prophetic relevance?”
You see, if Webster is correct in his defining of the word
revolution as “an overthrow or repudiation and thorough
replacement of an established government or political system
by the people governed,” I wonder if I, my CO, my DC, my TC,
and the General himself are ready to play a part in this
overthrow. And what happens when the overthrow of the
established government or political system involves the
removal of people we love from visionary positions. One
Officer I respect suggested that one of the greatest struggles
for the growth of The Army is that we have “people of wisdom
out of the seats of vision.” Yet, for some reason in The Army
we reward the long and faithful service of our leaders with
our seats of vision. Putting people of vision in the seats of
vision will be just one key to this revolutionary “overthrow.”
Now Webster does go on to add a second definition to the word.
He adds that revolution is a, “radical and pervasive change in
society and the social structure.”
Now this second definition…this is the one my friends and I
love and are willing to die for. This is the one that will
push us to move into the most destitute parts of our city to
live with the poor and disenfranchised just to share the grace
of God with them.
This is the one that will press us to find alternative ways of
flushing our toilets in the name of conservation.
This is the one that will drive us to visit exploiting
countries, request and hire young prostitutes, just to rescue
them from the horror of human trafficking.
This is the one that will encourage us to avoid saving money
at Wal-Mart and Old Navy (both of which make a habit of
exploiting the poor) and instead pay more for our coffee,
teas, clothing, and household items by shopping at Fair-Trade
stores including The Salvation Army International Development
website.
Yes, this second definition, “a radical and pervasive change
in society and the social structure,” is the one that will
bring about a true revolution. This is one that will move us
into the next 20 years of effective culture and ministry.
Now the only question that I am left with is, "Will we be able
to bring about Webster's second definition of Revolution
without applying the first?"
Cory Harrison
Salvation Army Mission Specialist
Chattanooga, TN
cory.harrison@uss.salvationarmy.org
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