JAC Online

It Matters Why We Serve
by Major Curtiss Hartley

I’d like to propose a change to the long-held perception about the “S” worn on the Salvationists uniform. Though I’ve heard a couple of variations, the one most often is “Saved to Serve.” Perhaps we could flip the script on that one; what if we saw it as “Serving to Save?”

 

Now, before the clamor of, “We don’t do the saving! That’s what Jesus does,” please allow me a bit of latitude as I define for you how I see the difference.

 

Does anyone remember the classic poster from the early days of The Salvation Army with the title “Salvation Army Social Campaign?” It depicts the farm colony and all the many services offered by Salvationists to help struggling people. At the bottom of the poster is a scene reminiscent of Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement.” But in Booth’s vision uniformed Salvationists are seen pulling the throngs from the raging sea and offering them safety from certain death by drowning in life’s tragedies. Centered in the background is a lighthouse with the words: “Hope for all.”

 

It seems right to put our salvation first in that motto, doesn’t it? After all, it’s why we do what we do. Yet I wonder if in placing the serving part second, we subconsciously view our work as Salvationists as being to just serve suffering humanity, offering food, shelter, clothing, rehabilitation, counseling, and more. We’ve become quite proficient at those things, I would say; quite professional in our delivery of them.

 

After all, we’re saved to serve, aren’t we? It’s what we do.

 

Does that not, however, unintentionally skew our vision of our mission? of the purpose for which we were made? If I’m to be a good Salvationist, I’m to put on the uniform, march under the banner, and serve suffering humanity without discrimination. That’s what the Bible calls us to. We’re to be minsters of justice and mercy. We’re saved, and so we serve others.

 

You see where I’m going with this, don’t you! If instead we look at serving, so that we can save others – from the troubles of this world, for sure – but to offer them eternal salvation from sin separating them from their maker, then don’t we fulfill a greater purpose? Isn’t that what Jesus Christ called us to when he said, “Go and make disciples?”

 

What if we served others, so that we could share with them the great message of salvation: that Jesus died to save them, and that He lives to lead them to eternal salvation.

 

When you put on the uniform, or see someone else with those “S”s on their lapels, I hope it reminds you that you’re to serve others, not for justice, not for statistics, not for moral integrity, but for the sake of saving their souls.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

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