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What
Would William Booth Say?
by Sergeant Steve
Simms
Corps Administrator at
Berry Street Corps in Nashville, Tennessee
General Booth was
a man with a passionate love for God and a deep love for
humanity. He died
100 years ago this year.
What would William Booth say to us today — 100 years
later? Perhaps he
would say. . .
“A famous
quotation from me repeats the words ‘I’ll fight!’
But what was I fighting for and what are you fighting
for? The purpose
of our fight is to take and hold territory — to change
neighborhoods and cities by changing individual people through
Christ’s salvation!
We are The Salvation Army!
We fight to see souls saved — to see people surrender
in obedience and holiness to Jesus Christ and then to become
fellow soldiers in the salvation fight.”
“We are not just
about doing nice things.
We do good things toward an end.
That goal is the salvation of souls.
We dare not help people live a better or more
comfortable life here and neglect to warn them of the danger
of missing the hereafter!
Yes, love compels us to help people and to show them
kindness, but then true love drives us further — it bids us to
boldly declare to people that they can be saved from the
bitter pains of self-destruction, bondage to sin, and
separation from God!
That we must do!
We simply must!
Eternal life is at stake!”
“It’s time to be
red-hot! Not
lukewarm! So sound
the alarm! Wake
up, Salvationists, to your great and mighty calling to be a
soldier, not just in a religious or social service
organization, but to be a warrior of the living God, hearing
His voice and obeying His orders! March to His beat!”
“My dear wife
Catherine presented the first Salvation Army Flag in 1878 to
the Coventry Corps in England so that they could use it as a
weapon in the spiritual fight for souls. The Blood & Fire Flag
was never intended to be used as an ornamentation or
decoration for a corps, but as a battle flag on the streets
and in open airs around the world. It is not too late to put
this glorious banner to work getting the attention of the
world and proclaiming the Blood of Jesus and the fire of the
Holy Spirit. It’s not too late to fight for souls! So fight
the spiritual fight, my comrades, fight! Walk, pray, and show
God’s love as you carry the Flag and the spiritual battle to
the streets in your neighborhood!”
“You have a
powerful way to share the Gospel that I didn’t have — social
media.. Use it
like we used open airs in my day.
Proclaim the love of Christ.
Call people to repent and turn away from their sins.
But be careful.
Don’t ‘like’ ungodliness, unholiness, and wickedness.
And don’t read it or watch it!
If Salvationists succumb to and/or support social media
sin, how can you be a light?
What weak warriors you will be, swept along in a tide
of moral collapse.
Don’t go there, comrades!
Instead, use social media to chage the world, but don’t
let it change you!”
“Cultivate your
courage. You need
it. But
don’t wait for courage to fall upon you.
Get up.
Step out. Take one
bold step — even if you feel afraid.
Make your shoes ‘just do it’ and go do something bold
with the love for God and man brimming in your heart!”
“Declare war on
sin within yourself.
That’s a battle you must win. Fiercely fight the
enemies of your soul — the desire to please people, focus on
pleasure, stubborn self-will, self-justification and pride,
ensnaring habits, and the allure of a world gone crazy on
stuff and sex.
Fight hard to be like Jesus, every day!
Don’t be a brainwashed imitation of the world and its
pleasure stuffed media.
Be a Christ-man or a Christ-woman!”
“Urgency!
The greatest human tragedy is happening every day.
Millions are dying without Christ and His salvation.
Rouse yourself to the urgency of so many of your fellow
humans in desperate need of warning and rescue!”
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