W.W.W.B.D.
As if W.W.J.D. (what would Jesus do) wasn't bad enough, by which I mean how could we ever imagine that we would come close to knowing what Jesus would do. Now it seems we have W.W.W.B.D. - what would William Booth do.Recently I have become more distressed and irate as I read blog after blog by these so-called 'Primitive Salvationists'. They seem to be creating an elite class of Salvationism that you can only belong to if you embrace all the Booth ideas, rather than the spirit of what he stood for. 'Aggressive Christianity' - isn't that like some kind of oxymoron? Apparently it's time for the Revolution and it's coming in the form of 19th Century-style Salvationism. The rest of us, I guess, will just have to be content with being left in their wake.
I think it is the elitism, or even the superiority, of many of the people who push this agenda that bothers me the most - 'get on board with us or get out of the way'. Some even suggest that being an adherent is a cop-out, or wishy-washy, at best. It's this kind of talk that really creates divisions.
Stand-up tunics, firing volleys, loving the O&R, dying for the flag, War Colleges, crests better than shields, army barmy, etc., ad nauseum.
W.W.W.B.D? Well, we know what he did, but would he have done it exactly the same today in the 21st Century? Personally, I don't think so, but that's just me, or is it?
posted by wcs53 at 11:52 p.m.
9 Comments:
Are you sure you are called to be an officer brother?
Captain Andrew Clark...high collar wearing, tongues speaking, devil kickin', demon bashing officer in the great salvation war against Satan and his schemes. Blood and Fire!
Seeing as I don't know you, I'm not sure if you are joking or if you are serious.
If you are joking, then it's a feeble attempt at humour.
If you are serious, then it's an ignorant, offensive question.
It took me a long time to come to terms with this calling. If there had been another way I would've taken it. Ask anybody who knows me.
I was raised Catholic and at the age of twenty found myself asking Jesus to come into my heart. - He touched me! - I had not heard of William Booth. Jesus didn't care that I hadn't heard of him.
I had not heard of the 'Primitive Salvationists' until now. - "What did Jesus do?" he didn't care if i knew about Booth. - I think I'll carry on the tradition and not care about the 'Primitive Salvationists'...
P.S. - Jesus led me to the Pentecostal experience also but I won't question your credentials because I see from your post you are against divisions in the church. Me too. I have a feeling jesus is too.
William,
I truly hope andrew was joking, but I think fear he may not be.
As for your original post, I agree to a point with you. Obviously there are many in the "Primitive" realm that are off the mark at best and at worst are completely disillusioned (sp?). They do seem to be equating Booth's words with the WORD of Christ. Booth was a great man, but being a human he had failings and shortcomings. And they are creating a division that doesn't need to be there. I do believe that there are Salvationists (and most other Christians as well) that need to (I know this sounds cheesy) get back to the basics of who we are as Christians and what God wants us to do...personally and as a Church corporately.
Hope you and Pamela are doing well,
Dave
Hiya,
I am sure Andrew is being more humorous than serious, he is a very committed and devout Scotsman like ourselves and his passion is unquestionable... that being said, I agree that it wasn't the wisest of questions at any rate.
As for WWWBD? William Booth would get rid of everything that was out-dated, everything which hindered others coming to Christ, everything which was put before the gospel of Christ... which, depending on who you are called to reach could be seen as bands, flags, uniforms.
I agree there are many who seem to elevate Booth to the point of it being idolatry, he was a man, and a man who if you look at Army history was by no means perfect and in many ways was not the instigator of many of the things we are so well known for know.
I do firmly believe that we to get back to the basics of the gospel of a spirit filled passionate desire to win souls and see justice in this world. This is not some Army-only calling and to think so is arrogant, it is as Christians (no matter our creed/calling) to see Justice (both in trade, politics, society), love, and peace grow so that more of the world to come can be found in this one.
Laters, Adam "Lurch Kimded" Howie
(Undercover Operative behind enemy lines who gets sick fed up of people putting these things at the end of posts as if its some title or honour when there is no honour higher being a child of God. :-p )
I am sure Andrew is being more humorous than serious... that being said, I agree that it wasn't the wisest of questions at any rate.
As for WWWBD? William Booth would get rid of everything that was out-dated, everything which hindered others coming to Christ, everything which was put before the gospel of Christ... which, depending on who you are called to reach could be seen as bands, flags, uniforms.
I agree there are many who seem to elevate Booth to the point of it being idolatry, he was a man, and a man who if you look at Army history was by no means perfect and in many ways was not the instigator of many of the things we are so well known for know.
I do firmly believe that we to get back to the basics of the gospel of a spirit filled passionate desire to win souls and see justice in this world.
This is not some Army-only calling and to think so is arrogant, it is as Christians (no matter our creed/calling) to see Justice (both in trade, politics, society), love, and peace grow so that more of the world to come can be found in this one.
Laters, Adam "Lurch Kimded" Howie
(Undercover Operative behind enemy lines who gets sick fed up of people
putting these things at the end of posts as if its some title or honour when there is no honour higher than being called a child of God)
Whoops... sorry about the double post there
I'll break my silence and set your minds at rest. :o)
My question, whilst tongue in cheek, was an important one. I guess its about valuing diversity, which is something I try to do inspite of having a strong commitment to 'primitive salvationism.'
In the same way you could have been upset because I don't understand exactly where you come from, it could have worked the same the other way round.
Your post showed about the same level of understanding of where I come from as a primitive Salvo as my question did of your calling and ministry and thats what I was trying to point out.
Like you, we have something important to say. The best situation is when we can all sharpen each other like iron sharpens iron and work together for the advancement of the Kingdom
blessings
Andrew Clark, Captain
Hmmmm... y'know, I found it was the NON-primitive salvationists who got grouchy when I stated (possibly in a similar mood to the one I'm in atm), "I don't give a RATS what William and Catherine would want us to do - what does JESUS want us to do?"
Something I like about the whole primitive salvationism movement is the dedication I see to getting back to the spirit of salvationism, even if it means (*gasp*) losing the uniforms, brass bands, timbrels, and all things that 'make us the salvation army' (<-- note the quotes).
Whoops... I've ranted twice on my first visit to your blog. Horribly rude of me. I'm actually relatively nice. :-)
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