In an attempt to communicate this message clearly, I will first take a moment to define some terms that will appear in this article.
Defined:
Primitive: crude, belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness; of or created by one without formal training; simple or naive in style; originally meant the initial, primary level
The Salvation Army:
the church/social service entity in Western culture, modern day
Barbarian: savage; a member of an uncivilized people; peasant; a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement; without civilizing influences
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A few years ago some friends of mine set out to plant a church in the thriving and hip downtown of Royal Oak, MI. The area is a “Mecca” of material consumption and Carpe Diem influenced living. In my attempts to understand the vision for the church, I was introduced to a man named Erwin McManus. McManus pastors a church in California named Mosaic, and his prophetic view of the modern day church has been instrumental in the development of unique, authentic and simple spiritual expressions across this country and beyond. It is from a selection of sermon notes, delivered by Erwin McManus, that I have received inspiration on this topic, “Primitive Salvationism”. I will reference McManus’ sermon, The Barbarian Way Out of Civilization, in an attempt to expose The Salvation Army and perhaps to spur us, Salvationists, on to more simple and barbaric expressions of faith.
Where is the love…
The real issue I want to address is not solely bound to The Salvation Army; it is an epidemic in the church worldwide. It causes stagnancy, death of vision and it often will halt inquisitive spiritual seekers right in their tracks. This destroyer of the kingdom of God is the absence of unconditional love in the Christian life.
Have you ever met a person that has just recently come to Jesus? They are often observed as being outspoken, “on fire” or even zealous. Many times the new believer is referenced as one that will “settle down” as they become more mature in their faith. Usually this “settling down” comes as a result of elders in the church throwing water on every innovative idea the new believer has.
My settling time…
I can remember owning a coffeehouse and bringing in over 200 youth and young adults each weekend night for live music. The coffeehouse was in the lobby of The Salvation Army. These young people were experiencing the safe cover of The Salvation Army through a social contract. The youth could not drink alcohol or swear on the premises; in return they could perform in bands and other artistic expressions. Eventually the streets were lined with kids smoking cigarettes and hanging out dressed in their punk rock jackets and sporting Mohawks and it raised the concern of the elders. Acting with the “image protective element” of The Salvation Army in mind, the concerts were shut down and subsequently the coffeehouse closed. That's too bad, because this was a Primitive Salvationist approach to engaging culture with the gospel.
Primitive Salvationists were never mistaken for being “settled down” and mature. In fact, they were noted for being off the wall. We were barbarians.
To reach the addict, The Salvation Army would pub crawl.
To reach the socially marginalized The Salvation Army would purchase and take over city theaters, bars and social halls.
To reach the economically oppressed, The Salvation Army bought a match factory to protect the health of the workers and to increase the child labor age.
To reach the prostituted and exploited, The Salvation Army fought for the legal age of sexual consent to be raised to 15.
Primitive Salvationism is littered with outrageous and barbaric approaches to winning the world for God. But living this faith comes in conflict with safe and comfortable Christianity.
Erwin McManus stated that the most unbiblical belief that Christians (Salvationists) hold today is that “the safest place to be is in the center of the will of God”. If that is the case than what about the apostle Paul in regards to safety?
Look at 2 Corinthians 11:
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
No safer place than in the center of the will of God? Where did we get this? Erwin McManus suggests, “We got civilized. We created a religion using the name of Jesus Christ and we have taught people that God’s optimum desire for you is to live in an insulated bubble where you risk nothing, sacrifice nothing, lose nothing, and worry about nothing.”
So, what does the civilized barbarian look like in The Salvation Army? We build bigger, better, highly technological insulated bubbles in suburbia. We staff bell-ringing positions with temp agencies because few of our church members actually want to raise money to support our outreach and social services. We keep our hands clean by hiring outside people to run our social service entities. We create slogans to validate our own insecurity about how much “good” we really do, individually, not as an organization. We labor over what sinners we will allow our employee’s health benefit packages to cover and which sins are undeserving of the grace of health coverage. And all the while there is a simple, crude, intentional and primary message that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.”
Primitive Salvationism embraces the idea that in spite of all things, love is to be given without condition. It doesn’t matter where you have been, what you have done with whomever, you are loved by God.
Primitive Salvationists will take their club in hand and swing the gospel toward all they come in contact with regardless of race, color, creed, economic status, sexual orientation, number of tattoos and even their view on the sacraments. Primitive Salvationism is a belief that there is not a life that God did not create. That there is not a created thing that He did not say was good. That there is nothing good that God did not reconcile unto Himself through the crucified Christ. All people matter, all of the time.
Nathan Sjögren
Minnesota
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