http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/01/12/40676#comment-114983

The Salvation Army signed. Perhaps you would now like to re-think your article from Dec 3, 2011. Just a thought….

I appreciate your article. You have actually shared some good info. You and I and others may have some differences but I think many of us have much in common when helping needy people regardless of their backgrounds. The Salvation Army is a great organization. There are many others too. People should weigh their options. I do. I see where many dollars go to help the homeless and needy families in the Phoenix area. I am sure many of the people assisted are gay or lesbian, but honestly we do not ask if they are or not. That is not our purpose. I have avoided much of the religious views because my point was to respond to those that state that we are all bigots and that The Salvation Army discriminates. I know that we do not in the area of social services.I am sure somewhere that it happens but I know that I don’t and I do feel that it would be unchristian to not serve anyone that qualified for assistance if we had the funds to assist. I am a former officers of nearly 30 years and I have never treated people mean because of their background.

I am not sure what you are referring to about the Salvation Army in another area but in the Phoenix area we do not discriminate against anyone in social services assistance. I cannot answer for another area or the whole of an organization but I know that in our sphere we help people regardless of their background.

Your comments are interesting. Just to let you know that many Salvationists cannot explain who they think they are. The Salvation Army is of Wesleyan-Methodist background without actively practicing the sacraments. The Army is more like a Mission and an agency than a church . I will admit that there are many similarities.Yes, there are female officers that do preach. Strict Calvinism (The Salvation Army is of Arminian background)teaches that women are to be silent in the church. Unfortunately many men have forsaken to share what God has called then to do and women have stepped in. The Bible speaks of propheteses even in the OT as well as the NT. The Apostle Paul was speaking to a group of believers where there seemed to be some problems with the women speaking during a time of worship and they caused a ruckus. Also this was the beginning of the NT and a few OT “customs” were still evident. There is much debate on that scripture and various opinions. Sometimes people split hairs on an issue.The Scripture also shares that in the last days that “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy”. I do believe that we are in the latter days.

I would agree with your stand for not supporting any group that requires people to have to give something in return for assistance. At The Salvation Army in the Phoenix area we do not require people to listen to a sermon or appeal. What we ask for (as any basic social service agency)is proof of need and basic information with no questions about sexual preference or status. We have no reason for asking that nor do we discriminate against women , atheists , people of any race, or color of skin. We see people as individuals that are in need and we help. Unfortunately we do not pursue sharing that we offer worship services , let alone require people to attend. Maybe you have seen something different but we do not work that way in the Phoenix area. I would avoid lumping all Salvationists all together. Not everyone is of the same opinion.

Thank you for responding.

And thank you for opposing discrimination. Though we differ on scriptural interpretation, we can surely agree that Christ didnt pass out a questionnaire and nor should we. And if we are accused of cavorting with sinners at least we’re in good company.

As for our differences, I’ll not visit the cherry orchard to find scripture to throw at you. But I will toss a couple real brief concepts at you and let it be.

1. In decyphering scripture, we should always consider that applying rules to others is very easy. “You should” are about the easiest words we can say. But “I should” is much tougher. Try saying “I should never fall in love. I should never know romance. I should live alone. God wants me to never know what a walk in the beach together, a candle-lit dinner, and looking into the eyes of someone who is looking back the same feels like. Not only doe God want me to go my life without experiencing the joy He created through sex, he also wants me to never commit my life wholly to another for better or worse. Because God wants me to never ever be the most important person in someone else’s life.”

2. I don’t believe God to be arbitrary and cruel. Do you?

I’ve noticed a lot of Christians that assume that if God said something that therefore it justifies their abusive behavior. They can take your kids, kick you out of your home, remove you as deacon, or just very politely tell you -oh soooooo “lovingly” -that they “cant go againt the word of God”. But if their God wnts them to be assholes, it doesnt make them better. It really only means that the god they worship is an even bigger asshole.

Or… That they are complacent in their theology and unwilling to look to what Jesus said: everything, all the law and prophets, Leviticus and Romans, every fiery denunciation of evildoers, EVERYTHING, is judged in just one principle. Only one. And if we ever have doubts about interpretation, we are to measure it by that principle. I think you know the verse.

Sorry if I got preachy. It’s a family trait.

Robert, you seem like a good guy. And I really am not trying to change your theology. But some day when you have a moment think on what I’ve said.

God bless and merry Christmas

Now when you talk about my personal view of Scripture and what it states I would say that sex outside of marriage is sin. Some would disagree but that is what I believe it means. I am not going to share several verses of Scripture or go on and on because I think people pretty much have their minds made up here.

Please do not think I am soliciting funds for The Salvation Army from anyone here or anyone that disagrees with any policies. There are many places I will not shop at or products I will not buy. I will not donate to many causes either. I DONATE to The Salvation Army because the case workers I work with assist all types of people. I see where the money goes for people. Rent, food , clothing, utilities. Some of these funds go to assist gays and lesbians. It does not matter if anyone here donates or not. We still will help people even if we disagree on some issues.

Merry Christmas

The only sentiment I could add would be to say that while the Salvation Army has a right to run their ministry however they see fit (so long as they don’t use public funds), just as much as *I* am free to be judicious in how I donate my money.

All that’s unnecessary, however.

I draw a comparison to shopping — I prefer to shop at stores that have policies I like. The argument that by shopping somewhere else I’m hurting the local economy or the employees would be just as ridiculous – out of everyone involved, they have the least say in how things happen.

There is competition for donation dollars, and I’m glad of it. I’m not saying I want the SA to shrivel up and die – I just want them to change their policy, and if they can’t do that, keep their opinions on me & my family to themselves in the privacy of their own home.

When the SA does public charity, it supports the cultural narriative “conservative Christianity is a good thing”. That’s not a narriative I want to support. So why should I give the SA funds to propagate that narriative?

I try to give to charities which are tightly focussed on doing good works, and not on using those good works as a way to display how good they are. MSF and Barnados are my main choices.

TRiG.