grace.
ness of heart and life. This biblical
and Wesleyan emphasis on the ho-
liness of the individual as well as
the community of the faithful was
a legacy from the Booths that wit-
nessed not only to their theological
loyalties, but to their vision for the
central doctrine of the Scriptures,
culminating in Jesus' command in
the Sermon on the Mount to "But
you are to be perfect, even as your
Father in heaven is perfect" (Mat-
thew 5:48). Have the same view,
the same direction and the same
goal as God. Love what God loves
and hate what God hates.
munity brings certain death in a
pluralistic society. In our world,
the only groups that will survive
are those that are absolutely com-
mitted to their doctrines, mission
and identity.
was said and done was a sign of
service to the glorious Kingdom of
God established by Christ, whose
first sermon gave the clarion call:
"The Kingdom of God is is near!
Repent of yur sins and believe
the Good News!" (Mark 1:15). The
preaching of the Gospel as well as
the giving of a cup of cold water
bore witness to that Kingdom, and
proclaims that Gospel in word
and in deed. While initially The
Christian Mission preaching sta-
tions served the people who lived
in close proximity, The Salvation
Army began to live out loving God
and neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40)
in several places around the world.
William Booth finally organized
this growing expression of the
Kingdom, first in an article to his
followers entitled "Salvation for
now famous book entitled In Dark-
est England and the Way Out
Kingdom by loving its neighbors,
especially the poor among us.
When Salvation Army officers
(ministers) are ordained and com-
missioned to preach and live out
the Gospel, they promise "to care
for the poor, feed the hungry,
clothe the naked, love the unlov-