Pilgrim Soldier

Being out here in Latvia we tend to receive the Salvationist well after its published. For some reason the 22 April issue was even more delayed than usual, so I’ve only just got round to reading it. When I got to the letters page I saw it was full of the ‘outside’ bands and ‘test piece’ music letters that it has been for weeks, but then I saw a short letter from Norman Bearcroft where he simply says:

“It’s time to stop tinkering with the Army and get on with the war.”

My immediate reaction was wholehearted agreement! It’s about the war we’re fighting, not about the Army!

The problem is that the comment is still in my head and it won’t go away! I have no idea what lies behind Lt Col Bearcrofts comment, although I’m sure it is a very sincere thought, but is it the right message to be sending?

I look at today’s Army and see a fairly ineffective fighting force. We have soldiers who have no understanding of the war that they are supposed to be. We have a multitude of corps that have no interaction with the people God called us into being to serve. When I think of the Founders final message I see:

While women weep, as they do now, I’ll pat them on the shoulder;
while little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll pay the professionals;
while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll leave it to the chaplains;
while there is a drunkard left,
while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,
while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll sit in my nice little hall;
and sing to block them out!

I’m sure someone else could have done that far more eloquently, but I hope the point is made.

In a physical war between two countries the side that wins the battles is the side that’s most prepared for the fight. History is littered with examples: Napoleon’s disastrous Russia campaign, The Charge of the Light Brigade and so on!

The fact is that a lot of the Army is not prepared for the war!

Many of fellow soldiers are unable to back up their faith except to respond with clichés like, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so”, or “You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart”, which aren’t wrong in themselves, but are usually ineffective in this post-modern world. The average Salvationist in the West seems happy to let their faith only scratch the surface of their lives. Yes they are good people, but are they a holy people?

Yes we should stop tinkering with the Army, instead we should be giving it a complete overhaul so that it prepares our fighting force for the battles they are going to face! Yes it’s time to get on with the war, but let’s make sure we don’t go into it with unfit, poorly armed, badly trained soldiers who are going to end up simply being cannon fodder for the enemy!