Pilgrim Soldier

I’m rapidly learning that in the process of obtaining EU funding the core concept to understand is empowerment. This concept is not against Christian teaching at all, and indeed this is probably the central point of Liberation theology. The ever useful Wikipedia put it like this:

Empowerment refers to increasing the political, social or economic strength of individuals. It often involves the empowered developing confidence in their own capacities.

Definitely something that The Salvation Army is striving to do in many communities right across the globe!

However, here comes the crunch. For the Christian there is a second stage of Empowerment. We believe that to be truly free we actually have to surrender every area of our lives over to God. It is this second stage of empowerment that is the truly liberating aspect of the Gospel and leaves us free to pursue the path that God intends for all of humanity.

The problem though is how do we explain that? The simple truth is that The Salvation Army relies heavily on both State and EU funding in order to fulfil our mission to the most disadvantaged in society. In order to get this money we often have to completely write out any Christian aspect to our work. Is this being true to our calling? Is it selling out for the sake of finance? Wouldn’t it be better to find some way of putting across our views on true empowerment without hiding our light under a bushel?

At a recent meeting here in Latvia the point was raised about our need to find the language to explain this two step path to empowerment so that we can be totally honest in our work, avoid compromising our faith and still receive EU funding.

I believe that the real problem is due to the understanding of the church that politicians have. They do not see Christianity as the liberating faith that it truly is, because for so many centuries the Church did not so much work as a liberators, but instead as a constraining force that acted as the glue which held social order together. How do we show, in the Post-Christendom reality that is much of the Western world, that the church is no about putting constraints on people, but is instead encouraging them to discover the depth and breadth that a new life in Christ provides?

Any ideas?