Why does salvation army wear uniforms

Video Podcast. By Marcia Smith, Lt. April 17, This will automatically add a one-time donation to your next mobile phone bill. For information about volunteering, please visit volunteer. Download our latest Scripture series, God With Us, written from quarantine. Sharing is caring! Marcia Smith, Lt. Colonel Lt. November 11, November 9, November 5, The music turned out to reduce tension, as well as drowning any shouts and abuse.

Fry is commemorated by a blue plaque in Salt Street, Salisbury. The same year saw the publication of the first book of Salvation Army music; another volume followed in One of the secrets of the Army's musical success was its technique of taking well-known music-hall and the popular songs and giving them a Christian text.

Although the Army does use many traditional hymn tunes, this use of unchurchy popular melodies gives a unique sound to Salvation Army worship. The Salvation Army now has approximately 2, brass bands worldwide, among other musical styles used in their worship. A Salvation Army brass band is made up of cornets Eb and Bb , flugelhorn, alto horn, euphonium, baritone, trombone tenor and bass , tuba Eb and Bb and percussion.

Other ensembles are also used. The Salvation Army has recently looked at the evangelical techniques needed for the modern age. It believes that the church should look beyond mere techniques and focus on the fact that "relationships are fundamental to the task of evangelisation".

And while the Army acknowledges that the internet and other media have a part to play it notes that some things never change:. People who are highly literate and technologically aware, as well as those who are traumatised or dispossessed, often hunger for someone to actually talk and listen to them.

Agape a Greek word pronounced a -ga-pay is a Christian term meaning spiritual, platonic and selfless love. They went to great lengths to find a word for God's love that set it apart from soppy love, puppy love, lust, adoration or infatuation and staked a claim to the word 'agape'. It is aimed at getting youths and young adults involved with the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army is a mainstream Protestant church. Its beliefs are based entirely on the Bible. There is nothing unusual about the doctrines held by members of the Salvation Army - they are much the same as those of other evangelical protestant groups. What is different is the passion with which Salvationists hold these beliefs, and the way it fills them with a desire to fight the evils of the world and save other people from sin and damnation.

Salvationists hold their beliefs with "infectious joy". They "glorify their Lord by living as rejoicing Christians. The world has gloom and sadness enough of its own. The joy of the Lord is the strength of the Army spirit.

Salvationists don't retire to the quiet of a religious community to keep themselves pure; they plunge joyously into a sinful world to bring freedom to those in chains. The Salvation Army is a fellowship of people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord and whose common aim is to induce others to subject themselves to the lordship of Christ.

The Salvation Army, like many other protestant churches believes that all believers have a ministry to "proclaim the glorious gospel with urgency and in whatever way they can through their lives and through their words. The Army teaches that believers live out their religious vocation through their service to the community.

The Salvation Army sees itself as a "holiness movement". It describes 'holiness' as 'Christlikeness' and says that Salvationists should:. The military metaphor of the Army has a long history in Christianity which sees the Church engaged in spiritual warfare. It was used in both the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible and many Christian writings and hymns use military imagery. The Army uses military features such as uniforms, flags and ranks to identify, inspire and regulate its activities.

Soldiers of Christ must be abandoned to the war. They must be thoroughly committed to God's side; there can be no neutrals in this warfare. When the soldier enlists and takes the Queen's shilling, he ceases to be his own property, becoming the property of his country, going where he is sent, standing at any post to which he is assigned, even if it be at the cannon's mouth.

He gives up the ways and comforts of civilians and goes forth with his life in his hand, in obedience to the will of his sovereign. If I understand it, that is just what Jesus Christ demands of every one of his soldiers, and nothing less. Unlike other Christian churches the Salvation Army does not recognise any sacraments, such as baptism or communion, as essential.

The Army does not teach that sacraments are wrong, but it believes that they are unnecessary, and may be unhelpful to some. Early Salvationists were concerned that many Christians had become too attached to rituals as outward signs of spiritual grace. The Salvation Army places the emphasis on personal faith and on a spiritual relationship with God which doesn't depend on anything external.

Because of this, the Salvation Army does not hold communion or any other form of Eucharistic service. However, it does not ban Salvationists from taking communion as a sign of fellowship when they attend another church. Salvationists believe that Jesus is present and can be remembered and celebrated at every meal, not just at a sacramental breaking of bread.

The Army has its own ceremony for becoming a member of the church a Soldier - the equivalent of baptism or confirmation - but the army ceremony does not involve water and is not sacramental. The Army does not ban Salvationists from getting baptised in another church if they wish to do so.

Salvationists treat other Christian churches with respect and pray that God may use them to bring sinners to himself. William Booth expressed this by saying that Salvationists do not see it as their God-given task to protest against the doctrines or practices of other Christians, but to attest the gospel message about the saving work of Christ.

The Army takes part in activities to promote unity, understanding and practical co-operation between the various Christian bodies. In many countries the Salvation Army co-exists with non-Christian faiths. It respects the sincerely-held beliefs of devout non-Christians, and does not regard conflict or bitter controversy as suitable means to making known the good news of Jesus. Corps are led by officers, the Army equivalent of ministers. Leadership in the Army is provided by commissioned officers who are ordained ministers of religion.

Salvation Army officers were not always regarded as ordained, but in the Army modified the commissioning ceremony to "emphasise the fact that Salvation Army officers are ordained ministers of Christ and His gospel. The Army does not make a sharp division between sacred and secular - all believers are members of the priesthood - and it believes that all soldiers could theoretically carry out any ministry that an officer could, except where secular law rules otherwise.

However the Army recognises that some individuals are called to particular types of ministry, and acknowledges this by commissioning some soldiers as officers to take on the ministries of preaching, evangelisation or administration, and to exercise authority within the church.

This division has never inhibited Salvationists from giving their all; the Army does not have an active clergy and a passive laity - it operates as a combined and effective spiritual force. Some distinguished Salvationists were never commissioned as officers, including Booth's wife Catherine, and the early Salvation Army activist, George Railton. Salvationists accepted to become officers receive two years' residential training.

At the end of the training period, cadets sign a covenant with God and The Salvation Army in private. This is followed by a public ceremony in which they are ordained, commissioned and appointed as ministers of the church.

The world is divided into zonal territories, which are themselves divided into smaller, usually national, areas. Leadership within a territory is delegated by the General to a territorial commander appointed by him. The administration of Salvation Army work in the UK and Ireland is further devolved to 18 divisional headquarters. These are purely symbols - Salvationists do not regard them as sacred, but they treat them with great respect.

The flag consists of a blue border surrounding a red background, in the centre of which is a yellow star. The flag bears the Army's motto 'Blood and Fire'. The mercy seat is found in every Salvation Army meeting hall. It's a bench at the front where people can kneel.

When a person decides to become a Christian they often make a public commitment by kneeling at the mercy seat during worship. However it is important to realise that the act at the mercy seat is a public statement that God has changed something in the believer's soul; it does not itself make any change in the believer.

People who are already Christians also kneel at the mercy seat, either as a public demonstration that they are re-dedicating themselves to God, or in order to pray in a special way about a particular decision or problem affecting their lives. The mercy seat is a very old idea, found first in the Old Testament, where it was the holy place where God's presence was believed to be and where he communicated with his people. Salvationists do not believe that the mercy seat is a piece of furniture with special spiritual properties; whenever and wherever a person meets in spirit with God, that is a 'mercy seat'.

A soldier has plain black or blue epaulets. Local officers are indicated by the initials on the sleeve of their uniform, eg CT - corps treasurer, YPSM - young people's sergeant-major. The Salvation Army does not have a christening ceremony - children undergo a ceremony of dedication instead. In this ceremony parents thank God for the gift of their child and promise to provide a Christian upbringing.

Salvationist parents also promise to bring up the child in a Salvationist lifestyle and with Salvationist standards. The officer conducting the ceremony reminds the parents of the promises they are making and they agree to keep them. The promises are to care for the child and protect her or him from harmful things as far as possible. The officer then takes the child in his or her arms and, praying for the child by its full name, asks God to bless the child and guide the family.

People in the congregation are asked to encourage and help the child as he or she grows up. After the prayer, the child is given back to the parents.

A dedication certificate is presented and the dedication register is signed. Children can become junior soldiers from the age of seven. They sign a simple statement that they love God and have asked to be forgiven for their sins. They promise to try to follow the example of Jesus.

A short course of Christian teaching is given. At a simple ceremony the child receives a badge and certificate of acceptance. This initiates a person as a full soldier in the Salvation Army. It can take place at any time after the age of fifteen.

The Salvationist wedding ceremony is very similar to any church wedding, but with some unique Salvation Army additions. For example:. One question frequently asked is "who can Salvationists marry? Salvationists don't have to get married to other Salvationists but very often they do ; they don't even have to marry other Christians although they almost always do. In earlier days Salvation Army officers were only allowed to marry other officers if they wanted to continue their work.

This is now changing and Salvation Army officers have more freedom in their choice of partner. However this will make little practical difference, as officers often choose to live out their ministry as a husband and wife partnership.

Salvationists believe that when the physical body dies, the soul or spirit continues to exist in another dimension. This new dimension could be Heaven or 'glory' in which God is present, or hell which is the absence of God. Salvationist believe that those who have accepted God will go to Heaven, and so they use the phrase "Promotion to Glory" to refer to the death of a Christian.

Salvation Army funerals have an atmosphere of joy and hope, since despite the sadness of losing a family member, friend or colleague, there is joy in the belief that the dead person is happy in a new existence with God. So instead of black the Army's funeral colour is white, and the flags which are walked to the graveside are draped with white ribbons. Salvationists regard their whole life and being as an act of worship, but, of course, they meet regularly for worship.

Is it compulsory for them to wear uniforms in the church? Improve this question. Mawia Mawia The Salvation Army is noted for its quasi-military appearance. I think it wants to make allusions to the military. While militaries fight, the Salvation Army supposedly saves souls. It does have "Salvation" in its name, doesn't it? Yeah, Anonymous. An army is also noted for its uniforming. It'll probably have numerous links to other sites where the uniform question might be answered. Similarly, Mormon missionaries, if both male, can be easily identified by that distinctive black suit with name tag.

Looks like we don't have any user from the Salvation Army denomination! Show 1 more comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. Matt Gutting Nathan Nathan 61 1 1 silver badge 1 1 bronze badge. Add a comment. Jon White Jon White 31 2 2 bronze badges.

And as soldiers its not required to wear. As an officer they have to wear it. Jennifer E. Green Jennifer E. Green 21 1 1 bronze badge.