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| Q: | First of all, I realize I should speak to my church's elected leaders about this, but first I would like your perspective since I very much respect the authors of these replys and other people out there may have similar concerns. Our deacon has been conducting a Bible study program with the help of the Salvation Army. On the surface, this most certainly is a good thing to bring others to Christ. However, I am a bit concerned that we as a WELS church are on the border of being in some sort of fellowship with this organization especially when our church is going through some unfortunate problems such as declining memebership and the closing of our longtime grade school in '06. I feel that we may be branching out into areas that divert our attention from our own congregation and surrounding area. | ||||||||
| A: | The Salvation Army is an Arminian-Wesleyan-Holiness-Perfectionist church body. Their teaching is incompatible with biblical Lutheran teaching. One of the most serious differences concerns the Sacraments. The Salvation Army does not regard as necessary and therefore does not observe the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They believe Christ is “the one, true, original Sacrament” and events where He is invited to be present are “sacraments." The basis for assurance of salvation and the preservation of faith is obedience or faith understood as obedience. They believe Christians can reach perfection in this life. They also emphasize the necessity to social work as part of Christian ministry. A online LCMS source also demonstrates that the teachings of the Salvation Army are incompatible with Lutheranism: http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/The%20Salvation%20Army.pdf We cannot offer joint Bible classes with a group like the Salvation Army that has teachings so contrary to the Bible. You need to check further on what is the nature of your congregation's connection with the Salvation Army. | ||||||||
This is recent question #36 of 50
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