Thinkaloud | Fifth column

by Maxwell Ryan

Members of a fifth column are persons within an organization who secretly work for its destruction. While they appear to be ardent supporters of the cause that supports them, in reality they are stealthily working against the cause.

While the term originated in a political setting, the matter of divided loyalties is not confined to politics. Through the ages the Christian faith has had its detractors, both outside and inside the Church. Those on the outside are easier to meet in debate, challenge and love. It is the fifth columnists that are the most dangerous for they respond to love by biting the hand that feeds them and by subtly distorting the gospel message that a dying world needs.

There is honest difference of opinion between Christians on matters such as the interpretation of Scripture, different forms of worship, the nature of Church government and the best forms of ministry. Such difference of opinion is one of the signs of a healthy Church. Lively theological debate sharpens the wits, feed the soul and contributes to understanding and growth. God does not require believers to become dull-witted clones. Rather, He rejoices when they express their individuality through faith in Him and fidelity to the truth as it is revealed in Jesus Christ.

However, there is a clear distinction between orthodoxy and apostasy, between loyalty to Christ and disloyalty. A person cannot play with the meaning of language so that acceptable words or phrases are emptied of their original Christian meaning and stretched to accommodate alien concepts. Some time ago a church leader said he did not accept the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the authenticity of much of the Bible, the reality of heaven and hell or whether Jesus was born of a virgin. A newspaper wondered why the leader, if he did not believe the faith he was required to uphold, did not do the honourable thing and resign.

The Salvation Army, as a relative newcomer to the family of Christian churches, has not yet been torn apart by great theological debates, though there is lively discussion on matters of doctrine, church polity, worship styles and much more. And of course this forum - theRubicon - is a natural vehicle for differing views.

However, I am aware (as are most correspondents on theRubicon) that Salvationists sign an undertaking that they will, privately and publicly, teach Army doctrine and follow Army moral and ethical guidelines. If conscience prevents them from accepting what once they did not question, then is it not best for them to follow the leadings of conscience to the logical conclusion?

Possibly God has service for them in another sphere. Those who are out-of-step with the Movement’s beliefs and mission strengthen neither the Army nor its mission. Our history is clear: God raised up the Army to bring salvation and sanctification to the dispossessed, the disinherited and the outcast - as well as to people of every social class.

While such overtly Christian service is not widely appreciated by society it is God’s task for the Army. Though humanitarian service by the “good old Salvation Army” is accepted by an appreciative public, distinctly Christian service is often rejected. Despite the pressure to drop the Christian aspect of service, Salvationists must continue to assert their unswerving allegiance to Jesus, lest they become unwitting members of the fifth column.

Writer: Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is a former Editor in Chief in Canada and the UK. In retirement he is a copy editor of theRubicon and the author of two series on theRubicon - Resurrected Writers and Thinkaloud.

3 Comments to Thinkaloud | Fifth column

1. Whilst I agree I suspect the Army’s Fifth Column is more about tearing down erroneous traditions and rediscovering the true spiritual passion and creativity that set our pioneers apart from those around them. If so maybe that is more about reclaiming the real movement which is sold-out to the Holy Spirit rather than the institution which could be sold-out to the status quo!

   If it’s about destroying the institution so that the movement can be free maybe we should all be joining it, as I suspect that was what William Booth was all about!
Graeme Smith on June 7th, 2009

2. Max

   Once again your perception is showing. How true it is that we have a sort of “loving dogooder” fifth column active within TSA that would have us abandon our heritage, abandon our uniqueness and our Christian stance to do social service rather than preach and live the Good News of Jesus Christ.

   John
John Stephenson on June 7th, 2009

3. Colonel,

   This is largely why I left the ‘Army. My views, understanding of doctrine and scripture had gotten out of step with the ‘Army. My own personal integrety would not allow me to stay. As much I love the ‘Army, I couldn’t stay (it was made abundantly clear to me that if I did stay, I would not be allowed to have a ministry beyond administration - I was not allowed to preach from the platform, or counsel people etc.) Others I know who are similar to me, have chosen to stay, knowing they can’t change the movement from outside, and if they care enough about the movement, they have to stay and ‘join the fifth column’ as you put it, to try to effect change. This is also why I post on the Rubicon. If the ‘Army ever did change, and I found myself once again in step with it, I believe I would re-join, and request my Officership be re-activated.

   You see, having such a stance that one must adhere to the whole of the covenant etc. and not challenge it, I believe, sounds the death-knoll for any organisation. I know of the church leader you refered to, and I personally see nothing wrong with his theology. I do not believe that anything he said had any effect on the message of salvation. It is that kind of thinking that we need, otherwise not only will Christianity as a movement die out like previous ancient religions, but those who do not at least consider such theologies, in the light of our growing understanding and reality, will I believe be putting their own salvation and entry into heaven in perill.

   People like myself, care too much about the souls of the lost and the ‘Army as a movement to allow it to stay the way it is, and to allow theology to continue the way it has. I care too much about the souls of the ’saints’ to allow them to continue with their beliefs without challenging them. Are we saved to a ‘discourse’ or a dogma which cannot be challenged? Or are we saved to serve an eternal, supreme God that cannot be fully understood, who is constantly revealing Him/Her/Itself to us in new ways, and increasing our understanding of the Godself. If it is the former, than none of us are saved, and we are all fools, all destined for death. If it is the latter, then we are constantly challenged, our beliefs are constantly changed and renewed as our understanding grows.

   The analogy of a child is very helpful here. Your understanding of the world as a child, I would say, is very different to your understanding of the world as an adult. It has changed as your knowledge has grown. I would suspect you would look back on your childhood, or look at children today, and marvel at how you or they could ever believe such things.

   So to with us as Christians. We are all still children. Doctrine is so young, it is still a child, still changing. If we don’t allow it to change and be radically challenged, than we are all spiritually dead, with little hope of salvation. We are no better than the Pharasees whom Christ condemned.

   Yours in Christ,
   Graeme.
Graeme Randall on June 7th, 2009

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