BEWARE! | The Spirit of Prophecy

Following is the opening sentence in a New York Times column dated February 17, 2010:

“To settle a longstanding suit alleging that The Salvation Army preached Christianity in the course of its government-financed social services work, an agreement has been reached to ensure that it does not do so.”

“An agreement has been reached…” that The Salvation Army “not” preach Christianity - A principle so many sacrificed and some even died for?

 BEWARE!

The article goes on to say the SA “Agreed to be monitored”. What! Other agencies to monitor the nonfulfillment of its mission statement: “…to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”

BEWARE!

It’s not about losing $50 million in government contracts is it? It’s not about preserving the bureaucracy is it? It’s not about partnering, secularly, to enhance a broken down, bureaucratically protected foster care system is it? It’s not about survival is it? It’s not about compromise is it?

BEWARE!

Believing that every spiritual leader is to be prophetic by Divine appointment, I do have a “beware” segment about the dangers and pitfalls of compromise in my book, Lean Right, Love Left: Balancing the Body. Getting involved with government contracts in this country always requires compromise, one way or another. This explanation prefaces the following excerpts (written in 2002):

This is the deeper problem for me, personally, and for these reasons I have never initiated a government contract in any appointment. I have inherited them, however, and some of the horror stories have only strengthened my resolve to abide by those first instincts. Over the years I have found that it is easy to enter into a government-funded contract but very difficult to exit from one, as we are beginning to witness. And when we are forced to make the exit, everyone loses.

As an aside, let me give a warning of caution to any organization thinking about wading into the bureaucratic federal-funding quagmire. When the funding is received (quite substantial amounts sometimes, especially in the large cities), an agency begins to broaden its employee base and enlarge its infrastructure. Increasingly, over time, the organization becomes dependent upon this additional funding for its very survival, not only at the local level, but also right on up through the hierarchy. What happens when a new political regime comes into office and the priorities change? What happens when new restrictions come into play, which are contrary to the mission and fundamental beliefs of the organization? What happens when those dollars are no longer available? These are hard questions that are better asked with foresight rather than in hindsight.

The full scope and ramifications of President Bush’s “Faith-Based” Executive Order are yet to be tested. You can be assured that it will continue to be challenged vigorously from the left.

The solution? Two choices: Christ or compromise. Compromise was not part of the Army’s founding ethos. But then, in those days, they were not “America’s Favorite Charity” either.

BEWARE!

About right now, Joe the Turk must be turning over in his grave.

Clarifying Note: These personal thoughts are, in no way, meant to criticize the decision taken by TSA in NYC as, having been there, I’m positive that there’s more to this than meets the eye. First, legal counsel has guided them in their decision-making and second, those in leadership have inherited a gargantuan bureaucratic monster many decades in the making. Not to compromise would adversely impact a lot of good people, employees and clients alike - to do otherwise would not be Christ-like. In these instances, compromise should be a means to an end, never the end in itself, however.

Please accept my commentary in the spirit it is given, prophetic in intent. As stated above, I believe that every spiritual leader (not to be defined by rank or position) is prophetic by Divine appointment, visionary and futuristic. What is done is done; let us not make the same mistakes going forward. A prophet, by design, is critical of the past (where warranted), forgiving in the present and a presage for the future.

BEWARE!

  

Writer: Commissioner Joe Noland’s ministry can be summed up in three words: chaos, creativity and controversy - three elements implicit in any successful innovative endeavor. Cecil B. DeMille, renowned producer of Biblical epics, once wrote, “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” Joe’s mantra reads, “Creativity is my drug of choice.”  Access Joe Noland’s complete bio, among other things, by clicking into his website.

Link for “New York Times column” above:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/settlement-in-salvation-army-suit-on-proselytizing/

Link for my book:

http://www.joenoland.com/joenoland/Creations.html

Line for “$50 million in government contracts” above:

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2010/02/when_government_enlists_the_salvation_army.html

1 Comment to BEWARE! | The Spirit of Prophecy

1. Hey Joe

   Thanks for picking the ball up with this subject, and running with it a little.

   I was staggered to read the same New York Times blog post, and had to do a double take. I’m still not sure I’ve absorbed any cultural subtleties along the way (as I’m writing from the UK), and left a comment of my own on their site expressing this.

   It would be really interesting to read more from the US, to gauge some kind of localized reaction.

   Also, it’s so often the case that TSA elects NOT to respond to such media attention. Do we do ourselves harm or good by our (dignified?) corporate silence?

   Here’s what I wrote to roll out my thoughts, plus a post regarding another scenario where we appeared to be silent in light of the way we had been represented in the media:

   http://johnnylaird.blogspot.com/2010/02/nyclu-vs-salvation-army.html

   http://johnnylaird.blogspot.com/2009/12/salvation-army-on-nprsome-thoughts.html

   Thanks for you continuing ministry and inspiration, Joe!

   In His dust

   J
Johnny Laird on February 24th, 2010

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