What might have been

by Terry Camsey 

Some while ago retired General John Larsson wrote the following: 

 

“As I look back, how I wish we as an Army had been more positive in our response to the Holy Spirit renewal. Had we had prophets who taught us to welcome this movement of the Spirit whilst rejecting the wrong teaching that accompanied it, the story could have been so different. 

But, instead of hoisting our sails and setting them to catch the full force of this gale of the Spirit, we as a movement lowered them. Instead of fanning the fire of the Spirit we sometimes quenched it. And all because the explanation of an experience that was so right was so wrong. 

It is, of course, easy to have 20/20 vision with hindsight and none of this was clear at the time. It also has to be said that despite our hesitations as a Movement, the Holy Spirit renewal succeeded in bringing about climate change in the Army - in a positive sense. The temperature in our worship has risen markedly since those days, and we are still rejoicing in the new warmth…” 
 

I suspect that the Army has always had its prophets, since that is one of the spiritual gifts that are bestowed upon (some) members of the body of Christ…his church. Whether we were interested in what such prophets had to say is debatable. 
But recently, as I read those words again, they brought to mind an incident that occurred a few years ago at the end of a divisional music camp in Northern California. It was one of the first such camps opened to non-musicians who didn’t qualify for the music camp embracing them in what is now known as a Gospel Arts program. 

Unique to that camp was the production of a youth musical involving all campers.  Groups of non-musicians, coached by empathic and enthusiastic leaders, accepted the challenge of interpreting the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. Carefully studying Scripture, they worked out a script, did all the acting and (for want of a better word) choreography. They also had the task of rooting around the camp and getting together their own costumes, and props. The music students provided songs to illustrate each segment, and the whole production was called “FAITH, FANGS AND FIRE!” 

At the end of the presentation, on the last day and last event of camp, the participants swarmed spontaneously on to the floor of the hall and started dancing for pure joy to the music. 

When I reported to my next officer appointment a few days later, I was called in to the Territorial Commanders office, because one of the outside attendees had phoned THQ to complain about the dancing…which was “definitely not allowed.” In response, I produced a picture from a very old Army Periodical (the War Cry, as I recall) where Salvationists were depicted at a tent meeting dancing in the aisles in the Spirit and in full uniform! 

Some years later, while visiting a territory near the Land of Oz, I was made aware of sharp differences between younger officers who were into faith healing - and other visible evidences of the Holy Spirit at work -  and an older generation of Salvationists, very disturbed by this and labelling it “not real Army.” 

The old Army periodical I mentioned seems to contradict that claim.  

I recall doing some research on the subject of signs and wonders with (I believe, but its a few years ago and I’m not getting any younger!) the help of the International Heritage Center. In particular, I clearly remember a quote by General William Booth in which, talking about the supernatural gifts of the Spirit, he said he could not doubt that they were at work among the early Army. 

Another influential and highly placed early day commissioner indicated that his “delight” was the holiness and healing meetings. 

It is quite evident that signs and wonders, healing meetings and other such workings of the Spirit were not unusual in Booth’s young Army…a quite different interpretation of what “real Army” is. 

It has been my experience that, in using the phrase, “it’s not real Army,” many older people are talking about the Army in the era in which they were brought up…an Army that had (as the then, now deceased officer Charles Skinner wrote many years ago in an unpublished song warning against it) “become respectable!” 

Was Booth’s early Army the “real Army?” Of course! Is today’s Army the “real Army?” Of course! Are they the same?  

They may be to some extent, but in other respects not.  The big question is, “Are we allowing the Holy Spirit the freedom to do as He wills?” or are we quenching Him? 

General Larsson finishes the thoughts I have quoted above by saying: 

“…But it is what might have been that will always tantalize.” 

“Holy Spirit , come, O come,

Let Thy will in me (us) be done!

All that hinders shall be thrown aside,

Make me (us) fit to be thy dwelling.”

(Chorus of Song 188 in the SASB)

Writer: For thirty years Terry Camsey has been immersed in Church Growth and Health issues at local, middle and upper administrative levels. He is author of the book “Slightly Off-Center” (Crest Books) and is working on “Beyond the Cusp of The Curve..exploring the single most critical influence on the life, health, growth, vitality and decline of Christian denominations and the churches within them.”

He is founder of the new ChurchCatalystsInternational focusing on the role of interventionists as catalysts: shedding light, creating heat, inspiring energy and accomplishing transformation. More details are on his new website http://churchcatalystsinternational.org./ 

© Terry Camsey, August 2010 (Used with permission of the author)

6 Comments to What might have been

1. Terry—-what a great article. As I mentioned in my comment on a Holy Spirit Posting the other day I believe that the Army could be called a Charismatic Holiness Movement. The Gifts of The Spirit were used in the early Army without problems that existed 30 years ago when Officers and soldiers used them . It has gotten better in that time but there is still a lot of opposition in the dear Old Army to those things which are in our heritage.

   As an Officer many years ago I held Altar Calls for Salvation, for infilling of Holy Spirit and for Healing. It only made sense to me.

   There is so much more I could say here about what you wrote about but I will end now doing a Hallelujah Windup because of your posting.

   John Stephenson
John Stephenson on August 30th, 2010

2. Thank you for your article. I found it very interesting and informative.

   I think the Army needs to embrace the Fire more. It does well with the Blood, but it needs the Fire too. Some of my favorite Salvation Army worship services have been at corps of a more charasmatic nature. The congregation gets into worshipping the Lord.

   I often get frustrated at corps where the worship service feels like a funeral. It doens’t matter what style of worship or music, the corps are usually dead in their worsihp and just going through the motions. As a worship and song leader I find it to be a challege sometimes when I look out into the congregation and see a lot of blank expressions as they sing.

   I also recall reading about early Salvationists having “glory fits” what is now known as getting Slain in the Spirit. Maybe the early Army had something right, they allowed the Holy Spirit to do the work. After all He is God and He knows what He is doing.

   Peter H.
Peter Haslett on August 31st, 2010

3. I think both sides are right. Different people respond to The Holy Spirit diffierently, and have different understandings of the work of the Holy Spirit. In my teens and early 20’s, I was very much into the pentecostal side of TSA. Tongues, slain in the spirit, the works. I too at that time thought that more ‘traditional’ type services were ‘dead’, and even openly questioned the salvation of those who seemed to oppose the more charasmatic parts of the pentecostal movement.

   Over time, my understanding changed. I developed a love for the mystical traditionalism of the Church. I actually found myself preferring the sedate - yet mystical - form of High Anglicanism, and found the pentecostal ‘tradition’ leaving me with a sens of ‘fakery’ and shallow faith.

   Both forms are right and needed. Both sides need to realise that they are very different to each other, and will have different theology to each other - and in some cases - vastly different theology. But that’s OK, because God is big enough to embrace us all, and know that we are all right.

   Yours in Christ,
   Graeme Randall
Graeme Randall on August 31st, 2010

4. Thank you for the responses.

   It has been my observation that signs and wonders come into prominence when Satan is actively opposing a church/corps.

   It was certainly so in the early churches described in the Book of Acts and beyond. Jesus, in his wisdom distributed to his early disciples the spiritual gifts necessary to defuse Satan’s power.

   A troubled church should always rejoice because it means that Satan dos not like what they are doing and achieving for the Kingdom! On the other hand if he is not “bothering” a church that should be a concern for that church.

   It also seems to me that Satan is very active when a new church is birthed and signs and wonders are evident as a weapon to drive him away.

   It was so in when Booth started The Salvation Army and is observable in churches today who set out to rebirth themselves. Perhaps an increase in signs and wonders ministry signals a new beginning for the Army.

   What do you think?

   Terry Camsey
Terry Camsey on September 1st, 2010

5. ‘There are two groups of people in the world: those who have stories to tell, and those who don’t.’ Floyd McClung.

   When churches fail to include charismatic spirituality, they end up with a bunch of sheep who have no stories to tell anyone, instead of missionaries fired up about how Jesus changed their or their friends’ lives.

   That’s my take on it.

   Eleanor
Eleanor Burne-Jones on September 1st, 2010

6. Not too sure about that Eleanor as my experience also suggests that those churches that concentrate on ‘charismatic spirituality’ can also be full of sheep with few stories that make sense to those we’re called to be missionaries to! At the same time one of the most wonderful missioners I know comes from one of the least charismatic tradition going.

   Personally, I think the danger is twofold. Firstly, expecting the Holy Spirit to work in the ways we want and secondly, finding fault in the experiences of others. Unfortunately, just as in the so-called ‘worship wars’ we find the same denigration of others experiences all too often when it comes to the one through whom we receive the power to live the way we are called to.

   Graeme
Graeme on September 4th, 2010

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