Hard Times For The Salvation Army?

Salvation Army Captain Steven Woodard put it this way. “People are coming and saying they were the ones who gave last year or adopted a family (for Christmas). Now they are coming to us for help.”

In Elkhart, Illinois, the economic downturn has brought unemployment in the nation’s RV capital to a staggering 20%. Today, many of these same stricken families find themselves standing in line at the local Salvation Army headquarters instead of making contributions to the organization. Unfortunately, at the same time, the famous faith-based group is also being stretched thin as donations have dropped off considerably.

Bob Ottenhoff, president of GuideStar, a national organization that monitors non-profits and private foundations stated, “Many non-profits are faced with a terrible situation. As in every sector of our economy, non-profits are going to think about whether there are better ways to provide their services — more efficiently and more effectively.”

Times are tough – and may well get tougher! But even should the slumbering economy stabilize, things will likely be vastly different in the future. The rules of finance from the personal level, all the way to how the government operates, will be rewritten as the nation reflects the same basic plight as does the Salvation Army in Elkhart.

With that all said, the current economic times can provide unique opportunities for another ‘salvation army’. For those in the service of Jesus Christ, today’s fragile financial scene can plant and develop some fertile fields - spiritually speaking. Stressful times can awaken sleeping souls. Hardship can sometimes present hard decisions that would not otherwise be considered. A personal crisis can be a catalyst to personal faith! It is often in times of great need that people discover their greatest need. In short, they may be more willing to listen to God for answers and solutions when they realize that some problems are beyond their own ability to fix. And that is exactly where the soldiers of the cross can become a living GPS – ‘God’s Pointing System’.

If nothing else, the world’s financial problems has proven God’s word to be precise. Proverbs 23:4-5 warns, “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” And James 4:13-17 clearly defines a preoccupation with wealth, apart from any consideration of God and His will, as evil and sinful.

Matthew drives home the same point from a different angle. He writes, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“ (Matthew 6:19-21) Living for, or relying upon, material things can be discouraging and disappointing in this life but eternally devastating in the life to come!

During times of dire circumstances the greatest thing any believer can possess or offer to any unbeliever is peace. The Bible speaks at length about procuring peace ‘with’ God in Romans 5:1. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Peace with God means forgiveness and forgiveness brings eternal life. Being fully justified before a holy God who demands justice is a priceless commodity!

In addition to peace ‘with’ God, there is the accompanying peace ‘of’ God – one of the many glorious benefits of salvation through Christ. Paul shared the prerequisite for that form of peace, along with the promised results, in chapter four of his letter to the Philippian church. The Apostle wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-8) The peace 'of' God requires knowing Him on a personal basis and then spending quality personal time with Him on a continual basis.

Dwindling assets is forcing the Salvation Army to more efficiently and effectively carry out their great mission of compassion. But God’s ‘salvation army’ should always march tirelessly to their far greater ministry of reconciliation, knowing they are fully funded for the battle by their Savior's infinite and supernatural assets. (2 Corinthians 5:18, Colossians 2:9-10) And all who remain skeptical about God's ability to meet all of life’s needs should read and meditate upon the great words of comfort and victory found in 2 Peter 1:3-4.

“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises…”

Bill Breckenridge