Has The Salvation Army abdicated
its presence in the public space?

By David Woodbury

In my previous post, I referenced an article by Andrew Bolt in The Daily Telegraph of 25 April 2019. It may well have something significant to say to The Salvation Army today: “To admit that Christians are the target of terrorism cuts across the left’s popular narrative that Christianity is oppressive. To have Christians seen as the oppressed would undercut their crusade – driven hard by the Greens – to drive Christianity from the public space (emphasis mine).”

Of all churches, no one had a higher profile in the public space than The Salvation Army, due mainly to our brass bands that were constantly seen on the streets of our suburbs and regional centres. That profile is now so diminished that it is all but invisible, and we must question why we so willingly surrendered that presence. Many will point out that brass music is no longer fashionable and younger people have no interest in it. However, that argument loses credibility when we see the number of young people involved in bands on ANZAC day and the popularity of school bands.

While cultural and social issues may have some impact on the demise of our bands we need to look deeper within the organisation itself at other factors. There can be no doubt that there was a determined push by a sector of the organisation, including some in leadership, to marginalise and devalue Salvation Army brass bands and distinctive Salvation Army music, often in favour of worship bands and worship music.

One of the drawbacks of worship bands and worship music is they have a tendency to be inward focused, targeted towards predominantly praise and worship. The central theme within their music is the worship relationship between humanity and God. The reality is that much contemporary music utilised within The Salvation Army today leaves aside much of the militant evangelical and devotional music of the Army. It may well be that we have been deflected from our primary task of evangelism by the over-emphasis on praise and worship music.

It is interesting to note that only twice in his whole ministry did Jesus reference worship; Once in response to Satan’s temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:10), and once in his conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:21). However, his references to evangelism are numerous culminating in the great commission in Matthew 28:16-20.

Worship bands, with their need for vast technical equipment, lacked the flexibility and portability that a brass band provided, which prevented them from readily providing a presence in the public space. The corollary is that with the disappearance of The Salvation Army brass band our presence in the public space was severely weakened.

We must ask ourselves the question: have we willingly and intentionally abdicated the right to the public space in our historic engagement with society, known as: open-air ministry? This ministry owes much of its presence and success to our Salvation Army bands. No doubt there are other reasons why this ministry has disappeared but the reality is that if we are to impact a broken and sinful society with an authentic message of Salvation, we need to be seen in the public arena.

It may well be that the contemporary Salvation Army has gone soft on the more difficult themes of the Christian message, wanting to share the love of Jesus without explaining the cost of sacrifice and of a personal cross, which is very much part of our discipleship with Him.

Perhaps the reality is that there is little interest by people in a soft sell, bargain basement religion of ease and cheapness. That which costs us little generally has little meaning and significance attached to it and can be painlessly discarded. However, it is a fact that human nature rises to a challenge and the all-embracing message of Christianity with its honest message of sin, salvation, sacrifice and a personal cross, may well be the catalyst in a spiritual revival. That which costs us dearly becomes of immense value to us and we will hold onto it, even at great cost.