Woody's Words

SALVATION ARMY - who are you? The way forward – part 1 By David Woodbury Today, in some areas of The Salvation Army there are exciting and innovative programs being implemented that reflect early SA philosophy, yet there is a lack of connection, training, education and support, that Army corps of the 50s to the 80s provided.  It may well be that The Salvation Army is caught in a quandary, really not knowing what it is. Is it simply a clone of Hillsong Church or some other quasi Pentecostal church? Is it a clone of Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in California, since they are two of the models preferred by many within The Salvation Army? Or is it simply trying to imitate the latest Christian trend? Whatever the influences that are impacting the Army, the bottom line may well be that in our rush to appear successful we have lost our unique identity. If that is the case, and I suspect it is, how are we to recover that identity? The first challenge facing us is th...

THIS MATTER OF HYPOCRISY ROMANS, Chapter 2 – Verses 1-4 By David Woodbury You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?   (Romans 2:1-4 – NLT) Here Paul is addressing Jewish Christians living in Rome. He wants these Jews to realise that they do not hold a privileged position before God; they are just as greater sinners as those he identified in the final verses of chapter 1. Conseq...

LIFESTYLE CHOICES – Part 1 Romans Chapter 1, verses 22-27 By David Woodbury Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God they worshiped idols made to look like people and birds and animals and reptiles. (Romans 1:22-23 - NLT) What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. (MSG) Perhaps Paul rightly calls them fools and how often is it that wordy wisdom discloses the foolish. We live in a day of word-spin where words are crafted and manipulated to appear wise. We listen, and at times can’t find the words to disagree, yet knowing in our hearts that we are listening to foolishness. The true seeker after authentic spirituality needs to be very astute in today’s world. These verses must bring into sharp ...

SALVATION ARMY - who are you? – Part 2 Significant influences By David Woodbury From the 50s through to the 80s significant changes took place both within the community and The Salvation Army. On 5 November 1956 television broadcasts began in Australia, an event that was to impact the community in many ways and change how which we allocated our time. In many respects, TV ushered in the electronic revolution with its computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices making a significant impact on our lifestyles. It may well be that there other cultural issues were impacting the decline of The Salvation Army but we cannot just ignore the strong influences of the Charismatic Movement and church growth philosophy. The latter may not have been a cultural or theological fit for The Salvation Army in Australia. These influences at the time were not only popular but actively encouraged and promoted by some in leadership and became part of Salvation Army practices....

SALVATION ARMY - who are you? – Part 1 By David Woodbury Open-air meeting at Auburn C1958. Recently, the Heritage Centre posted on Facebook an image of an open-air meeting at the suburban corps of Auburn, in Sydney. Having spent my formative years in this corps the photograph piqued my interest and I was able to identify several people in the picture including the then Territorial Commander, Commissioner (Later General) Frederick Coutts. It started me thinking about The Salvation Army then and now, and pondered on how much things have changed. A question ran through my mind: Do we today, still have the same strong sense of identity? As I remember the Army, at the corps level, in the 50s through to 80s it had little doubt about its identity even though some saw us as different, even a little quaint, but an organisation that promoted a brand of Christianity with its sleeves rolled up. It was this uniqueness and action that marked us out from other religious moveme...

A YARDSTICK FOR LIVING Romans, Chapter 1, Verses 18-21 By David Woodbury In the early part of chapter 1, Paul has introduced himself and affirmed his belief in Jesus and his desire to be the bearer of this news to all humanity, regardless of their station in life. He has also introduced his belief in Christians being justified by faith, i.e. being put right with God by simply believing in redemptive death and resurrection of Jesus as the only means of their salvation. He now goes on to outline the fact that God’s presence has been visible to those who truly seek him. 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are ...

SALVATION THROUGH FAITH ALONE Romans chapter 1 – verses 8-17 By David Woodbury 8 Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. 10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. 13 I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles.14 For I...