Jumping In and Standing Out

Read about the healing of the crippled woman in Luke 13:10-17.

A Salvation Army advisory board member for the past 10 years, I confess there were times along the way when I thought they’d do well to lose their uniforms and dress more like the people they serve. It never really bothered me, but the thought did cross my mind from time to time. 

My uninformed view abruptly changed just a short time ago. A young Salvation Army officer was relaying what it is like to serve in a high-crime neighborhood, especially now in an age of rising tensions and ebbing trust. She said, “We may take a stray bullet, but we are not targets, because people see our uniforms and know we are agents of peace.”

Wow. When has such honor arisen out of such humility? These committed servants know well their Salvation Army mission statement: “To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” How do we know they live it every day? We hear from those they serve every day.

Jesus never wore the navy and white uniforms with red trim, but He stood out no less than if He had. While the religious leaders burdened their people with rule upon rule, Jesus came proclaiming freedom upon freedom. To the woman crippled by an evil spirit for years, He said, “Woman, you are free from your infirmity” and immediately she “straightened up and praised God.” Then when the synagogue ruler cited man-made laws in objection to Jesus' act of compassion for the hurting woman, Jesus pointed out the man's disregard for the same man-made laws in caring for his hungry animals. (He silenced him, basically.)

Like the Christ they serve, The Salvation Army stands out in the world, even as its servants jump in to serve it. Of course, their Master did, too: “The people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.”

Lord, may I, like these servants among us, be an agent of peace, today. Amen.