Report from WCC Salvation Army leader: 'People know where we stand' By Parker T. Williamson The Layman Online Monday, February 20, 2006 PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Lt.-Col. Raphael Mason waited patiently for the Mutirao [seminar] on poverty and economic justice in the Caribbean to begin. He was familiar with the subject, for Mason is the Salvation Army's second in command, working out of Caribbean Territorial Headquarters in Jamaica. But for reasons that were never explained, the event was a "no-show" for its leaders, and one by one, some 25 people who had gathered drifted away. Mason, who along with eleven other Salvation Army officers appeared on the fringe of this assembly, seemed in no hurry to leave, and he was pleased to grant an interview to The Layman. "I am surprised to see you here," I said. "The Salvation Army is not a member of the World Councils of Churches, is it?" "No, we withdrew our WCC membership in the 1960s. There were some problems in Africa, and we could not remain identified with the council." "I remember those problems well. The WCC was funding liberation movements, supporting guerrilla activities and widespread bloodshed. Is that what drove you out of the council?" "Yes. The WCC replaced the gospel with ideologies and politics. We couldn't go along with that." "So, why are you here?" "Well, this is a gathering of people from all over the world who claim the name Christian. We thought it was important that we gather with other Christians and share whatever we can with them. But we're not members of the council, so we're not exactly sure what our relationship is. I suppose the most accurate label is 'observers.'" "We're hearing a lot about 'liberation theology' during this meeting, the claim that Jesus Christ is on the side of the poor and that he encourages his followers to unite and overthrow unjust political and economic systems that enslave them. I take it that you're not convinced as to the truth of that theology." "I'm convinced that it is not true. They have turned the truth outside in. The gospel changes us on the inside. We are sinners, all of us. And Jesus Christ changes our hearts, where change really counts. I'm not saying that external changes don't occur also. In fact, they do, because when a person's heart is changed, we see corresponding changes in other areas of his life. "But this so-called 'liberation theology' starts in the wrong place. It concentrates on 'systems' and 'structures,' things that are completely external. I'm not saying that in many countries, systems don't need to be changed, but coercive utopianism is not the way to change them. Zimbabwe is an example of where the WCC meant to do good and instead did evil." "I remember that one. Presbyterians were distressed when the WCC gave Robert Mugabe $85,000 to fund his revolution. So now Ian Smith is gone and in his place we have a one-party dictatorship. Mugabe gave the white farmers' land to his mercenaries who knew nothing about farming. An economy that was feeding its own people and exporting crops all over the world has been devastated, and the people are starving." "The point is, you don't make real changes with bombs and bullets. You'll get change, but not necessarily the change that you intend, and that change will only last as long as you're holding the gun, because you haven't done anything to change people's hearts." "Strange language for an Army officer!" "Don't forget who is the commander in chief of my Army. We follow Jesus Christ." "So, from what the Salvation Army has seen here this week, is it your impression that the WCC has learned from its mistakes?" "I don't see much evidence of that. But one can hope." "Meanwhile, you have your ministry. The Salvation Army is located in some of the world's toughest hot spots, aren't you?" "Yes, and because we focus on the person and not on ideology, we have found that we can work among the people in many regimes. We believe that God called us to see the person as God sees him, not as we might see him. Each person is a child of God, no matter what his or here condition in life. That is the way we see them. If a person is in need, then we are there to help. We will help in the name of the Lord, whether or not those who receive our assistance acknowledge its source." "Many people know of the Salvation Army as a humanitarian organization whose people are willing to roll up their sleeves and help the poor. But you are also saying that you are an evangelical organization." "You can't separate the two. We are out there in the streets and the barrios because Jesus Christ has called us to be there. How could we not acknowledge our leader?" "Speaking of acknowledging Jesus, there is a lot of talk here at the WCC about widening its understanding of 'ecumenical' to include other faiths. What is your view of such talk?" "Well, if the WCC decides to include non-Christian religions, then it should be honest about it and change its name. No longer can it be called a council of churches if it fails to acknowledge the Lord of the church. I don't have any problem with the WCC wanting to go into non-Christian areas and conduct ministries of compassion and healing. The Salvation Army does that. We don't ask the poor to accept Christ before they can receive our help. But we are very clear about who we are, and, more importantly, Whose we are. That's an identity issue, and the WCC is going to have to come to terms with that."

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