Pragmatic Holiness in the Early Salvation Army: a Theology of Holiness As Action
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Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 12-12-2018 10:00 AM Pragmatic Holiness in the Early Salvation Army: A Theology of Holiness as Action Terence Hale The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Badcock, Gary The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Theology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Master of Arts © Terence Hale 2018 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, and the Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Hale, Terence, "Pragmatic Holiness in the Early Salvation Army: A Theology of Holiness as Action" (2018). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 5908. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/5908 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract The notion of holiness and sanctification are central to most Protestant understandings and expressions of religious life. This thesis explores whether a pragmatic understanding of holiness, particularly in the Wesleyan-Arminian stream, can have a meaningful place in the postmodern world. This thesis endeavors to establish a theological argument for a non-linear pragmatic understanding of holiness in the Wesleyan tradition. The theological argument is supplemented by a substantial case study of the early Salvation Army, focusing on its missiology and theology. The argument presented is that a pragmatic understanding of sanctification, as seen in the theology and practice of the early Salvation Army, speaks to three major possibilities for the present day Church. The final chapter explores these three topics: 1) covenantal living; 2) militant peacemaking; and 3) community. Keywords Holiness, The Salvation Army, Methodist, William Booth, Pragmatic, Sanctification. i Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge the patient and thorough support of my advisor Dr. Gary Badcock. His guidance and understanding were essential to the completion of this project. I am particularly thankful for his understanding, both of my cultural and ecclesiastical circumstances, which was important at so many junctures of this project – from my choice of focus for this work, to the ministry demands that so often took my focus off of the project. Secondly, I would like to acknowledge and thank The Salvation Army for supporting me in both time and resources to undertake this course of study. There are many key individuals, both leaders and peers that made this possible and deserve my thanks. There are also individuals and groups that both directly and indirectly supported me in this work: Major Stephen Court, his depth of Salvation Army knowledge and passion for the mission is unmatched; the TTBH Alumni, it was these young adults who inspired the basis of this thesis; and, the CAN BDA Youth team, it is a privilege to serve with these individuals, and their accommodating of my focus of time to this project did not go unnoticed. Finally, and with deepest gratitude, I acknowledge the support of my wife, Jennifer, and two children, Micah and Leah. They have endured my rants on abstract ideas, distractions due to study, and split priorities. They inspire me to live and serve in a manner worthy of my calling. ii Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi List of Appendices ............................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................. 1 1 Defining Pragmatic Holiness ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Holiness and the Character of God ......................................................................... 2 1.2 The Character of God as Love ................................................................................ 4 1.3 Love and Self-Denial .............................................................................................. 6 1.4 Self-Denial and Action ........................................................................................... 9 1.5 Holiness in Action................................................................................................. 12 1.6 A Non-linear Model of Sanctification .................................................................. 15 1.7 Concluding Comments.......................................................................................... 20 Chapter 2 ........................................................................................................................... 21 2 Case Study Part 1 – Early Salvation Army History & Missiology .............................. 21 2.1 Historical Beginnings & Progress ......................................................................... 22 2.2 Missiology............................................................................................................. 30 2.2.1 Going to the People ................................................................................... 33 2.2.2 Attracting the People................................................................................. 35 2.2.3 Saving the People ...................................................................................... 39 2.2.4 Employing the People ............................................................................... 40 2.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 44 Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................... 46 iii 3 Case Study Part 2 – Early Salvation Army Theology .................................................. 46 3.1 Influences .............................................................................................................. 49 3.1.1 John Wesley – The Grandfather ............................................................... 49 3.1.2 The Quakers – The Distant Cousin ........................................................... 50 3.1.3 Millennialism – A Good Time Coming! ................................................... 53 3.1.4 American Revivalism – The Extended Family ......................................... 55 3.2 The Doctrines ........................................................................................................ 61 3.2.1 The Possibility and Process ...................................................................... 65 3.2.2 The Product – Blood & Fire...................................................................... 75 3.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 82 Chapter 4 ........................................................................................................................... 85 4 Towards a Contemporary Application of a Non-Linear Theology of Sanctification .. 85 4.1 Covenantal Living ................................................................................................. 86 4.2 Militant Peacemaking ........................................................................................... 89 4.3 Community – Faith beyond the Individual ........................................................... 94 4.3.1 The witness of the faith community.......................................................... 99 4.4 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 102 Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 105 Appendices ...................................................................................................................... 112 Appendix A: ............................................................................................................... 113 G.S. Railton’s Call for Salvation Army Officers ....................................................... 113 Appendix B: ............................................................................................................... 115 Hymnology ................................................................................................................. 115 Appendix C ................................................................................................................ 125 The Doctrines of The Salvation Army ....................................................................... 125 Appendix D: ............................................................................................................... 127 iv Salvation Army Soldiership ......................................................................................