Here are the 11 doctrines of the Salvation Army:
(I'm typing it here to see if anyone has any comments, questions, or criticisms)


THE DOCTRINES OF
THE SALVATION ARMY
(As set forth in the Deed Poll of 1878)

1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God; and that they only constitute the divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
2. We believe there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect – the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things – and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
3. We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost – undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
4. We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the divine and human natures are united; so that He is truly and properly God, and truly and properly man.
5. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency but, by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
6. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by His suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world, so that whosoever will may be saved.
7. We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
8. We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
9. We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
10. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be ‘wholly sanctified’, and that their ‘whole spirit and soul and body’ may ‘be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Thess. 5:23).
11. We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

Nice, I'm hesitant on Number 9 though. Could you possibly elaborate? Or direct me somewhere for a write-up of their intentions regarding that statement.

haha, yes, # 9 is the most controversial in the Christian community.

I was going to type out a whole 4-page explanation to put in this thread on #9 but decided to go to the website and copy-paste an article that talks about it a little bit. Note:

Continuance in a State of Salvation
In Salvation Story, the Army’s ninth doctrine occurs at the beginning of two chapters. It is first stated in chapter eight on “Salvation Experience—the Doctrine of Salvation” because of its association with “Backsliding” which is addressed in that chapter. But it is also stated in chapter nine on “Full Salvation—the Doctrine of Holiness” because the doctrine council believed that its message has a direct link to our tenth doctrine on sanctification. Salvation Story states the following in chapter eight concerning the possibility of backsliding:

Assurance does not mean that our salvation is guaranteed to us against our own free will. It is possible to cease to obey Christ and so to forfeit our hope of eternal life. This is consistent with our understanding of the grace of God, who always leaves us open to respond freely to Him. Freedom to live by grace includes freedom to turn away.41

That position is also a Wesleyan distinctive. It is in contrast to the position of other branches of the Christian church that have beliefs such as the following: “All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end.”42 John Wesley, in a sermon titled “A Call to Backsliders,” emphasized the possibility of backsliders being restored to God’s grace and recovering “both a consciousness of his favor, and the experience of the pure love of God.”43 And yet, in the same sermon, he delivered this warning:

But let not any man infer from this longsuffering of God, that he hath given any one a license to sin. Neither let any dare to continue in sin, because of these extraordinary instances of divine mercy. This is the most desperate, the most irrational presumption, and leads to utter, irrecoverable destruction. In all my experience, I have not known one who fortified himself in sin by a presumption that God would save him at the last, that was not miserably disappointed, and suffered to die in his sins. To turn the grace of God into an encouragement to sin is the sure way to the nethermost Hell.44

The reference in Salvation Story to the possibility of ceasing to obey Christ, and so forfeiting our hope of eternal life, is in keeping with that Wesleyan warning. That having been said, Salvation Story is also in keeping with the teaching of John Wesley, who takes a more positive view of our ninth doctrine at the beginning of its chapter nine on holiness:

Our conversion inaugurates a journey during which we are being transformed into Christ’s likeness. Thus salvation is neither a state to be preserved nor an insurance policy which requires no further investment. It is the beginning of a pilgrimage with Christ. This pilgrimage requires from us the obedience of separation from sin and consecration to the purposes of God. This is why “obedient faith” is crucial: it makes pilgrimage possible.45

lol, yeah, leaving OSAS discussions aside I very much like their statement of faith.

sounds right on cept for this

and in the endless punishment of the wicked.

sounds right on cept for this

Good point, I'm still torn on that. Theres only few particular individuals that are spoken of who woul have "endless" punishment, yet I find that view leads to questionably unscriptual ways of thinking.

Lets just say, it would suck to go there.

and here i thought the salvation army was just a place to get some cool 2nd hand clothing and donate the ones you dont wear anymore...

and here i thought the salvation army was just a place to get some cool 2nd hand clothing and donate the ones you dont wear anymore...

yeah, but stay away from the mattresses, something about those being used which creeps me out

shopping there kicks ass. same w/ the swap meets. sometimes i can just rummage around for hours at the swap meet. nothin says fun like grabbin a few beers at the beer stand, walkin around on a beautiful sunny cali day and bartering with brown people :)

lol hell yeah.

yeah i'd avoid the matresses at all cost.....

Hey .... They carry computers?