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┌─────────────┬──────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────┐ │ Note │ 1952 │ 1966 │ 2015 │ ╞═════════════╪══════════════════════════╪═════════════════════════╪═════════════════════════╡ │ │ This is the text as I │ │ │ │ │ copied it from my │ │ │ │ │ mother's signed and │ │ The current text as │ │ │ framed document from │ │ available as │ │ │ 1952. It may have been │ I copied this text from │ │ │ │ in use in this form ever │ my own document that I │ [SOLDIER'S COVENANT] │ │ Source │ since the 1880s; it │ signed in December │ │ │ │ appears to have been │ 1966. │ at The Salvation Army │ │ │ quoted in Thomas H. │ │ International │ │ │ Huxley's │ │ │ │ │ [Legal Opinions] │ │ │ ├─────────────┼──────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────┤ │ Title │ Articles of War │ Articles of War │ SOLDIER'S COVENANT │ ├─────────────┼──────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ │ (Promises made when │ │ │ Signed by all Salvation │ Signed by all Salvation │ becoming a soldier in │ │ Explanation │ Army Soldiers │ Army Soldiers │ The Salvation Army. │ │ │ │ │ Formerly called │ │ │ │ │ 'Articles of War'.) │ ├─────────────┼──────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────┤ │ │ Having received with all │ Having received with │ │ │ │ my heart the salvation │ all my heart the │ │ │ │ offered to me by the │ Salvation offered to me │ │ │ │ tender mercy of Jehovah, │ by the tender mercy of │ │ │ │ I do here and now │ God, I do here and now │ HAVING accepted Jesus │ │ │ publicly acknowledge God │ acknowledge God the │ Christ as my Saviour │ │ │ the Father to be my │ Father to be my King; │ and Lord, and desiring │ │ │ king, God the Son, Jesus │ God the Son, Jesus │ to fulfil my membership │ │ Motivation │ Christ our Lord, to be │ Christ our Lord, to be │ of His Church on earth │ │ │ my Saviour, God the Holy │ my Saviour; and God the │ as a soldier of The │ │ │ Spirit to be my Guide, │ Holy Spirit to be my │ Salvation Army, I now │ │ │ Comforter, and Strength; │ Guide, Comforter and │ by God's grace enter │ │ │ and I will, by His help, │ Strength; and I will, │ into a sacred covenant. │ │ │ love, serve, worship and │ by His help, love, │ │ │ │ obey this glorious God │ serve, worship, and │ │ │ │ through time and through │ obey this glorious God │ │ │ │ eternity. │ through time and │ │ │ │ │ through eternity. │ │ └─────────────┴──────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────┘
1952 | Believing solemnly that The Salvation Army has been raised up by God, and is sustained and directed by Him, I do here declare my full determination, by God's help, to be a true Soldier of The Army till I die. I am thoroughly convinced of the truth of The Army's teaching.
1966 | Believing that The Salvation Army has been raised up by God, and is sustained and directed by Him, I do here declare that I am thoroughly convinced of the truth of the Army's teaching, that is to say:
2015 | I believe and will live by the truths of the word of God expressed in The Salvation Army's eleven articles of faith: |
1952 | I believe that the Scriptures were given by inspiration of God, and that they teach that not only does continuance in the favor of God depend upon continued faith in, and obedience to Christ, but that it is possible for for those who have been truly converted to fall away and be eternally lost.
1966 | I believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God and that they only constitute the divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
2015 | We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God: and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice. |
1952 |
1966 | I believe that 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.
2015 | We believe that 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. |
1952 |
1966 | I 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.
2015 | We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead--the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost--undivided in essence and coequal in power and glory. |
1952 |
1966 | I 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.
2015 | 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. |
1952 |
1966 | I 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.
2015 | 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. |
1952 |
1966 | I 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.
2015 | 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. |
1952 | I believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and conversion by the Holy Spirit are necessary to Salvation, and that all men may be saved.
1966 | I believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to Salvation.
2015 | We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation. |
1952 | I believe that we are saved by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and he that believeth hath the witness of it in himself. I have got it. Thank God!
1966 | I believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
2015 | 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. |
1952 | [see paragraph 1952_08, above]
1966 | I believe that continuance in a state of Salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
2015 | We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ. |
1952 | I believe that it is the privilege of all God's people 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." That is to say, I believe that after conversion there remain in the heart of the believer, inclinations to evil, or roots of bitterness, which, unless overpowered by Divine grace, produce actual sin; but these evil tendencies can be entirely taken away by the Spirit of God, and the whole heart thus cleansed from anything contrary to the will of God, or entirely sanctified, will then produce the fruit of the Spirit only. And I believe that persons thus entirely sanctified may, by the power of God, be kept unblameable and unrepovable before Him.
1966 | I 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" (I Thessalonians 5:23).
2015 | 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. |
1952 | I believe in the immortality of the soul in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgement at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the everlasting punishment of the wicked.
1966 | I 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.
2015 | 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. |
1952 |
1966 |
2015 | I will be responsive to the Holy Spirit's work and obedient to His leading in my life, growing in grace through worship, prayer, service and the reading of the Bible. |
1952 | Therefore, I do here and now, and forever, renounce the world with all its sinful pleasures, companionships, treasures, and objects, and declare my full determination boldly to show myself a Soldier of Jesus Christ in all places and companies, no matter what I may have to suffer, do, or lose, by so doing.
1966 | Therefore, I do here and now, and forever, renounce the world with all its sinful pleasures, companionships, treasures, and objects, and declare my full determination boldly to show myself a soldier of Jesus Christ in all places and companies, no matter what I may have to suffer, do or lose by so doing.
2015 | I will make the values of the Kingdom of God and not the values of the world the standard for my life. |
1952 | I do here and now declare that I will abstain from the use of all low or profane language; from the taking of the name of God in vain; and from all impurity, or from taking part in any unclean conversation, or the reading of any obscene book or paper at any time, in any company, or in any place.
1966 | I do here and now declare that I will abstain from the use of all low or profane language and from all impurity, including unclean conversation, the reading of any obscene book or paper at any time, in any company, or in any place.
2015 | I will uphold Christian integrity in every area of my life, allowing nothing in thought. word or deed that is unworthy, unclean, untrue, profane, dishonest or immoral. |
1952 | I do here and now declare that I will not allow myself in any falsehood, deceit, misrepresentation, or dishonesty; neither will I practice any fraudulent conduct in my business, my home, nor in any other relationship in which I may stand to my fellow men; but will deal truthfully, fairly, honorably, and kindly with all those who may employ me, or whom I myself may employ.
1966 | I do here declare that I will not allow myself in any deceit or dishonesty; nor will I practice any fraudulent conduct in my business, my home or in any other relation in which I may stand to my fellow men; but that I will deal truthfully, honorably and kindly with all those who employ me or whom I may myself employ.
2015 | I will maintain Christian ideals in all my relationships with others: my family and neighbours, my colleagues and fellow Salvationists, those to whom and for whom I am responsible, and the wider community. |
1952 |
1966 |
2015 | I will uphold the sanctity of marriage and of family life. |
1952 |
1966 |
2015 | I will be a faithful steward of my time and gifts, my money and possessions, my body, my mind and my spirit, knowing that I am accountable to God. |
1952 | I do here and now declare that I will abstain from the use of all intoxicating liquors, and from the habitual use of opium, laudanum, morphia, and all other baneful drugs, except when in illness such drugs will be ordered for me by the doctor.
1966 | I do here and now declare that I will abstain from the use of all intoxicating liquor, and from the use of all baneful drugs, except when such drugs shall be ordered for me by a doctor.
2015 | I will abstain from alcoholic drink. tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs. gambling, pornography, the occult, and all else that could enslave the body or spirit. |
1952 | I do here and now declare that I will never treat any woman, child, or other person, whose life, comfort, or happiness may be placed within my power, in an oppressive, cruel or cowardly manner, but that I will protect such from evil and danger so far as I can, and promote to the utmost of my ability, their present welfare and eternal Salvation.
1966 | I do here declare that I will never treat any woman, child or other person, whose life, comfort or happiness may be placed within my power, in an oppressive, cruel or cowardly manner; but that I will protect such from evil and danger so far as I can, and promote, to the utmost of my ability, their present welfare and eternal Salvation.
2015 | I will be faithful to the purposes for which God raised up The Salvation Army, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, endeavouring to win others to Him, and in His name caring for the needy and the disadvantaged. |
1952 | I do here and now declare that I will spend all the time, strength, money, and influence I can in supporting and carrying on this War, and that I will endeavor to lead my family, friends, neighbors, and all others whom I can influence, to do the same, believing that the sure and only way to remedy all the the evils in the world is by bringing men to submit themselves to the Government of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1966 | I do here declare that I will spend all the time, strength, money and influence I can in supporting and carrying on the Salvation war, and that I will endeavor to lead my family, friends, neighbors and all others whom I can influence to do the same, believing that the sure and only way to remedy all the evils in the world is by bringing men to submit themselves to the government of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2015 | I will be actively involved, as I am able, in the life, work, worship and witness of the corps, giving as large a proportion of my income as possible to support its ministries and the worldwide work of the Army. |
1952 | I do here and now declare that I will always obey the lawful orders of my Officers, and that I will carry out to the utmost of my power all the Orders and Regulations of The Army; and further that I will be an example of faithfulness to its principles, advance to the utmost of my ability its operations, and never allow, where I can prevent it, any injury to its interests, or hindrance to its success.
1966 | I do here declare that I will always obey the lawful orders of my officers, and that I will carry out to the utmost of my power all the orders and regulations of the Army; and, further, that I will be an example of faithfulness to its principles, advance to the utmost of my ability its operations, and never allow, where I can prevent it, any injury to its interest, or hindrance to its success.
2015 | I will be true to the principles and practices of The Salvation Army, loyal to its leaders, and I will show the spirit of Salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution. |
1952 | And I do here and now call upon all present to witness that I enter into this undertaking, and sign these Articles of War of my own free will, feeling that the love of Christ, who died to save me, requires from me this devotion of my life to His Service for the Salvation of the whole world, and therefore wish now to be enrolled as a Soldier of The Salvation Army.
1966 | And I do here and now call upon all present to witness that I have entered into this undertaking and sign these Articles of War of my own free will, feeling that the love of Christ, who died to save me, requires from me this devotion of my life to His service for the Salvation of the whole world, and therefore do here declare my full determination, by God's help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army till I die.
2015 | I now call upon all present to witness that I enter into this covenant and sign these articles of war of my own free will, convinced that the love of Christ, who died and now lives to save me, requires from me this devotion of my life to His service for the salvation of the whole world; and therefore do here declare my full determination, by God's help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army. |
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Some of the paragraphs of the 1966, and especially the 1952 version, are presented out of sequence. The entire text of each document is included here but their order matches that of the 2015 version to allow easy comparisons of the comparable clauses.
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