What sort of an Army? (3)

… an Army that values every person regardless of age or gender.

As the new season of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ hits our screens one of the facts that is being used in the publicity is that ‘this is the oldest line up yet!’ It’s great to see that individuals who may be eligible for their bus pass are still prepared to and get the opportunity to ‘quick step’ and ‘paso doble’. The fact that there are as many women as men is also notable…because, as is well known, opportunities for ladies in showbusiness tend to dry up once they reach early middle age. Here is an opportunity for all of these celebs to stay in the public eye.

Within our Army we could well use a view that acknowledges that both youth and experience are necessary for the fellowship to be balanced. It is not unusual to hear that a Corps is ‘focussing on the young’. Perhaps if we focussed on helping all ages to be disciples we wouldn’t have to restrict our thinking to one age group. Make salvation your aim and age and gender become meaningless. Now that doesn’t mean that we should not make specific provision for different interests and gifts, but it does mean that we should recognise that every generation that still lives in this life needs a relationship with Jesus to experience eternal life in the next. Alongside this every individual has something to offer the fellowship, however simple or complex they may be as individuals every person that surrenders their life to Jesus has a gift to honour God in the church; a gift of simple faith, a gift of believing prayer, a gift of unstinting service.

We need to value every individual – it is not only life affirming but more importantly it is God honouring.