In mid December you can see them in front of every major department store. A man or woman with a smile on their face, ringing a bell while standing next to a red bucket full of change. Many of us, when we pass by, feel obligated to drop some change into a bucket of what we think is for a non-profit charitable organization. However upon investigation it is made clear that the Salvation Army is not just a charitable organization, but a religious denomination.

The Salvation army in the eyes of most of the world, is a very respectable religious group, and is known for its charitable work around the world. The Salvation army operates hospitals, homes for homeless men and women, employment bureaus, children’s homes, and they provide food for millions of hungry people each year. “These services are given without respect to race, color, creed, or condition; the whole work is financed largely through voluntary subscriptions…” (Mead 321). We can see that the Salvation army does a lot of good in the world.

“However, it is a fact that is undeniable to any informed student of the New Testament that the Salvation Army is a human organization unauthorized by the Bible. Many of its doctrines are totally contradictory to the New Testament teaching, and therefore can not be ignored” (Jackson). In this paper it will be proven that the Salvation Army is a religious denomination, that cannot be endorsed by a New Testament Christian.

The denomination had its beginnings with a man named William Booth. William Booth was born in Nottingham England, in 1829. He was “by baptism a member of the Church of England, but by conversion a Weslyan, and afterwards a minister of the Methodist New Connection” (Wilhite 221). The story is told that in 1844 he had what he described as a “conversion experience”. After his experience he became a traveling revivalist preacher. Booth felt that it was his calling to evangelize the poor, he had come to the conclusion that “we cant get at the masses in the chapels” (Hudson 299). So in 1865 he started the East London Christian Mission, this mission was organized on the basis of strict military discipline.

In 1878 because of the military nature of the mission, it was renamed the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army began rapid growth because of the militaristic mentality of the denomination, and in 1880 it crossed the Atlantic Ocean and made it into the United States. In 1889 the Salvation Army received its charter from the state of New York. According to that charter the Salvation Army is an organization “designed to operate as a religious and charitable corporation” (Jackson). W. Hudson made this statement concerning the beginning of the Army “Although the Salvation Army was ultimately to take on the characteristics of a church, it’s initial intention was to serve only as a recruiting agent of the churches among the most neglected elements of the population” (Hudson 299). Over time the Salvation Army became more and more like a religious denomination than a charitable organization.

The organizational structure of the Salvation Army is a far cry from the New Testament, “Rather it is more akin to the hierarchical system of Roman Catholicism” (Jackson). The denomination’s international headquarters are located in London and is ruled by the international “General“. The General works through a “Chief of Staff” to various overseas departments where limited power is found. The United States is under a command of a General who is under the International General. Under the General of the United States is an Army.

The primary unit of the Army is the corps, of which there may be several in a city. Each corps is commanded by an officer, ranging in rank from Lieutenant to Major, who is responsible to divisional headquarters. A number of corps make up each of the forty divisions in the U.S., with the work of each division under the direct supervision of a divisional commander (Mead 318).

The forty U.S divisions are grouped into 4 territories, and each territory has its own headquarters. The headquarters are located in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and San Francisco. All of these territorial headquarters are under the supervision of the National Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

If a convert desires to become a soldier in the Army, he or she must sign the Articles of War (a statement of belief), after which, they are now considered voluntary soldiers in the Salvation Army.

The official creed book of the Salvation Army is “The Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine”. In their Handbook there are 11 articles of faith that each soldier signs as a covenant which shows their acceptance of these truths. The Articles of Faith of the Salvation Army are as follows:

Doctrinal Errors of The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army takes the position of Heredity Total Depravity. They teach that because of Adam and Eve’s sin that we are born sinners. Therefore they feel that we are totally depraved, having inherited a disposition toward sin (Salvationist Handbook 85-86).

What the Bible Teaches about Sin:

The Bible teaches that sin is not inherited, Ezekiel 18:20 states “The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (ASV).

Like many of the Army’s teachings they are neutral when it comes to the topic of what to do to be saved. The Salvation Army teaches that you must have faith, and continually perform purposeful works in the kingdom. The Army denies the necessity of baptism. They assert “that it is not necessary in order to receive salvation”. They reason that there are climates and circumstances that would make immersion impractical, so only repentance and faith are required (The Salvationist Handbook 185-186).

The teaching of the Salvation Army is in direct contradiction to Christ’s teaching. Christ taught that “whoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Peter also affirms the necessity of baptism in Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 3:21. “Clearly “circumstances” do not negate divinely commanded requirements involving salvation!” (Jackson).

The worship of the Salvation Army, mimics that of most evangelical groups. There are prayers led by men or women, songs are sung with the help of a band, or sometimes the band just performs. You will not find the Lord Supper offered in their worship services. Many of their worship services have a preacher either male or female deliver a lesson.

It is clear to a student of God’s word that the worship of the Salvation Army, is a far cry from New Testament worship. As stated the Salvation Army does not offer the Lord’s Supper, and their reason is that they want to teach others of the “danger of trusting any external rite as though it had a virtue itself” (Salvationist Handbook 188). Although their intentions may be good in doing so, it is in violation of the scriptures. Jesus told his disciples “this do in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24), and the apostles gave us the example of taking it on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

Like many evangelical groups the Salvation Army implores the use of a mechanical instrument in worship. One of the most well known works of the Salvation Army is their bands. Although these musicians are very talented it must be stated that mechanical instruments have no business in worship to God. Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 both state that God only wants praises to be sung to him with the mouth, from the heart.

The role of women in worship is also misconstrued in the worship of the Salvation Army. Many of their groups have a women preacher involved in worship. The founder’s wife Catherine Booth was a women preacher, who addressed many large audiences. It is also recorded that Catherine Booth in her lifetime wrote a defense of the “female ministry”. Many religious groups, including the Salvation Army like to deny it, but the scriptures clearly state that “I do not permit a women to teach nor usurp authority over a man, but to remain silent” (1 Timothy 2:12). “The role of a public teacher over a man, is no place for a women“ (Jackson).

If the Salvation Army was just a charitable organization that helped the needy around the world, it would be acceptable for a Christian to support such an endeavor. However, the evidence is on the contrary, the Salvation Army is clearly a religious denomination. A Christian has no business supporting or giving an endorsement to a group that teaches falsely on the topics of sin, salvation, worship, and the Church. The Salvation Army is a dangerous religious denomination that has mislead, hundreds of thousands of precious souls down a road that will ultimately lead to destruction. Underneath the vale of a caring charitable group is a church, whose teachings are a far cry from New Testament Christianity. The members of the Salvation Army are not mean people, and they truly are concerned with the welfare of needy peoples all over the world. However, as Bible believers we have an obligation to try to bring these caring people to the Lord, so that they can use their generous hearts to do good for the Lord’s church, rather than leading people down a path that seems right, but is inherently evil.

In conclusion, when passing by a member of the Salvation Army who is ringing a bell and trying to solicit donations, do not drop any change in the bucket. That change that you drop, helps support a sinful denomination. Instead stop and try to study with this caring individual who has a love for mankind, who unless he or she repents, is doomed to spend an eternity away from the presence of God.

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Derham, Morgan A. Salvation Army. “The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church”. Edited By J.D. Douglas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1979.

Hudson, Winthrop S. Religion in America: An Historical Account of the Development of American Religious Life. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons: 1965.

Noll, Mark A. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999.

Mead, Frank S. and Samuel S. Hill. Handbook of Denominations in the United States 11 edition. Revised By Craig D. Atwood. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001.

Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine “A Salvation Story”. London: The Salvation Army International Headquarters, 1980.

Tomlinsen, L.G. Churches of Today in Light of The Scripture 8^th edition. Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1950.

Wilhite, J. Porter, Modern Churches and the Church. Shreveport: Lambert Book House, 1956.