Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/336779
vantage point >> Holiness Symposium 2014 Holiness and social justice CAPTAIN DANIEL BRUNELLE "L ong before the creation of the earth, there was God's idea for us to be holy," proclaimed Com- missioner Christine M. MacMillan at the opening session of the 2014 Territorial Holiness Symposium. The Symposium began with a welcome dinner in the afternoon of April 24 th . Ma- jor Young Sung Kim, ambassador for Ho- liness, and Colonel William A. Bamford III, chief secretary, greeted the delegates. Commissioner Barry C. Swanson, territo- rial commander, spoke of the territory's commitment to effective ministry and how holiness is recognized as essential to The Salvation Army. "It is important that we know holiness personally," he said, "It needs to be taught to our people and lived out ourselves." Over the next 24 hours, we were privileged to sit under the teaching of Commissioner MacMillan, former territo- rial commander in Canada and the first director of the Salvation Army's Inter- national Social Justice Commission. She currently works on global social justice issues with the World Evangelical Alli- ance, which represents over 600 million Christians. MacMillan began her teaching by reminding us that holiness was God's intention before the creation of the world. She quoted the apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:4—"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight." She then brought us to Genesis 1:1–3 and said that "when God created the world, it was formless and empty and dark and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." This condition of being formless and empty and dark could also describe people who are suffering because of social injustice in the world. "Four thou- sand children will die today," MacMillan told us, "because they are thirsty and will drink water that is not fit to drink; water that will kill them." She added, "Injustice is just a fancy word for sin. Injustice needs the same attention we need [to give] our own sin and our own desire to walk with God." The light of God needs to enter the formless and empty and dark places in the world and transform them into places of light. Commissioner MacMillan challenged us by saying that the issues that cause social justice are complex and what seems like a simple and obvious solution is not al- ways the best. She said that, if Christians are going to be effective in transforma- tional ministry and helping to rid the world of injustice, we must learn that "God wants to do a deeper work than what we know." MacMillan explained that where there is holiness there is an interaction of three elements—faith, mercy, and justice. Faith and mercy are often supported by the public. Justice, however, is more challenging because of deep cultural, religious, and political differences. It takes courage on the part of individuals and organizations to fight injustice and to confront those people who benefit from that injustice. The 2014 Holiness Symposium deep- ened my faith and broadened my under- standing of social justice. The worship led by Envoys Steven and Sharon Bussey and Major Donna Peterson, territorial evangelist, drew me into the presence of God. The teaching of Commissioner MacMillan came from a depth of wisdom and experience motivated by a love for God and for His people. —Captain Brunelle is the corps officer in Greenfield, Mass. 3 www.saconnects.org