Okay, I'm not sure if any still reads xangas anymore, but I was ranting this afternoon about the "Doing the Most Good" slogan and decided to write a bit down.  Please feel free to give feedback.  I may send it in to someone important.

A young man once came up to a rabbi to ask, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  And this rabbi’s response was “Why do you call me good? “

In discussing the Salvation Army’s branding “Doing the most Good” with my fellow comrades, I find very few that don’t use the word “hate” to express their feelings towards it.  I’ve discussed it with many and collected a vast amount of negative feedback and very little support on the positive side.  My comments on this tend towards the negative side.  However, I have read enough about it to understand where it comes from and what it promises to deliver to all those who see The Salvation Army Shield’s new companion slogan. 
   
While I share with many the initial reaction of “Wow, that’s arrogant” as if it says “We’re the best,” I’ve come to understand the deeper meaning behind it, coming from the great quote of Evangeline Booth which says “there is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need." I don’t disagree with her words, nor do I disagree with our strong commitment to doing the most good we can with our time and resources.  However, I strongly disagree with the words “Doing the Most Good” standing alone as our slogan.  While the two may share the same meaning, I have many reasons behind my support of the former and aversion towards the latter.  

    The most important reason has to do with our commitment as Christians to give Him supreme rule of our lives.  He should not only guide everything we do, he should be the reason for everything we do, and get all glory for everything we do.  The Salvation Army does not exist to say, “We’re doing the most good.”  The Salvation Army doesn’t even exist for the purpose of doing the most good, as our branding so proudly declares.  The Salvation Army exists because almighty God empowered this great body of believers to serve Him.   We exist to give Him glory, to serve the least of these in His name, to serve Him.  Our focus must be completely on God our father.  I love Compassion International’s simple slogan that accompanies their logo -- Compassion – “In Jesus Name,” putting the glory where it belongs.  If we help a poor soul but claim the credit for the Salvation Army or ourselves, what have we done but stolen the praise from the one who makes all good things possible, and even robbed our selves of a much greater heavenly reward?

    I understand that whoever came up with this slogan was trying to sum up what the Salvation Army is and does with a few words (unarguably a very difficult task) and I understand why one would look to the Evangeline quote for help, but the quote talks of what our reward is, not what our purpose is.  What greater reward can we hope for than that of doing the most good that we can to the most people in the most need?  That is a great description of what reward can be ours as Christian servants.  It is not, however, a good description of what our purpose is as the Salvation Army.  "Service is our watchword," she says.  Evangeline’s quote is one that speaks of the fulfillment that can only be found in service, a fulfillment that needs no other reward or public recognition outside of service itself.  Placing, “Doing the Most Good” next to our title may actually be seen conflict with the whole meaning behind the quote if we're taking credit for the good being done.  

So, what is our mission?  What motivates us—what is our purpose?  We are an army, no doubt, with the mission of saving souls.  This is clear enough from the title of our organization – The Salvation Army.  Our great mission statement “to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name” cannot be confused with that of “Doing the Most Good.”  The first clearly communicates our motivation and purpose of serving God for His glory and the second unfortunately comes across as arrogant, especially if you don’t know the story behind it.  Our mission as disciples of Jesus Christ is to bring glory to His name and not our own.

If our goal were to sell a product, which is the purpose of most slogans in this country, then “Doing the Most Good” would pass with flying colors as a great slogan.  However, our purpose is not to sell a product and, contrary to what some are teaching, we should not be concerned with our popularity.  We are servants of Christ – we can never hope for popularity.   Brengle says “it is an impossibility to make Jesus Christ popular in this world.”

How can we strive to lift any name -- even the name of our fine organization -- higher than Jesus Christ?  By Christ’s standard, we are not good, so how can we hope to keep a promise to do the most good?   Jesus himself, our Rabbi found in the opening scripture said, “Why do you call me good?  No one is good – except God alone.” (Mark 10:17-18).  If Christ didn’t want to be called good, then we, his followers should run from such a title.

We will fail to deliver on our promise to do the most good because none are good, even (gasp) Salvationists.  However, we can stand firm on the assurance of his abundant grace and Goodness, and rely on his spirit to empower us to do the most good that we can.  But we must do it in His name and by His strength.  Not our own, and not the name of the Salvation Army.  God alone is Good!
  
If this “Doing the Most Good” slogan were up for review I’d vote for something along the lines of “The Salvation Army – Servants of Christ,” or “The Salvation Army – It’s not about us”, or perhaps “The Salvation Army – God is good.”  Of course my favorite slogan of this army to date is one that effectively sums up our mission and purpose with a few words – “Heart to God, Hand to man.”

TMI is....

Awesome
Beyond
Comparison

Directing
Earthly
Fellows to be more
Godly

Honoring the
Indiscribible
Jesus

Kickin'
Licks for the
Master, making

Notes
Oferred to the
Prince of Peace

Quintessential,
Rudimental,
Sacrificial Service
Transcending
Universal
Vagrancy
While
eXamining
Yahweh's plan for
Zion

today was a day of run-ins.  A visit to orlando brought out two 'chance' meetings with old friends.  A good friend from middle and high school days in Gainesville was performing in one of the live bands at Universal Islands of Adventure.  We just happened to stop for a minute to listen to the band, then I noticed a familiar face.  And later, at the urinal at the rest area brought another reunion...with one of my best friends' dad.  that was a strange place for a meeting but fun.  Good folks to see in random places.