The Salvation Army Uniform

(Colonel Dennis Phillips) CHANGE! We are hearing a lot about “change” these days. “Change you can believe in.” “Change you can trust.” Democrats and Republicans alike claim to have the winner’s edge on change, yet neither party—nor anyone—has a monopoly on it. How easily we are beguiled into believing that “change alone” will correct everything that’s wrong even while we are not told what we are changing to.

“Don’t ever change the uniform.” I can still hear those words as the honored guest held my arm while pointing to my wife’s brilliant white uniform….hat and all. We were at Governor’s House in Kingston, Jamaica attending a reception for the Prince of Wales. A friend of mine, the British Deputy High Commissioner was escorting Prince Charles through the crowd of several hundred invited guests when he spotted us among the throngs in our brilliant white uniforms. He caught my eye and signaled me to his side, then said, “If you would like to have a personal introduction to the Prince, stand over there. I’ll lead him that way and then signal for you to approach.” We had never met a real prince before, so, feeling highly honored, we accepted the invitation.

It was less than ten minutes later when the signal was given, and within seconds, we were carrying on a conversation with the heir to the British throne. The Prince proudly spoke of his respect for The Salvation Army including recent visits to Army programs and celebrations in England. That was when he firmly grasped my arm and, paying particular attention to my wife, said, with finality, “Don’t ever change that uniform.” He went on, commenting about there being too many changes and how some people wanted to change everything just for the sake of change. “But that uniform….it must never change.”

The truth is, had we not been wearing uniform that evening, we never would have met and chatted with Prince Charles. That was nice, but I confess, not all that important. Another “uniform incident” meant far more.

I was crossing Pearson Street where it intersects with State Street on Chicago’s near north side. Territorial Headquarters was located at 860 North Dearborn in those days, and I was heading to Mr. J’s, a “greasy spoon” restaurant frequented by many Staff Bandsmen prior to weekly Tuesday night rehearsal. As I crossed the street, a young Korean woman walking in the opposite direction literally seized my arm, stopped me in the middle of the street and said with the sound of relief, “Oh, Salvation Army. Will you pray with me?”

She was holding the side of her face with her hand as she spoke, “I’ve just been to the dentist, and I’m in horrible pain. Please pray for me.” I did and offered a few words of encouragement to her, then she thanked me and went on her way.

Would she have stopped me had I been in jeans and a jacket? Of course not. And this incident is only one of many I have encountered on the streets of Chicago, in airports and, very recently, on the streets of South Bend, Indiana where I live and work.

Titus 2:14 commends us to be a “separate people.” Of course, Paul was not suggesting that Titus should put on a Salvation Army uniform (duh), and it is true that we must pursue that “separate life” in ways that can be seen with or without uniform. But, as Salvationists, we definitely have the edge here.

The uniform provides extraordinary opportunities to witness.

The uniform opens doors to service.

The uniform exudes a message of respect, honor and trust to a world that is dominated by disrespect, shame and suspicion.

The uniform sets the stage for us to be the “separate people” that Paul admonished Titus to be. In the King James Version (that would be the translation I grew up with) this verse actually calls us to be a “peculiar people.” Wow….I’m glad the more modern translations changed that. The version I really like is the paraphrase of The Message where Eugene Peterson says, “Live a life God can be proud of.” Being in Salvation Army uniform definitely strengthens our discipline to lead a holy life, and in the end, that is exactly what being “a separate people” is all about.

Wear your uniform with holy pride. Wear it well. Wear it often. Wear it to the mall or downtown on State Street or at the bus station, and when you do, be ready to represent Christ to a hurting world.

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For history on the Salvation Army uniform, check out this piece.