SPIRITUAL LIFE
The Salvation Army is a Christian organisation and part of the universal Christian Church.
Its message and the lifestyle it advocates are based on the Bible's teaching. Its work is to make known the good news about Jesus Christ and to persuade people to become his followers.
Everything The Salvation Army does is rooted in the faith of its members. The confidence Salvationists have in a loving and caring God finds outward expression in their love for humanity and their practical response to human need.
Personal devotions, Bible study (both personal and with others) and public and private worship are encouraged in all our members.
We have many symbols, phases and emblems that capture the spirit and motivation of our ministries. These help anchor us to the most essential issues of our faith and spiritual lives. Below is a summary.
Shield
The Red Shield is an internationally recognised symbol of Salvation Army service to those in need. It 
represents the shield we provide to people in need of help, whether it be spiritually, physically, financially or emotionally. At the turn of the 20th century, one of the symbols of The Salvation Army was a silver shield with the words 'Salvation Army' emblazoned across it. The shield was worn as a badge by many Salvation Army personnel, particularly those serving with the Defence Forces.
Crest
The crest is a meaningful symbol of the Salvationist's beliefs. Captain William Ebdon designed the 
crest in 1878 and the only alteration to his original design was the addition of the crown. Its emblems set forth the leading doctrines of The Salvation Army as follows: The crown speaks of God's reward for His faithful people The sun (the surround) represents the light and fire of the Holy Spirit The 'S' stands for salvation from sin The cross of Jesus stands at the centre of the crest and the Salvationist's faith The swords represent the fight against sin The shots (seven dots on the circle) stand for the truths of the Gospel 'Blood and Fire' is the motto of The Salvation Army. This describes the blood of Jesus shed on the cross to save all people, and the fire of the Holy Spirit which purifies believers.
Uniform
While many denominations of the Christian Church have a distinctive form of dress for the clergy, The Salvation Army is almost unique in its allocation of its distinctively martial apparel for clergy and laity alike. Salvationists advocate the priesthood of all believers, thus the uniform (which relates to a priestly garb) is also worn by non-officers. In a sense, a Salvation Army uniform is a Salvationist's "working clothes" for mission. Uniforms have been worn in many forms since the Army's earliest days. The first evangelists of the Christian Mission (early name of The Salvation Army) wore suits of clerical cut, with frock coats, tall hats and black ties. Women evangelists wore plain dresses and small Quaker type bonnets. After the Mission became the Army (1878), it was agreed that a military type uniform should be adopted.
The Salvationist's uniform currently serves three purposes: internally its use provides a sense of identity and indicates membership; externally it provides a widely recognised symbol of availability and service; internationally it is the most recognised and recognisable cultural icon for Salvationists, part of the glue that holds the denomination together. The effect of uniform-wearing is to give an extraordinarily high visibility and visual impact in public. The negative effects that Salvationists have to guard against are exclusivity within the Army's congregations and a sense of smugness or spiritual superiority, and complacency (mistaking the wearing of particular garments for being in a right relationship with God.