Salvationists in Scripture: Luke

by Colonel Richard Munn

Within the pages of the greatest story ever told, we find a cast of larger-than-life characters from diverse regions and times. Some of them embody “Salvationism.” That is, the story of their lives and their values represent the essence of Salvation Army word and deed. We might playfully say that they are “Salvationists in Scripture.” Over the course of 2026, we’ll look at 10 people in the Bible who exude Salvationist attributes, from Amos to Andrew, Luke to Lydia, and Micah to Mary. Come back each month as we build our Salvation Army Scripture Hall of Fame.

Salvationists in Scripture

3. Luke: Internationalist

Dr. Luke, Gentile Gospel writer, friend of Paul, and author of the Book of Acts, has a prominent multiethnic perspective that emphasizes Jesus’ ministry to outsiders and the inclusion of women. Then, just for good measure, he threads the ministry of the Holy Spirit through his account with frequency and delightful ease. 

An international perspective, care for the marginalized, the validation of women, and the presence of the Holy Spirit as a normal facet of life and ministry — here are recognized Salvationist values, for sure. Luke’s self-evident care for the human body and his propensity for journalistic detail also very much align with our value system.

• Luke portrays Jesus as the Savior of the world, not just the Messiah for Israel. 

• If we agree that The Salvation Army is a place for people who have no place, then the same value can be said for Luke. For instance, it is he only who records the parables of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32).   

• Luke consciously and frequently features women in his narrative, personified in the remarkable account of the incarnation of Jesus from Mary’s perspective (Luke 1:46–55).   

• Luke references the third person of the Trinity 13 times in his Gospel and 41 times in the Book of Acts, significantly more than any other evangelist. 

In The Salvation Army, in our corps, in our pledges, in our mission statement, in our preaching, in our doctrinal books, in our cadet curriculum, in our arts, in our history books, and on our board agendas you will find references to our internationalism, our care for the marginalized, the role of our women in leadership, and our pleading for the Holy Spirit, all in detailed, matter-of-fact language and imagery. 

Oh yes, Luke is a Salvationist Gospel writer and record-keeper. Do we have patron saints? Luke would be a front-runner. 

Don’t miss Salvationists in Scripture: Micah.