Salvationists in Scripture: Amos

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

8. Amos: Unschooled Prophet

Standing distinct from the flamboyant cast of Hebrew prophets, minor and major, we find Amos, feisty and fearless. Distinct because by trade he is a farmer, not classically or conventionally schooled, and because he simultaneously takes aim at the corrupt and defends the powerless. The writer Frederick Buechner pictures him as a gunslinger in the Old West: “shooting from the hip, he never missed his mark.”

There are several reasons why we might accept Amos as a “Salvationist in Scripture” — his unflinching advocacy for the poor, his inner plumb line for social justice, and his humble origins. But his unschooled credentials may resonate the most. It is especially this that gives his thunderous message potency and credibility. No tired platitudes or religious tropes here. He is one with the rank and file and speaks their language.

In a day when academic certification and storied credentials rack up with frequency, The Salvation Army still has a place and a platform for the modest high school graduate with a servant spirit. Very often it is precisely such people, whom other denominations would not countenance, who prove to be impactful leaders. The blunt force of their communication and their big hearts make a powerful combination.

The Founder, General William Booth, always spoke with a working-class northern accent, and Charles Jeffries, converted brawler from the notorious Skeleton Army street gangs, eventually served as a training school principal and pioneered the work in Australia. There have been hundreds since, often connecting with “our people” and serving with sleeves rolled up in a way that academics might find discomforting.

Let there be no doubt, the Amos anthem, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24) still flows, still waters, still refreshes.

Not bad for an unschooled sheep breeder.

Don’t miss Salvationists in Scripture: Antioch Citadel.