This column originated after a previous Rector banned me from writing under the pseudonym Parish Rambler. He did so after two parishioners took offence at something I had written and threatened to stop donations to the Church. I was peremptorily ‘cancelled’ until some years later another Rector accepted my brief to write this column
I shall always be grateful to Rev. Pat Philips for her confidence, open-mindedness, and tolerance of other people’s views without her personally feeling challenged by views she may not share. I see this attitude as a measure of a person’s confidence in their own convictions. Such people see no need to ‘take offence’ nor are they worried when alternative views are presented. They have a stability of mind in knowing that their own views have been tested, and that they can hold challenging ideas in their heads and maybe, even have an element of doubt in their lives. They know they cannot answer every question in life but continue to humbly search for what can be called, eternal verities.
Pat could not have known that one hundred and ninety-two editions later the column would outlast five Rectors but only the one Pastor of Western Way Chapel. Incidentally the chapel website https://www.westernwaychapel.org reveals an interesting group of Christians who have links to other local and international groups.
Because this column’s view is not just within the Anglican Church when I was invited to take the service and preach at their 2021 Harvest Festival, I was not aware that it would be recorded, and so should any reader want to hear a View from the Pulpit, they can visit the chapel website and click on Messages.
Today’s world has many pulpits. They abound in universities, parliaments, sacred buildings, guilds, technical institutes, and the media. Additionally, there are millions of personal pulpits on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Face book etc. The sheer volume of words means that the seeker after truth ‘as knowledge,’ must spend time avoiding the dross and diversionary attractions. As I hinted earlier, humility may lie at the heart of knowledge.
It follows that our search for truth should allow us to accept doubt as a prelude to knowledge and not as a product of it. To admit doubt demonstrates a concern for truth and is not a negation of it. Those supporting modern ‘cancel culture’ fear doubt and Ostrich like, they hide their faces in the sand of fake confidence. Whereas the honest searcher for truth embraces doubt as a stepping-stone on life’s path from its alpha to its omega.
Which brings us to Advent when we celebrate the baby who was to confront the full reality of human life and show that every person has a natural inbuilt potential to develop a creative immortal life. As a man, this baby taught that every person (every soul) is capable of a singular and unique personal relationship with its creator.
Unlike Judaic Law and Sharia Law, Jesus does not impose an imperious external framework of behaviour on people. He said the old external laws were devised by men seeking order and hierarchy. But that, in him, the old commandments have been fulfilled and because God loves and values each one, we should also value ourselves. Furthermore, we should extend that principle to others. The new rules. Love God. Love yourself and Love Others should be internally embedded. Easy to say, but departures from internal rules have consequences which can the mind and lead to psychological symptoms including shame and guilt. Although man-made external rules are easier to follow, they do not allow anyone to develop their own souls. Which according to Jesus is why we are here.
Not for this baby, the old idea that worth and status come from hierarchy. For him, “The greatest shall be least and the least shall be greatest, and ‘He who shall be leader shall be the servant of all.” No wonder the elites of the day were fearful and ‘cancelled’ him.
For years after my own cancellation no one knew except Marie. I was bruised by the arbitrary and deceitful way in which the decision placed me in a prison of unwarranted shame. All that changed when I told a friend who, without warning turned and announced to the Pub at large, “Hey! Pete’s been banned from writing for the parish mag. An overwhelming roar of support rang out and in an instant my self-shame disappeared. I was freed to see my ‘cancellation’ as a badge of honour and regain my self-worth as a thinking writer of sorts.
However, the Christmas Baby puts all such lesser ‘cancellations’ into perspective, and with that in mind I hope readers will join me on Christmas morning in singing the hymn: Adeste Fideles
Yea Lord, we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be the glory given ….
And for those readers who feel ‘cancelled’ or carry a sense of ‘self-shame’ the Hymn ‘Oh for a thousand tongues to sing may be worth reading
He breaks the power of cancelled sin. He sets the prisoners free
His blood can make the foulest clean’ His blood availed for me.
He speaks and listening to His voice. New life the dead receive
The mournful broken hearts rejoice the humble poor believe.
View from the Pew 