Letter for December 2024

Dear Friends

I write on the day (12th November) that the Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned. He was forced to do so by the fallout from a Safeguarding scandal.

When he became archbishop in 2013, some of the victims (of a sadistic abuser of boys and young men) asked him to take action against the perpetrator, John Smyth, a former lay preacher in the Church of England and youth leader in 1980s Private Schools Summer Camps. Justin Welby did not take responsible action.

Finally, today, he acknowledged his part in this scandal and resigned his leadership role.

The personal distress of victims and their families has come to the fore, and the powerful are brought low.

This is what happened at the first Christmas. Mary’s reaction to being told she will bear the baby who is God’s Son, is to say “God has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” and “God has brought down the rulers from their thrones and lifted up the lowly” and “He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.”

How did God create this overturning of the rather corrupt leadership situation?

He introduced a bit of scandal. A virgin was chosen to be the mother of God’s Son. Her husband-to-be was not the father, in order to make clear that God was the Father. The chosen couple got married as planned but the whiff of scandal remained.

The first to be invited to the baby king’s birthday party were the outdoor shepherds. Everybody else on the invitation list to meet their Saviour might be inclined to call it a scandal. But God is happy with that.

The political king of the Jewish portion of the Roman Empire discovered he had a newborn rival a few months later. When the wise men from the East came to the Palace in Jerusalem, Herod was unimpressed with their news. He was inclined to nip this one in the bud with a scandalous murder squad. And his terror tactics caused people to hate him more.

In all of these ways “God brings down the rulers from their thrones and lifts up the lowly”. The Lord is not afraid of scandal. It often helps to achieve his purposes. It is how the Lord uses his almighty power. In order to raise up the humble and save the lost.

This is why Christmas is such good news. And why Jesus turns the world upside down in a profoundly good way. Scandal uncovered is often what tips things over.

Some scandal is the result of lies and should be shunned. But when the scandal reveals embarrassing truth, it helps scatter the proud in their conceit. God is not mocked and the truth will out.

Doesn’t that make you want to worship the Lord and join his faithful people? Especially at this Christmas time? You will be very welcome at any of our special Christmas services.

A very happy Christmas to you all.

Rob