What have Calvin Robinson and Brett Murphy got in common and what have Richard Tauber and Arthur Askey got in common?

Let me attempt to answer the second question first. When my dad left school, aged 14, a little prior to the outbreak of World War 2, he went to sea as a bell boy and typically served on passenger liners going to Australia. Because of his duties, he got to rub shoulders with some of the rich and famous. Two of them that he did meet, albeit in this humble capacity, who would have been well known to and well thought off by a previous generous, were Richard Tauber (opera singer) and Arthur Askey (comedian). To summarise my dad’s thoughts after dealing with them both – he praised Tauber for his kindness but condemned Askey for his unkindness.

As for Robinson and Murphy, they are (or were) Anglican priests, who have fallen out with large sections of the Anglican hegemony. They are both controversial figures with an effective media presence with many that follow them. Despite theological differences, there is much I commend, both their devotion to the Lord and as a needed voice of common sense in today’s crazy culture. I admire them for putting their heads over the parapet, prepared to pay the price of being cancelled from within the Anglican communion and in today’s wokeness. Concerning Robinson, I said as much in “my take on Calvin Robinson” article dated 11/09/24 (see here).  

Robinson and Murphy are best buddies and I have been watching Murphy’s “In Defence of Father Calvin Robinson” video (see here), where he made valid points. What got me riled, because of the irony of what he said represented, was when he was referring to Robinson as his brother and saying that we should be ready to entertain other people’s uncomfortable truths, he went on to have a pop (maybe rightly) at certain persons he named who he believed had wronged Robinson yet overlooking the fact that Robinson may have also wronged others, e.g. me and those who think as I do.

Let me explain … in a recent Facebook posting, Robinson assigned the “heretic” label to those with dispensational beliefs, saying that Church is the new Israel. When I respectfully took him to task, he made it clear that he was not interested in engaging further with me on the subject – disappointing but I respected his right to do so. But when I tried to entreat him as a brother (and in no way was I accusing him of anti-antisemitism (see here for my views) but rather it explains my position), he told me I was not his brother and told me using pious language to effectively **** off. That was my Arthur Askey moment. But I still wish him well, support a lot of what he stands for and long for Jesus’ John 17 “that they be one” prayer to be answered, despite recognising there is a long way to go.

Unlike most of historical Christendom, I do not subscribe to replacement theology and, without wanting to be disrespectful, neither do I recognise the office of priest in the church. Rather, I promote ideas around the Priesthood of all Believers. Check out my book “Priests of the Bible” (see here) for my thoughts and rationale on these subjects. The words of Jesus: “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” Matthew 23:9, and “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” Matthew 12:48-50, spring to mind as being particularly relevant here.

We live in an age of great deception on so many fronts, and that includes among those that claim to be and are Christians and are in positions of leadership. My hope for the world that has lost its way and is in desperate need, is for voices like those of Father Calvin “Iamnotyourbro” Robinson and Reverend Brett Murphy to show them the way. Not in politicians; nor the latest awakened wonder; nor institutionalised Christianity, but rather what is needed is for the pure, real, revived, Christ led Church (the spiritual brethren of Jesus), empowered by the Holy Spirit, to lead the way, be exemplars of righteousness and to preach the Gospel, mankind’s only hope.

Since I have been talking about priests, the words of the prophet Malachi are appropriate ones we should all take heed off: “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” Malachi 3:2,3.