The Podcast: From the Platform - Tom & Naomi Peel

In the “From the Platform” podcast, we look at the culture of Christadelphians to see where we've come from and how that has influenced the way that we may interpret the Bible. We look at the interpersonal offerings of vulnerability, humility, and self-awareness that we can make to our brothers and sisters. For example, it takes vulnerability to go outside your comfort zone and say, “actually this passage makes me feel uncomfortable.” As Christadelphians we admire people who seem to be able to synthesize all scripture into a smooth story, but to be the person that comes says, “I can't fit this in, this doesn't make any sense” is not appreciated. I've really struggled with showing vulnerability in our community.

The desire to have an answer for everything is a testament to where Christadelphians come from culturally.  The community was born in a period where there was a prevailing belief that science and rationalism will give you an answer to everything.  You've probably met someone who seems to be able to give an answer for absolutely everything, but as you grow older you start to realize some of those answers must have been fudged.  The appearance of having all the answers can become more important than acknowledging some explanations are really difficult.  Keeping up the appearance of having all the answers can actually disintegrate the faith of others, because they realize no one can possibly have all of the answers, all of the time. Hearing someone say “well, actually, I don't know that answer” makes you feel that what they do say with conviction is genuine.

In a situation where you go to your lovely Aunt and Uncle's house and everyone's passing around cups of tea and you are doing the readings and you read something like the patriarchs taking slaves as wives, something that when you look into it is quite shocking, but everybody just kind of offers platitudes, or says things like “and that's why we should read our Bibles” or “that's why you should wait for the kingdom” and the serious things weren't actually spoken about.  Glossing over those things sends the message that there are some things we don’t talk about. We don't talk about violence against women. What does your silence say? Silence is dangerous.

We pray because God has instructed us to, but it’s also a gift with utility and benefits for us, and it's the same way with various formats and styles when we meet together. Let's understand the utility of these things and be conscious of why we're doing them this way and do it deliberately so they serve a purpose. If you feel like you've grown past a certain format, don't throw it out like it’s the old way of doing things.  Bring it along with what you're going to do next and make sure that you find space for it as well. You’ll soon find after you've not been doing it for a while that there was something about it that gave you structure or some other benefit. The danger comes when you try to force your own style onto other people and it becomes oppressive and something they really resent doing.  You have to understand people are attached to certain ways of doing things.

Being able to discuss these issues on the podcast is interesting because it is a new forum for sharing ideas.  In the past, you would have had, like Bible class for intense studies, and the breaking of bread for a more devotional experience. You may have had platforms like youth group to explore other questions, but today a lot of our peers are listening to podcasts.  In the past, we’ve had tapes of recorded talks where you often hear the presider and hymns and prayers. It's not that those things aren’t important. It's just that they are intended for a communal format, not solo listening.  A podcast is great because it lets you get straight into the content.

To listen to the full interview with Tom, Naomi and Levi please check out A Little Faith podcasts.